The SEALLOYD ARC sank near Phuket, spilling oil and carrying 297 containers, 14 of which are hazardous materials. All crew members were rescued.
The Panama-flagged container ship SEALLOYD ARC, operating a route from Malaysia to Bangladesh, sank on February 7th after taking on water off the coast of Phuket Island, Thailand. Following the incident, a large-scale oil spill occurred in the area, raising alarms for the marine environment.
The vessel was reported to have been carrying approximately 297 containers, 14 of which contained hazardous materials. All cargo, along with the 4,339 gross ton vessel, went to the bottom of the sea.
The ship had departed from Port Klang in Malaysia and was en route to Chattogram Port in Bangladesh when it began to list severely and take on water while navigating south of Phuket.
All 16 crew members were rescued in an operation involving the Thai navy and local boats; there were no injuries reported.
Following the sinking, a large oil slick formed in the Andaman Sea. Aerial reconnaissance revealed that the oil had spread approximately 7.2 kilometers in length and exceeded 1 kilometer in width.
As authorities initiated barrier and cleanup efforts to prevent the pollution from reaching the shore, the incident was classified as a 'large-scale maritime accident.'
In the wake of the accident, a navigation warning was issued for vessels operating in the area due to the scattered containers and oil spill. Rescue teams are continuing their efforts to collect the floating containers and limit environmental pollution.
Experts indicate that the presence of containers carrying hazardous materials significantly increases environmental risks, and the incident is being closely monitored in terms of its impact on tourism and fishing.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
