An oil spill from the sunken cargo vessel Sealloyd Arc has reached beaches and nearby islands off Phuket, raising concerns about environmental damage and potential disruption to Thailand’s tourism sector.
Approximately 1,700 litres of oil leaked after the Panama-flagged container ship sank on February 7 about five kilometres offshore while en route from Malaysia to Bangladesh. The ship reportedly experienced water ingress before going down in waters around 60 metres deep. All 16 crew members were rescued.
Authorities say the spill formed a slick stretching up to seven kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide. Tar balls and black oil stains have since washed ashore along a 900-metre stretch of beach on Koh Hey, also known as Coral Island, including the popular Banana Beach. Other areas considered at risk include Ao Rawai, Koh Kaeo Noi, Koh Kaeo Yai, Nai Harn, Rawai Beach and Kata Beach, several of which are home to coral reefs and seagrass beds.
The vessel was reportedly carrying between 229 and 297 containers, including 14 containing hazardous materials. Officials have warned the public not to approach any containers that may drift ashore.
Thailand’s Maritime Enforcement Command Centre has established a special operations centre to coordinate response efforts. Cleanup teams are using manual recovery methods to minimise environmental impact, while divers have been deployed to seal the remaining leak from the wreck. Investigations into the cause of the sinking are ongoing.
