The vessel sank near Laem Phromthep, prompting a multi-agency response led by the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 3 (Thai-MECC 3) under a Single Command structure.
At a meeting held on Saturday (Feb 14) at the Third Naval Area Command headquarters at Cape Panwa, Vice Admiral Weerudom Muangchin, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command and Director of Thai-MECC 3, chaired a joint session integrating operations across naval, marine, environmental and provincial agencies.
Authorities confirmed that Section 27, Paragraph 2 of the Maritime National Interest Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) has been invoked, elevating command to a Single Command system under the Incident Command System (ICS), while retaining the legal authority of each agency.
Participating units include the Third Naval Area Command, the Phuket Marine Office, the Phuket office of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Internal Security Operations Command Phuket, the Pollution Control Department and other related agencies.
According to an official report of the meeting, the oil spill control remains the primary mission. Naval vessels including HTMS Man Nok, HTMS Punyee and Patrol Boat T.114 have been deployed to monitor and disperse oil slicks.
Crews have used circling manoeuvres and high-pressure fire main sprays to break up surface oil, supplemented by limited use of internationally approved dispersants under the guidance of the Pollution Control Department.
According to operational reports on Saturday:
- A thin film of oil extended up to 1.8 nautical miles from the wreck site.
- Within 2.5 nautical miles, small patches of black oil and rainbow sheens about one metre wide were observed, gradually thinning with distance.
- From three to five nautical miles, no black sediment or rainbow sheen was detected.
Officials described the overall trend as positive, stating the slick is beginning to dissipate, is not currently harmful to the environment and is not moving towards nearby coastlines.
Water samples collected daily by pollution control specialists remain within normal parameters, officials reported. Authorities also reiterated that no hazardous chemical leakage affecting the ecosystem has been detected.
Aerial surveillance has been conducted daily using helicopters and drones, with satellite imagery support from GISTDA to assist modelling of oil movement and response planning, officials also repeated.
The exact position of the wreck has now been identified and marked with buoys to ensure navigational safety.
On Saturday, a SEAFOX I mine-hunting vehicle was deployed to survey the submerged hull, beginning at the stern to inspect oil vent pipes for leakage points.
Survey results showed:
- The vessel is listing approximately 10 degrees to starboard.
- The keel is embedded in seabed mud.
- Some containers remain on board, though the exact number is unknown.
- Underwater visibility is about three metres.
However, stronger currents compared to previous days hampered operations, pushing cables and the remotely operated vehicle toward openings near the superstructure. Slings around the bridge area also posed entanglement risks.
Divers are preparing to seal minor oil leaks, but operations are pending confirmation from the Pollution Control Department that seawater in the area contains no harmful toxins, said the report.
Teams also require precise vessel plans, confirmed leak locations, depth data and specialised equipment appropriate to the working depth before commencing underwater sealing.
However, concerns remain over containers that may have fallen overboard.
On Friday, patrol boat T.272 was dispatched after a report from another vessel of a container floating semi-submerged in the Andaman Sea west of Phuket. The boat searched a seven-by-seven-mile area for three hours but found no container. Authorities believe it may have sunk.
As a precaution, all vessels transiting the area have been advised to exercise caution. Mariners with information about any containers are urged to contact Thai-MECC Region 3 via the 24-hour maritime emergency hotline 1465.
Separate search and recovery assets, including HTMS Hua Hin, patrol boats and a crane vessel with barge support, remain on standby to recover any floating or submerged containers if located.
A second coordination meeting was also held on Saturday, chaired by the Deputy Commander of the Third Naval Area Command (Operations). Officials confirmed that operations yesterday (Feb 15) would continue under the same plan: surveying the hull to pinpoint leak sources, dispersing any detected oil slicks, and searching for missing containers.
Admiral Thadawut Thadpitakakul, Secretary-General of Thai-MECC, on Saturday inspected operations both by helicopter and at sea aboard HTMS Matphon, emphasising personnel safety and careful, integrated management to prevent escalation.
Authorities stressed that public safety and protection of marine natural resources remain the top priorities, adding that updates will continue to be provided transparently as the response progresses.