Oil spill clean-up gets under way off Phuket

A clean-up operation has begun after a ship loaded with 40,000 litres of diesel capsized near Phuket.

Nawin Thananet, the 3rd Fleet’s chief of staff, said a helicopter was sent yesterday to survey the oil spill site 12 nautical miles off Phuket.

The survey found an oil slick 0.8 kilometres wide and 4.8km long.

The Choke Thaworn 6 ship was carrying about 40,000 litres of diesel when it capsized during a fierce storm off Phuket on Saturday. All on board were rescued.

Most of the fuel was in a sealed tanker and had been transferred to other vessels before the ship was completely submerged, Rear Adm Nawin quoted the ship’s owner as saying.

Bangkok Post