Accident Oil Tanker Crewman Severely Burned in Fire at Sea

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures courtesy of ThaiCH8

 

A crewman on an oil tanker suffered life-threatening burns and another was injured after a blaze broke out while they were mixing paint with thinner, during maintenance on board a vessel off Koh Kut, Trat province.

 

The incident occurred late night on 23 August, aboard the ThaiLaemthong 12, a 2,952-gross-tonne oil tanker, which had been anchored near Cape Tien off Koh Kut and was preparing to sail to Singapore to load fuel for delivery to Cambodia.

 

The Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, Region 1 (MECC), was alerted by the ship’s captain after flames engulfed part of the vessel, leaving two crew members badly hurt. The tanker was heading towards the deep-sea port at Khlong Yai when the request for urgent medical evacuation was made.

 

A response team led by Navy Captain Sasurasak Phakaew, supported by patrol vessel Tor.237, the Royal Thai Police marine unit and emergency medical teams from Trat Province, reached the tanker about two nautical miles offshore. Officials from the Excise Department, Marine Department and Customs also joined the operation.

 

One crewman, identified only as Mr Baek, aged in his 40s, sustained burns to around 70% of his body, including his face, arms and both legs and remains in a critical condition. Another man, named as 36-year-old Mr Oat, suffered less severe burns to his left leg and right arm after rushing to help his colleague when flames erupted.

 

Both men were taken ashore and admitted to Khlong Yai Hospital for treatment.

 

Authorities subsequently conducted an extensive inspection of the ThaiLaemthong 12, which carried 17 crew members including the captain. The vessel, currently empty of cargo, is scheduled to proceed to Singapore to load fuel destined for Cambodia.

File picture of the tanker.
 

Thailaemthon 12 is an oil products tanker and is sailing under the flag of Thailand. Her length overall is 97 metres and her width is 15 metres.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from ThaiCH8 2025-08-24