A massive oil slick has been discovered just 4 nautical miles from Bang Saray Beach, sending shockwaves through the local community and environmental groups. The slick, stretching over 2 kilometres, was first reported in the afternoon, igniting fears of its devastating impact on marine life and the booming tourism industry.

 

Bang Saray Community Enterprise for Tourism and Sports chairperson Udom Jittthanom confirmed the grim reality after a thorough investigation via speedboat and aerial surveillance. He disclosed that the oil was initially spotted by a boat operator near Khram Island before spreading towards Koh Ped and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN)’s Chumphol Naval School. The slick is now dangerously close to the shores of Bang Saray Beach.

 

The discovery has left local fishermen and residents in a state of panic, urging authorities to take immediate action.

 

“If this contamination isn’t tackled now, the damage to our marine ecosystems and tourism could be catastrophic.”

 

ourism is the lifeblood of this coastal community, and any harm to its beaches could cripple the local economy.

 

Udom has already sounded the alarm to Mayor Somwang Eamdee of Bang Saray Municipality, pushing for urgent measures to contain the spill before it reaches the beach.

 

The mayor is expected to spearhead an investigation to uncover the source of the spill, determining whether it resulted from illegal discharge or an accidental leak. Those responsible will face the full force of the law, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-23

 

 

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Oil Spill in Bang Saray Bay Sparks Urgent Cleanup Efforts

 

 

Local officials in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district are racing against time to prevent an oil spill from reaching Bang Saray Beach. Yesterday, August 22, residents and tourists noticed oil slicks about 3 to 4 kilometres offshore. The spill, believed to be from a large ship, remains unidentified.

 

Government responses include teams from the Bang Saray Sub-District Office, the Maritime Interests Protection Centre, the First Naval Area Command, and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Boom barriers have been installed to block the oil, and cleanup operations are underway.

 

Local fisherman Prajob Rengreep, 60, reported first seeing the spill near Rang Kwian Island days ago. He estimates it to be engine oil, not linked to local fishing boats. Rengreep's concerns were echoed by Rattanawalee Kongsanor, President of Bang Saray Local Fisheries, who warned of severe risks to marine life and the tourism industry if the oil reaches the beach.

 

Efforts to contain and remove the oil are intense, with expectations to complete the task today, August 23. No word yet on investigations into the spill’s origin or potential penalties for responsible parties.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-08-23

 

 

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12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The mayor is expected to spearhead an investigation to uncover the source of the spill, determining whether it resulted from illegal discharge or an accidental leak. Those responsible will face the full force of the law

Good luck with that.

This is an annual event.

This has happened before and more survellience and swifter cleanup teams established  as a priority, plus increasing penalties which seem to be no deterrent...

Would that eventually be more useful than a new submarine ...?

Edited August 23, 20241 yr by nobodysfriend

"Pristine" what a friggin joke.  Anyone that that thinks any mainland beach is pristine has been living in. chit-hole under a rock all their life.  

Pristine??? From which hole did you pull that one?

Maybe 50-100 years ago. 
 

adjective

1. in its original condition; unspoilt.

   "pristine copies of an early magazine"

   • clean and fresh as if new; spotless.

     "a pristine white shirt"

Edited August 24, 20241 yr by Zack61
Update with further information

Difficult for me to think of that oil slick as a 'massive' oil spill.

Yes, I know writers love attention grabbing headlines, but this was a massive oil spill

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-39223308

6 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Difficult for me to think of that oil slick as a 'massive' oil spill.

Yes, I know writers love attention grabbing headlines, but this was a massive oil spill

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-39223308

I remember it

8 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Difficult for me to think of that oil slick as a 'massive' oil spill.

Yes, I know writers love attention grabbing headlines, but this was a massive oil spill

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-39223308

 

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Good luck with that.

Determining the source doest alter the devastation it will have on marine life in the area, his efforts should be towards detaining its spread and getting it cleaned up!! Typical !!!

sure with all technology, RTP will find the culprits lol

2 hours ago, NedR69 said:

"Pristine" what a friggin joke.  Anyone that that thinks any mainland beach is pristine has been living in. chit-hole under a rock all their life.  

Sorry Ned but if you have been to Bang Saray, Nam Rang or any of the beaches adjacent to Utapao or the Naval base that I have seen, pristine is the adjective that I would use. If they do fall short it's not by much.

3 hours ago, NedR69 said:

"Pristine" what a friggin joke.  Anyone that that thinks any mainland beach is pristine has been living in. chit-hole under a rock all their life.  

When was the last time you were at Bang Saray beach?  Have you ever been?
 

Was there two weeks ago and water and beach are clean and beautiful. Why do you post  negative nonsense ? 

Edited August 24, 20241 yr by Wake Up1

Bit hard to tell from the photos, more aerial shots would helpful, but on first impression looks like some ship has flushed their tanks. Probably hoping on bad weather to disperse the evidence. 

It certainly doesn't look 'massive'. It looks like a small oil spill that will disperse if you spray a bit of detergent on it. Better still find the culprit and the gang that are smuggling oil and make them pay for the clean up and spend a few years in the slammer.

Oil slick?

 

 

That'll be the Cambodians......mark my words.

5 hours ago, NedR69 said:

"Pristine" what a friggin joke.  Anyone that that thinks any mainland beach is pristine has been living in. chit-hole under a rock all their life.  

I guess you don't get out much.  Plenty of 'pristine' mainland beaches in TH.  Although you do need to leave CM, Patts, Hua Hin or Krung Thep

Edited August 24, 20241 yr by KhunLA

5 hours ago, Zack61 said:

Pristine??? From which hole did you pull that one?

Maybe 50-100 years ago. 
 

 

adjective

1. in its original condition; unspoilt.

   "pristine copies of an early magazine"

   • clean and fresh as if new; spotless.

     "a pristine white shirt"

Superrich only change pristine dollar bills 😒

6 hours ago, arick said:

This is an annual event.

What do you know that the rest of us don't?

4 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Difficult for me to think of that oil slick as a 'massive' oil spill.

Yes, I know writers love attention grabbing headlines, but this was a massive oil spill

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-39223308

So this is a competition? " My oil spill's bigger than yours"?

Have to say the reporting and comments are of a very low level. The article is full of very "dramatic" language but is hardly informative or even accurate.  Most of the comments are as always, a series  cynical comments to cover an underlying ignorance.

The truth is that Sattahip is a naval base and the area to the East is one of the biggest oil and gas import terminals in S.E. Asia..

There is a huge amount of heavy shipping in this area.

The problem the authorities have to address is how quickly this leak was spotted and how quickly they have taken action to mitigate the situation.

It should also be remembered that almost any process of removing the oil can be just as devastating to the marine environment.

As this is a tourist area, one has to be concerned that they will pursue and "out of sight, out of mind" policy of sweeping it under the carpet .

4 hours ago, paul1804 said:

Determining the source doest alter the devastation it will have on marine life in the area, his efforts should be towards detaining its spread and getting it cleaned up!! Typical !!!

Of course the priority is cleaning it up.

However, it would be good to catch whoever caused this, to ensure they don't do it again.

It is possible to do more than one thing in parallel. 

4 hours ago, paul1804 said:

Determining the source doest alter the devastation it will have on marine life in the area, his efforts should be towards detaining its spread and getting it cleaned up!! Typical !!!

Best they will do is spray it and sink it, problem solved [as far as they are concerned.

34 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Best they will do is spray it and sink it, problem solved [as far as they are concerned.

sure but remember where you are!

 

According to X this slick has come all the way from Cornwall.

 

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I guess you don't get out much.  Plenty of 'pristine' mainland beaches in TH.  Although you do need to leave CM, Patts, Hua Hin or Krung Thep

I agree CM and kT's beaches as well as being crap are almost too difficult to find.

Just back from Pratamnak beach. Got covered in the tar like stuff. Did not see till too late.

17 minutes ago, Kinok Farang said:

I agree CM and kT's beaches as well as being crap are almost too difficult to find.

TH coastline is 3,219 km total, and for those looking and can't find a nice beach ...

... y'all ain't looking very hard 

 

Upper Gulf ... NO, go South 😎