Pictures courtesy of Amarin

A large fishing boat was destroyed by fire and sank off the mouth of the Tha Sala estuary in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in the early hours of 21 January 2026, while all four crew members were rescued safely. The blaze engulfed the entire vessel, causing extensive damage and the total loss of the boat and its equipment, but no injuries were reported.

The incident occurred at around 3.00am on 21 January 2026, near the mouth of the Tha Sala estuary in Tha Sala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. Rescue workers from the Tai Tek Siang Tung Tha Sala foundation were alerted to a fishing boat adrift and on fire in the area and deployed jet skis and rescue personnel to investigate.

When the rescue team arrived, the boat was already fully ablaze and the fire was too intense to be brought under control. Efforts focused on locating the crew, as flames had spread rapidly across the vessel and thick smoke was visible over the water near the estuary.

Rescuers later confirmed that all four crew members had already been picked up by another vessel after being forced to abandon ship and float in the sea. The crew were brought ashore safely and were not reported to have suffered injuries, avoiding what could have been a fatal outcome given the severity of the fire.

The fishing boat eventually burned out and sank beneath, taking with it all equipment and systems on board. Losses included satellite navigation systems, sonar equipment used to measure depth and locate fish shoals, electrical engine systems and various fishing tools, with the total value estimated at several million baht.

Preliminary assessments suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit within the fuel storage area of the boat, which led to the rapid and violent spread of flames. Due to the location and intensity of the fire, no firefighting operation was able to prevent the vessel from sinking.

Authorities have noted that fires on fishing vessels often spread quickly because of fuel, electrical wiring and flammable materials stored on board. Such incidents highlight ongoing safety risks for fishing crews operating at night and in coastal waters.

Amarin reported that the owner of the fishing boat is in the process of formally reporting the incident to investigators. Police and relevant officials are expected to carry out further enquiries to try to confirm the exact cause of the fire and to document the extent of the losses for legal and insurance purposes.

Key Takeaways

• A fishing boat caught fire and sank off Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, early on 21 January 2026.

• All four crew members were rescued safely after being picked up by another vessel.

• The fire is initially believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit near the fuel storage area.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Amarin 2026-01-22

 

 

UPDATE

Fishing Boat Fire Revealed as Illegal Oil Smuggling Vessel

Picture courtesy of Amarin

A vessel that caught fire and sank off the coast of Tha Sala district in Nakhon Si Thammarat has been identified not as a fishing boat, but as an illegal oil smuggling vessel, according to local sources. The blaze, which broke out at around 3.00am on 21 January 2026, caused the vessel to sink approximately 2–3 kilometres from shore, leaving oil slicks across a wide area of sea. Four crew members survived after being rescued by another boat, while the wreckage was lost beneath the surface.

Initial reports described the incident as a fishing boat fire at the mouth of Tha Sala Bay in Tha Sala subdistrict. At the time, authorities stated that the vessel had sunk and advised the owner to file a complaint with investigators at Tha Sala Police Station. The intensity of the fire, however, quickly raised questions among officials familiar with maritime activity in the area.

On 22 January 2026, a local official disclosed that the vessel was in fact transporting illicit fuel destined for delivery at Pak Nam Tha Sung Bon, a known hub for illegal oil shipments in Tha Sala district. The source noted that the fire was unusually severe, consistent with a large volume of fuel on board. The vessel reportedly had no registered name, no documented port entry or exit records and made no distress call through official maritime control systems.

According to the same source, legitimate fishing vessels operating within the system are required to register movements and can request emergency assistance when incidents occur. In this case, no such records exist and no owner has come forward to report the loss of the vessel. After the fire, another boat removed all four crew members from the scene, leaving behind only floating oil residue as evidence.

“From yesterday until now, no police report has been filed, there is no vessel name, no owner identified, and no port movement recorded,” the official said. “People in the area are afraid to talk about the incident and the sinking of the vessel has effectively destroyed the evidence.”

The disappearance of the vessel is expected to complicate any investigation into the illegal fuel trade in the area. Pak Nam Tha Sung has long been identified by authorities as a major landing point for smuggled oil, and the loss of the wreck may allow operations to continue without immediate disruption.

Amarin reported that the absence of formal complaints, vessel documentation, or physical evidence means investigators face significant challenges. Local authorities are expected to rely on intelligence sources and environmental monitoring of the oil spill as they assess next steps, while scrutiny of illegal fuel transport networks in southern Thailand is likely to continue.

Key Takeaways

• The vessel that burned and sank off Tha Sala on 21 January 2026 was an illegal oil smuggling ship, not a fishing boat.

• Four crew members survived, but the lack of registration or reports has left authorities with little evidence.

• The incident highlights ongoing illegal fuel transport activity in Pak Nam Tha Sung, a known smuggling area.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Amarin 2026-01-22