PHUKET, THAILAND – Oil from the sunken freighter SEALLOYD ARC reached beaches on the Racha Islands and in southern Phuket, triggering a large-scale containment and clean-up operation. Authorities warned of serious risks to the marine environment and tourism as specialist teams at sea and onshore fought the pollution.
Oil reaches tourist beaches
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) reported on 26 February that extensive oil slicks had reached Patok Bay on Koh Racha Yai and adjoining stretches of coastline.
According to the Racha Islands Protected Area Management Centre in Phuket, thick oil patches were detected in front of The Racha Hotel in Patok Bay, while tar balls washed up on the sand and rocks at Ao Tue, Ao Hla and Ao Siam.
Spread to southern Phuket
Response teams said persistent westerly winds continued to drive the oil into the core tourist zone of Koh Racha, affecting some of its busiest beaches.
State news agency MCOT reported on 27 February that heavy fuel from the Panama-flagged freighter had also arrived on the shores of Koh Kaew Phisadan and other parts of the Koh Racha coastline.
Pollution reaches the mainland
On Phuket’s main island, the Rawai municipal administration confirmed that clumps of oil had washed ashore on popular Yanui Beach in the south of the island on 26 February.
Municipal staff deployed together with the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to remove the deposits from the sand as quickly as possible.
Leak search at the wreck
The Incident Command Center coordinating the operation ordered urgent action late on 26 February to seal leaks in the wreck’s subsea oil lines, which were considered the main source of the ongoing discharge.
Vice Admiral Veerudom Muangchin, director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai-MECC 3) and commander of the response team, instructed the ship’s insurer to seal the hull leaks as quickly as possible in order to halt the discharge at its source.
Dive and ROV operations
From the pier of the 3rd Naval Area Command, the frigate HTMS Hua Hin was deployed west of Koh Kaew Noi to the incident area, carrying specialist teams and divers from the Phang Nga naval base.
An underwater medical unit and a decompression chamber were also put in place to ensure diver safety during deep-water operations.
First leak sealed
An underwater survey team used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to inspect vent pipes on the hull before divers covered a leaking point on an oil outlet pipe on the starboard side with special containment bags.
Authorities stated that the starboard leak had been successfully sealed and that no further oil discharge was observed at that location.
Suspected main leak on port side
Initial assessments by the command team indicated that the main leakage point could be located on the wreck’s port side.
Further ROV inspections were planned, and divers would return to the site once another leak had been confirmed.
Challenging conditions at sea
Authorities stressed that sealing the discharge source was crucial because the continued outflow from the wreck made containment and removal of oil slicks on the surface significantly more difficult.
Despite a large-scale deployment, the situation remained not fully under control, as strong winds, high waves and unpredictable underwater currents severely hampered work at sea.
Coordinated multi-agency response
According to the Incident Command Center, units led by Thai-MECC, the Royal Thai Navy Region 3, the Phuket provincial administration and other local and national agencies were working in close coordination.
For containment and clean-up, the ships HTMS Hua Hin, HTMS Man Nok, HTMS Pun Yee, Patrol Boat 272, Patrol Boat 114 and MSCR 4012 were deployed, while helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and drones monitored the spread of the oil slicks from the air.
International expertise and forecast data
Additional specialist support came from the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF), which is globally focused on ship-sourced oil incidents.
For operational planning, teams used physical and geographic data such as wind patterns, currents and forecasts of oil slick drift to direct resources more effectively.
Logistical bottlenecks
The depth of more than 60 metres at the wreck site initially made diving operations difficult and required specialised equipment and expert personnel, which were arranged by the insurer.
At the same time, logistical challenges delayed the delivery of key equipment such as oil booms and anchoring systems needed to better protect shorelines and island beaches.
Risks to marine life
The DMCR warned that oil incidents posed a serious threat to marine ecosystems far beyond the visible pollution of beaches.
“As the oil breaks down, toxins can enter food chains, damage coral reefs and affect rare and protected species, which is why we are closely monitoring conditions around the Racha Islands and other affected areas together with research centres.”
said DMCR, marine and coastal agency.
Monitoring and beach clean-up
Special beach clean-up teams were placed on standby and, according to officials, were being sent immediately to locations where new oil landings were reported.
Authorities called on businesses, including hotels and beach operators, to help remove oil deposits quickly in order to limit long-term environmental damage and protect Phuket’s image as a tourist destination.
Outlook and reporting channels
The response command expressed confidence that sealing the remaining leaks would gradually reduce the volume of escaping oil, allowing surface pollution to recede and clean-up work to become more effective.
People who spotted oil slicks or needed assistance at sea were urged to contact Maritime Security Command Region 3, which could be reached via a 24-hour hotline on 1465.