The warning was issued yesterday (Feb 10) by Pollution Control Department (PCD) Director-General Surin Worakitthamrong, as authorities continue efforts to locate and secure containers drifting from the wreck, some of which are known to contain hazardous materials.
The SEALLOYD ARC suffered a hull leak after departing Malaysia, causing progressive flooding and listing. The vessel, bound for Sri Lanka, altered course toward Phuket in an attempt to reach shelter before sinking about three nautical miles southwest of Phuket last Saturday (Feb 7).
The Royal Thai Navy has confirmed the cargo ship 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.
Mr Surin said the PCD, exercising authority under Section 32 of the Administrative Procedure Act, had issued guidelines for members of the public who encounter containers of unknown origin on beaches or at sea.
People are advised to stay at least 50 to 100 metres away from any suspicious containers, and children, tourists and unauthorised persons must not approach them.
Members of the public are also warned not to open any containers, particularly those marked with hazard symbols, and not to touch any liquids, oil or chemical substances that may have leaked from them.
People should avoid smoking, using flames or causing sparks near suspected hazardous containers, and are advised not to operate engines in areas where chemical odours are present.
Anyone who encounters containers or suspected hazardous spills is asked to photograph the container and any hazard symbols, note the location, and contact authorities on the Pollution Control Department hotline 1650, the Marine Department on 1196, or the Maritime Security Command Centre on 1465.
RACE TO LOCATE DRIFTING CONTAINERS
Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai-MECC 3) spokesperson Capt Pichet Songtan said the SEALLOYD ARC was carrying 290 containers when it sank, including 14 containing hazardous materials such as chemicals and batteries.
Of those, 218 containers are believed to remain on the seabed near the wreck. A total of 79 containers were confirmed floating after the sinking, but all except 19 have since disappeared and are believed to have sunk again. Ten containers are currently under control, with recovery operations under way.
Efforts to locate and recover drifting containers are being led by HTMS Hua Hin, supported by HTMS Punyee, Marine Police, a drone team and Marine Department vessel 801. Tugboats from Phuket Deep Sea Port have been assigned to tow recovered containers onto barges.
Divers and sonar scans conducted yesterday found containers scattered around the wreck site. The urgent task is now to map and mark the coordinates of each sunken container. Decisions on whether to recover them will be made in consultation with the Pollution Control Department and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), based on environmental impact and cost-effectiveness.
HAZARDOUS CARGO STILL UNCLEAR
Capt Pichet said the ship owner is being contacted to confirm the contents of the sunken containers, but authorities are currently unable to confirm how many hazardous containers have gone down with the vessel.
Initial assessments indicate the wreck site lies on sandy-mud seabed with no coral reefs or rocky formations in the immediate area, and is not expected to cause significant ecological damage at this stage.
Capt Pichet said the incident has affected all types of marine traffic. Since Saturday, Thai-MECC 3 has coordinated with the Phuket Marine Office to issue warnings to boat operators, with safety advisories disseminated through official channels and social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok.
Warning buoys and navigational notices have been issued to mariners operating in the area.
DIESEL SPILL CONTAINED
Royal Thai Navy vessels have also responded to diesel fuel leaking from the sunken ship.
HTMS Matphon was designated On Scene Commander, with HTMS Mannok and Patrol Boat T.114 deploying containment booms around the slick. HTMS Punyee sprayed dispersant, with officials reporting the spill has been cleaned up to a satisfactory extent.
Diesel was seen leaking from the wreck as a surface slick about 500 yards wide, estimated at around 1,000 litres. The oil was drifting southwest toward open sea and is not expected to affect Phuket’s coastline.
Experts from the Oil Industry for International Spill Cleanup (IESG) advised that the diesel would largely evaporate naturally, and officials opted not to apply excessive dispersants to avoid further seawater pollution.
Aerial surveys later confirmed a small diesel slick continuing to seep from the wreck, drifting westward and dissipating naturally over four to five nautical miles, with no shoreline impact observed.
Underwater vehicles were to be deployed today (Feb 11) to locate the precise point of leakage from the vessel and attempt to contain it directly at the source.
COSTS AND LEGAL ACTION
Capt Pichet said the vessel’s owner will be held fully responsible for all costs, including salvage operations, container recovery and oil spill cleanup.
The Phuket Marine Office has filed a police report to support claims against the ship’s insurer, after the company was unable to deploy sufficient resources to manage the incident promptly, forcing authorities to act first.
However, officials declined to name the company at this stage, citing ongoing legal proceedings. The total cost of the operation cannot yet be determined as recovery efforts are continuing.