Thai Oil Offloading Pipe Leaks 30 Tons Of Crude

Thai Oil offloading pipe leaks 30 tons of crude oil into the sea

Situation under control says Navy as slick moves away from Pattaya beaches

Wind and the tide have pushed the oil slick into the Koh Khang Khao (Bat Island) area.

A pipe offloading crude from an oil tanker to a Thai Oil refinery broke, spilling a large amount of oil into the sea and creating a three-mile long slick.

The accident happened at Udom Cove, where the Tokyo oil tanker Ryuho Maru had weighed anchor to offload.

Thai Oil officials sent out inspection boats to assess the situation and cordon off the vessel. It took crew members on the tanker 30 minutes to close the valves, during which time not less than 30 tons of crude oil spilled into the sea.

Vice Admiral Jamnong Kittpeerachol, commander-in-chief of RTN Fleet Region 1 and coordinating with the Department of Sea Transport, the Merchant Navy and Thai Oil said on November 21 that the situation was under control.

Preparations are now being made from the air and coastal inspection vessels to remedy the problem of the oil slick. Rear Admiral Thaveewutt Phungpipatt, chief of staff RTN Fleet Region 1 together with the Region 1 director Captain Ratsadang Theeranaet flew over the area in an S-76 helicopter. They inspected the area from Koh Larn, Koh Nok, Koh Khang Khao, Koh Sichang and Pattaya Bay and found that the slick had split into two.

One part is to the east of Koh Khang Khao, and the other to the north-west of the same island. The oil has also reached the beach of the island to the north and east where a large number of houses are located.

Vice Admiral Jamnong said that patrol boats have been relocated to patrol the area and helicopters are flying twice a day to report on the movements of the slick.

Calculations carried out by the Navy Metrological Department estimated that from its origin at 13 degrees 13 minutes north longitude 100 degrees 80 minutes latitude, the oil slick is moving at 230 degrees from Koh Kangkaw and will not reach Pattaya or affect its tourism. Northerly winds are also moving it away. The only area affected so far is Koh Kangkaaw.

Reporters interviewed Sanit Bunmarchai, member of Pattaya City council and president of the administration committee for Pattaya order who said that as soon as he heard the news he sent out rescue boats to inspect the coast and coordinated with beach inspectors.

Officials reported to him that the situation was under control and no sightings of oil slicks were reported. But inspections will continue to be carried out to prepare in advance for the untoward.

-Pattaya Mail

Patcharapol Parnrak

25 Nov 2005