At 3pm yesterday (May 16), Phuket Marine Office 5 received information that the Thai barge “Tanyongpuyu” weighing 107.85 ton and carrying a crane had sunk approximately one nautical mile off the coast of Ao Yon at the south of Phuket.
Marine officials learned that at 7:50am the barge hit some rocks and started taking on water and that by 2pm the vessel had sunk.
The ship was travelling from the Similan Islands in Phang Nga and was heading to Krabi.
The barge driver was named as Mr Yod Laoboonglom.
The “Chock Marisa” fishing boat*, which was already in the area, went closer to where the barge had sunk and put on its warning lights as darkness approached to prevent any further incidents.
The incident was reported to Wichit Police and it is now the responsibility of the barge owner to have the vehicle recovered.
No fatalities or injuries were reported.
* Not "tug boat" as initially reported.