Samut Sakhon: An oil tanker capsized and sank just offshore in Muang district yesterday. Oil spilling from the tanker has already affected coastal fishermen in the area.
The tanker, carrying used oil, sank about 3-4 kilometres off the coastal fishing area of Moo 8 in tambon Phantai Norasingh.
Officials from the Marine Department on patrol boats sprayed an oil dispersant chemical to stop the slick from spreading further, while another tanker was being used to pull the stricken vessel from the 6.5-metre deep water.
Surachai Buraphanonthachai, director of the provincial marine office, said the boat is Thai-owned, 16m long and 4.5m wide, and it was carrying about 60,000 litres of used oil.
The tanker was heading to the shore in Samut Sakhon to offload its cargo to lorries for delivery to oil-recycling companies when it sank, Mr Surachai said.
According to the five crew members, water leaking into its engine room could have caused it to sink, although they could not say how that could have happened.
The rescued crew members also said they had closed the oil valves before the tanker sank, Mr Surachai said.
Samut Sakhon governor Arthit Boonyasophat said the impact of an oil spill at the spot where the tanker sank would not be severe, although there are growing concerns about the coastal fishing estuary near the shore.
He said that strong winds blew the slick towards the shore where there are a lot of aquatic marine farms which raise crabs, mussels and other shellfish.
Pol Lt Arthit said he had told village heads to survey the damage and compile a list of affected fishermen in preparation for filing both civil and criminal suits against the tanker's owner.
Pol Lt Col Thaweep Ngoendee of the Khok Kham police station, said police will summon the tanker's owner for questioning and will consider taking legal action against him or her.
Affected fishermen have complained about the oil spill which has reached the coast. Farmed crabs have already been covered in oil.
Staporn Butrda, director of the provincial marine and coastal resources office, said it would take about two days to get rid of the spill.
He added that it has also affected more than 100 mussel farmers.