The Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai-MECC 3) reported that the general cargo vessel SEALLOYD ARC began experiencing serious water inflow while sailing south of Laem Phromthep, about three nautical miles offshore, causing the ship to list heavily and risk sinking.
Thai-MECC 3 Director Vice Admiral Veerudhom Muangchin ordered an immediate emergency response after the regional operations centre received a distress report at about 3:20pm.
According to Thai-MECC 3, an unidentified fishing boat in the area first rescued eight crew members from the stricken vessel. The Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation vessel HTMS Andaman 5 then rescued another eight crew members, including the captain.
HTMS Andaman 5 later collected the eight crew members from the fishing boat and transported all 16 people safely back to shore at Chalong Bay Pier. Authorities confirmed that no crew members were injured.
Patrol Boat T.272 and Maritime Enforcement Command vessel 4012 were dispatched to the scene by Royal Thai Navy Region 3 and Phuket maritime authorities to assist with the emergency response and assess the condition of the vessel.
Thai-MECC 3 said contingency plans were activated to prevent pollution and environmental damage in the event of fuel or cargo leakage.
HTMS Pun Yee was prepared for oil and chemical spill response operations, while PTT Phuket was notified to prepare oil spill containment equipment and chemical dispersants. Aircraft were also deployed to survey the area for signs of oil pollution.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources was notified to assess potential impacts on marine and coastal ecosystems, while the Marine Department was instructed to oversee maritime safety due to the risk posed by drifting containers and debris.
A war room has been established at Royal Thai Navy Region 3 Headquarters to coordinate ongoing response efforts and monitor the situation.
The Phuket Regional Marine Office later issued a navigation warning to vessels operating in the Andaman Sea after confirming that containers from the ship had become scattered in the incident area.
Initial information indicated the ship was en route from Malaysia to Bangladesh, carrying about 290 containers, including 14 containers of hazardous materials. Some containers were reported to have gone under the surface, while others were floating and scattered, posing a serious hazard to navigation.
Vessels operating in the area, including HTMS Hua Hin, HTMS Pun Yee, Patrol Boat 114 and Patrol Boat 272, were tasked with installing warning signals on floating containers where possible and assisting with oil spill monitoring and cleanup.
The Phuket Regional Marine Office urged all ship operators and mariners to exercise extreme caution and avoid the affected shipping routes where possible until the situation stabilises.
The SEALLOYD ARC (IMO: 8682036) is a Panamanian-flagged general cargo and mini-bulker vessel built in 2005. The ship measures approximately 114.96 metres in length and 16 metres in width, with a deadweight tonnage of about 6,479 tonnes.
Thai-MECC 3 spokesperson Capt Pichet Songtan confirmed that all crew members were safe and that authorities would continue to monitor the situation closely.
For maritime emergencies in the Andaman Sea, the public can contact Thai-MECC 3 via the 24-hour hotline 1465.