CHON BURI: Authorities estimate the cost of the damages from the cargo ship explosion at Laem Chabang port last Saturday to reach at least 100 million baht, as calls mount for better monitoring of freighters loaded with toxic chemicals.
There were "many alleged irregularities" especially regarding the vessel's docking procedure as well as how the shipping containers burst, leading to toxic smoke spewing into the air, Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn said on Friday.
All in all, "this is a lesson for the nation on ways to deal with its major sea ports", he said.
Better safety measures are needed as the government is pushing ahead with its third phase development plan for Laem Chabang port as part of its ambitious flagship Eastern Economic Corridor, or EEC, scheme, Mr Pailin added.
Looking at the financial impact alone, Mr. Anat Machima, Senior Operations Manager, Hutchison Laemchabang Terminal Ltd, said the accident is likely to lead to huge losses because the accident has blocked cargo ships from using part of the area where the explosion took place, making it nearly impossible for workers to unload goods containers.
According to port officials and police, the KMTC Hong Kong suffered an accident in the early hours of May 25 after mooring at Terminal A2 of the port. One container exploded and caused others to catch fire, triggering an 18-hour fire-fighting operation to extinguish the blaze.
At least 228 people were rushed to hospital with burns, eye irritation and breathing difficulties.
Including others who sustained less serious injuries and whose property or belongings were damaged, the number stood at 1,225, according to Laem Chabang port chief Yutthana Mokkhao.
The vessel carrying 672 containers had left China for Laem Chabang port where it unloaded 460 of them. The others were be transported to Samut Prakan port in Samut Prakan and Ho Chi Minh port in Vietnam.
Thirteen containers on the ship were later found to contain 325 tonnes of a "bleaching agent", which were all destined for Samut Prakan, the port chief said.
The Pollution Control Department, which is testing samples of seawater collected around the port for pollutants, identified the bleaching chemical as calcium hypochlorite.
The substance is dangerous after burning as it emits chlorine gas and when mixed with water, it becomes hydrochloric acid. The droplets are very harmful to people's health.
Investigators suspected the vessel operator declared only some goods when it arrived at Laem Chabang.
"The ship didn't inform officials of all the products as if it wanted to conceal some, including the chemical in the 13 containers," Mr Pailin said.
This raises questions because all ships are required by international standards to declare hazardous goods upon arrival at ports, he said.