BANGKOK, Thailand – The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has assessed that the oil spill from a Panama-flagged cargo vessel that sank off Phuket is unlikely to drift toward Thailand’s shoreline, while overall coastal seawater quality remains within normal standards.
PCD Director-General Surin Warakitthamrong reported that the vessel sank southwest of Ko Kaeo Noi in Rawai Subdistrict, Phuket Province, approximately 1.82 nautical miles from shore. The incident is believed to have been caused by a leak beneath the hull, which allowed seawater to enter and caused the ship to sink.
The ship was carrying 297 containers, 98 tons of heavy oil, and 32 tons of marine diesel oil. The department has instructed its marine water resources teams and the Phuket environmental office to monitor the situation, provide technical support, and oversee environmental inspections and recovery operations until they are complete.
Using the Oil Map modeling system, the PCD projected that any oil slick would move westward into the open sea rather than toward Thailand’s coastline. The department is coordinating with the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center and the Marine Department to prepare response measures and enhance environmental surveillance.
Preliminary seawater quality assessments at Rawai Beach and Nai Harn Beach show that conditions remain within coastal recreational water quality standards. (NNT)
