Authorities in Prachuap Khiri Khan province are searching for a leaking oil tanker after oil slicks washed up onto beaches at Hua Hin.
Hua Hin administrators and Prachuap Khiri Khan marine officials on Wednesday afternoon filed a complaint about a possible leak with police in Hua Hin district after receiving information from fishermen.
Suriya Kopatta, the Prachuap Khiri Khan marine chief, said fishermen told officials that an oil tanker of 60 to 70 metres in length was leaking oil while travelling between Mae Klong Bay in Samut Songkhram province to Mahachai Bay in Samut Sakhon province at the night of Oct 22. That could have been the cause of pollution along 10 kilometres of Hua Hin beach.
Witnesses could not identify or photograph the tanker due to darkness, he said. The provincial marine chief ordered subordinates to check records to find out which boats were travelling on the route at that time.
The Prachuap Khiri Khan office of the Marine Department complained about violations to the marine navigation law which imposes a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 60,000 baht and compensation for oil slick removal and environmental rehabilitation. The Hua Hin municipality based its complaint on the cleanliness law.
Less oil was washing ashore on the Hua Hin beach Wednesday afternoon as workers continue to clean up the popular beach.
Prachuap Khiri Khan authorities file their complaint with Hua Hin police Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem)