Pictures courtesy of Amarin

A cargo vessel was reported in distress off the coast of Phuket, prompting an urgent maritime rescue that resulted in all 16 crew members, including the captain, being brought safely ashore. The incident occurred near Koh Kaew Noi, off Rawai subdistrict in Mueang Phuket district and raised immediate concerns over crew safety and navigational risks in the area.

The emergency was reported at 3.50pm on 7 February 2026, when authorities were alerted that a cargo ship was in a critical condition and at risk of going under. Initial information indicated that 10 crew members were on board and awaiting assistance as the situation unfolded, with officials closely monitoring the developing incident.

Following the alert, the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC), Region 3, rapidly mobilised resources to respond. Patrol vessel Tor 272 and Thai-MECC vessel 4012 were dispatched to the scene to carry out rescue operations and assess the condition of the stricken ship.

As rescue teams approached the area near Koh Kaew Noi, efforts focused on securing the safety of all crew members and preventing further escalation. Authorities confirmed there were no reports of missing persons during the operation, easing fears of casualties as the response continued.

Subsequent updates clarified that a total of 16 people, including the ship’s captain, were successfully rescued from the vessel. All were transferred safely from the endangered cargo ship, and no injuries were reported during the evacuation process.

The rescued crew members were taken back to shore by the vessel Khai Muk Andaman. Officials stated that the situation at sea remained under close observation while awaiting full operational reports from personnel involved in the rescue. The condition of the cargo vessel itself and the cause of incident has not been detailed at this time.

Maritime authorities have not released further information regarding potential environmental impacts or navigational disruptions resulting from the incident. Authorities indicated that any additional developments would be communicated as soon as confirmed information becomes available.

Key Takeaway

• A cargo ship reported in distress off Phuket on 7 February 2026, triggering an emergency rescue operation.

• All 16 crew members, including the captain, were rescued without injuries and returned safely to shore.

• Thai-MECC Region 3 deployed patrol vessels Tor 272 and 4012 to assist in the operation.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Amarin 2026-02-07

 

 

Calm weather, wondering what went wrong.

UPDATE

Thai Navy Rescues All 16 Crew From Stricken Cargo Ship

Picture courtesy of Amarin

The Royal Thai Navy has successfully rescued all 16 crew members from a cargo vessel that was at risk of sinking off the coast of Phuket on 7 February. The operation was carried out after the ship encountered difficulties near Koh Kaew Noi, around 10 nautical miles from shore. All crew were brought ashore safely, with authorities confirming there were no reported casualties.

The vessel involved was identified as the SEALLOYD ARC, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship with a displacement of 4,339 tonnes. The incident was reported to the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (ศรชล.ภาค 3), which assessed the situation as posing an immediate risk of the ship sinking. The location of the incident placed the vessel in open waters near Phuket, requiring a coordinated maritime response.

Rear Admiral Parat Rattanachaiphan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, said naval forces were mobilised immediately after receiving the report. The Third Naval Area Command took charge of the operation, deploying naval vessels and aircraft to the scene without delay. Coordination was also carried out with multiple related agencies to manage both rescue and environmental risk.

In addition to extracting the crew, authorities implemented measures to monitor the possibility of fuel oil leakage from the damaged vessel. Preparations were made to request oil containment booms to minimise any potential impact on the marine environment. A joint war room was also established with provincial authorities and relevant agencies to manage the situation closely and ensure a unified response.

The rescue operation resulted in all 16 crew members being accounted for and safely evacuated from the vessel. They were transported ashore to undergo the necessary post-rescue procedures in line with standard maritime protocols. Officials have not yet released details on the condition of the vessel itself or whether salvage operations will follow.

The Royal Thai Navy reiterated its commitment to maritime safety and emergency response. Authorities confirmed that naval forces remain on standby around the clock to assist seafarers and members of the public in distress at sea. The navy also emphasised its ongoing responsibility to protect national maritime interests and preserve marine resources.

Amarin reported that further updates are expected once assessments of the vessel and surrounding area are completed. Officials continue to monitor the situation to ensure there are no secondary risks related to navigation or environmental impact.

Key Takeaways

• The Royal Thai Navy rescued all 16 crew members from the cargo ship SEALLOYD ARC on 7 February 2569.

• Naval vessels and aircraft were deployed to assist the ship, which was at risk of sinking near Koh Kaew Noi, Phuket.

• Authorities confirmed all crew were safely brought ashore and environmental risks are being monitored.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Amarin 2026-02-07

 

 

New dive site, hopefully not too deep ...

If it is part of the Russian shadow fleet, I hope it on the bottom of the sea now.

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

New dive site, hopefully not too deep ...

I don't think it's close to the Racha islands, probably closer to rawai.

It would be interesting to know what country it is registered in.......

2 minutes ago, brian69 said:

It would be interesting to know what country it is registered in.......

Answered already.

"The vessel involved was identified as the SEALLOYD ARC, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship with a displacement of 4,339 tonnes"

UPDATE

Royal Thai Navy Launches Salvage of Sunken Ship Off Phuket

Pictures courtesy of Naewna

The Royal Thai Navy has begun coordinating a salvage operation for the Panama-flagged cargo ship SEALLOYD ARC, which has now sank off the coast of Phuket, triggering an oil spill and scattering more than 200 containers at sea. The incident has prompted environmental concerns and navigation warnings in busy waters near Promthep Cape.

The ship started to capsize on February 7, while travelling from Malaysia to Bangladesh, in waters off the west of Ko Kaeo Yai, close to Promthep Cape. Authorities reported that over 200 containers, with 14 containing hazardous materials, were lost into the sea and an oil leak was detected soon after the vessel sank, raising concerns about potential impacts on marine and coastal ecosystems.

Vice Admiral Weerudom Muangjeen, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command, said the Royal Thai Navy is working with relevant agencies to plan and carry out the recovery of the vessel. He confirmed that multiple agencies are involved in assessing damage, retrieving containers and containing and removing oil slicks from the affected area.

The response includes personnel from the Royal Thai Navy, Phuket’s disaster prevention and mitigation authorities, the marine police, volunteers from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation, and officials from Marine and Coastal Resources Office 10. Survey operations are ongoing to evaluate environmental risks and support clean-up efforts.

Authorities have issued a warning to seafarers to navigate with caution near latitude 7°42′42″ N and longitude 98°16′51.6″ E, where floating containers and residual oil may pose hazards to vessels. The area is a key maritime route, increasing the importance of swift recovery and clear communication.

The Third Naval Area Command’s operations centre said it was initially alerted after SEALLOYD ARC took on water after sustaining damage, leaving the ship listing and at risk of sinking near Ko Kaeo Noi, approximately 10 nautical miles from the command’s pier. At the time, 16 crew members were stranded on board.

In response, Vice Admiral Weerudom, who also serves as Director of the Region 3 Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, ordered immediate assistance. A Tor 272 boat and a high-speed patrol boat were dispatched, with coordination from the Naraintorn Khai Muk Phuket Centre, resulting in the successful rescue of all crew members.

Salvage planning and environmental monitoring are continuing as authorities work to recover containers, mitigate pollution risks and restore maritime safety in the area.

Key Takeaways

• The cargo ship SEALLOYD ARC sank off Phuket on February 7, spilling oil and losing over 200 containers.

• All 16 crew members were rescued safely following a coordinated naval response.

• Salvage and environmental protection operations are ongoing, with navigation warnings in place.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Naewna 2026-02-08

 

 

On 2/8/2026 at 8:44 AM, brian69 said:

It would be interesting to know what country it is registered in.......

On 2/8/2026 at 8:44 AM, brian69 said:

It would be interesting to know what country it is registered in.......

In one of the photos, you can see the country of registration, namely Panama.

As said in the report : "Authorities reported that over 200 containers, with 14 containing hazardous materials"

What could be "hazardous materials" in the 14 containers ???

21 minutes ago, Look Chang said:

As said in the report : "Authorities reported that over 200 containers, with 14 containing hazardous materials"

What could be "hazardous materials" in the 14 containers ???

Could be anything from a BEV, batteries of any type, anything containing petrol or gases of, medical waste, any corrosive chemical (ex: chlorine), aerosols, paints or even dry ice (though doubtful) if used on container ships.

On 2/8/2026 at 8:44 AM, brian69 said:

It would be interesting to know what country it is registered in.......

Uhm, OP states Pamama...

Well done to the Royal Thai Navy for the rescue, there are 16 grateful souls enjoying some Thai hospitality as a result.

1 hour ago, mikebike said:

Uhm, OP states Pamama...

I'm not saying it's not Panamanian. But it wouldn't be the first vessel to fly a false flag, especially this year.

2 hours ago, impulse said:

I'm not saying it's not Panamanian. But it wouldn't be the first vessel to fly a false flag, especially this year.

Well, then you can do the digging thru shell corps and maritime registrations. 😉😁

Calm seas and calm weather, what happened for it to suddenly list to one side, then slowly sink? A hole magically appeared on one side of it under the waterline?

https://shipwrecklog.com/log/2026/02/sealloyd-arc/

This link gives the details, most of which are already covered, but worth a look.

4 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

https://shipwrecklog.com/log/2026/02/sealloyd-arc/

This link gives the details, most of which are already covered, but worth a look.

Thank you, very informative.

I have taken the video from the linked site and posted below.

For those curious about new dive site... For non-decompression recreational divers it may be possible to get to either the side of the hull or superstructure depending on how she is laying on the bottom. She appears to be in around 60 meters of water. Currents here can be quite strong (1+ knot according to the charts), so it would need to be at times of neutral tides for best access.

From marinetraffic.com: SEALLOYD ARC (IMO: 8682036) is a General Cargo and is sailing under the flag of PANAMA. Her length overall (LOA) is 114.96 meters and her width is 16 meters.

From a very old raster-scanned Thai nautical chart, the location is right where the black triangle is in this screenshot:

1 hour ago, Packer said:

Calm seas and calm weather, what happened for it to suddenly list to one side, then slowly sink? A hole magically appeared on one side of it under the waterline?

There are things called "Thru-hulls" on all boats to let water in for cooling, out from the bilge and a myriad of other purposes. Sometimes they break. Valves fail. Propeller stuffing boxes fail. Rudder bearings fail. Any number of ways for a boat to sink in otherwise calm weather due to mechanical failure.

She does appear to be reasonably ship-shape at least paint-wise. But that means little in this case... older vessels, especially feeder cargo vessels such as this in SE Asia are often times not maintained very well.

Cool, it's already on Navionics app (Now called Garmin Boating)

Whoever put it there listed as superstructure or other portion showing above the surface. That bodes well for diving!

On 2/8/2026 at 8:44 AM, brian69 said:

It would be interesting to know what country it is registered in.......

It does say PANAMA on the back..

22 minutes ago, n8sail said:

There are things called "Thru-hulls" on all boats to let water in for cooling, out from the bilge and a myriad of other purposes. Sometimes they break. Valves fail. Propeller stuffing boxes fail. Rudder bearings fail. Any number of ways for a boat to sink in otherwise calm weather due to mechanical failure.

She does appear to be reasonably ship-shape at least paint-wise. But that means little in this case... older vessels, especially feeder cargo vessels such as this in SE Asia are often times not maintained very well.

Ballast or fuel transfer issues are often to blame, or if it's carrying ore or fertiliser etc in the internal holds, that could have shifted, or a combination of the two. When that happens there's not a lot the crew can do to right the vessel again. Certain such cargoes can behave like liquids: liquefaction.