An Incident Command Centre meeting was held at Phuket Provincial Hall at 8am yesterday (Feb 9), chaired by Vice Admiral Veerudhom Muangchin, Director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai-MECC 3), with the Marine Department’s deputy director-general attending. The meeting reviewed ongoing operations and adjusted plans following confirmation that the vessel has fully sunk, making surface-level oil containment no longer feasible.
HTMS Nong Sarai has been assigned as On-Scene Commander to pinpoint the wreck’s seabed coordinates and assess conditions around the hull. The Royal Thai Navy vessel confirmed at noon that the SEALLOYD ARC lies at latitude 07°43.88’N, longitude 098°16.62’E, at a depth of 61 metres on sandy-mud seabed. The wreck is slightly tilted, with the aft superstructure 14 metres below the surface and oriented on a 284.5-degree bearing from bow to stern.
Efforts to locate and recover drifting containers are being led by HTMS Hua Hin, with support from HTMS Punyee, Marine Police, a drone team and Marine Department vessel 801. Tugboats from the Phuket Deep Sea Port have been tasked to assist in towing recovered containers to barges. Authorities have also assigned Maritime Security Command Region 10 to monitor sensitive coastal areas and plan preventative measures.
Thai-MECC 3 spokesperson Capt Pichet Songtan said preliminary findings indicate the vessel suffered a hull leak that caused progressive flooding and listing after departing Malaysia. The ship had been bound for Sri Lanka but altered course toward Phuket in an attempt to reach shelter before sinking.
Aerial surveys have detected a small diesel slick seeping from the wreck, drifting westward into open sea and dissipating naturally over about four to five nautical miles. No shoreline impact has been observed.
The ship was carrying 290 containers, including 14 with hazardous materials such as chemicals and batteries. To date, 19 floating containers have been recovered, while some are believed to have sunk. Officials believe 218 containers remain secured on the wreck, with about 79 still at risk of drifting. Warning buoys and notices have been issued to mariners, and navigational alerts disseminated via official channels.