Firemen Scramble As Thai Warship Catches Fire

[webfact]

Firemen scramble as Thai warship catches fire

Phuket Gazette

Emergency responders rush to the scene as smoke billows out of the retired warship HTMS Lanta in Krabi Town this morning. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

GUTTED: Police officers inspect the engine room, where they believe the fire started from welding sparks while workmen carried out repairs. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Firefighters this morning scrambled to contain a fire that broke out on the retired warship RTMS Lanta, now a museum and tourist attraction in the heart Krabi Town.

Fortunately, no people were injured in the blaze.

Lt Col Thongchai Sengrod of the Krabi Town Police said that he received a report at 11am that smoke was billowing out of the ship, kept in dry dock in front of the Krabi Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) offices in Krabi Town.

“Fire trucks from Krabi OrBorJor were already there when we arrived. We quickly called for assistance from Krabi Town Municipality fire stations as well as from the Sai Thai and the Ao Nang Tambon Administration Organizations [OrBorTor],” he said.

“Firefighters took about 30 minutes to extinguish the fire,” Col Thongchai said.

From their initial investigation, police believe the fire broke out in the engine room, where workmen were welding while carrying out repairs to the retired warship.

“We found oil stains near where the men were welding, so we believe that welding sparks started the fire,” Col Thongchai said.

“Fortunately, nobody was injured or killed. We have yet to fully assess the extent of the damage,” he added.

Col Thongchai explained that the HTMS Lanta, a Tank Landing Ship measuring 98 meters long and 15.5m wide, was built by the US Navy in 1945.

Commissioned as the USS Stone Country, the ship served in the Mid-Pacific in the 1960s and assisted in operations during the Vietnam War.

The US Navy handed over the warship to Royal Thai Navy in 1970, when it was renamed the HTMS Lanta 714.

The ship was decommissioned from active service on April 30, 2007.

Click here to see a video report of the HTMS Lanta being installed in the dry dock.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16334.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-07-04

[mistitikimikis]

The Lanta three years ago in Bangkok with a bit of history:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_uni/3686924737/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_uni/3793553603/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_uni/3793553771/

[PETERTHEEATER]

Emergency responders rush to the scene as smoke billows out of the retired warship HTMS Lanta in Krabi Town this morning.

I can see that they are well prepared with protective clothing and equipment!

[sportsman69]

Emergency responders rush to the scene as smoke billows out of the retired warship HTMS Lanta in Krabi Town this morning.

I can see that they are well prepared with protective clothing and equipment!

Yeah. Quite unlike the BKK oil fire BBQ this morning. There they all seemed properly attired. Hardhats, no thongs and hoses not looking like a garden sprinkler soakit hose.

Probable reason is that the Oil refinery has its own specialist team and must conform to something regarded as normal by international standards.

Somchai and the welder plus generator with a can of gasoline close at hand, gets them every time. Kaboom.!! At least they have no plan to put Thai into space, come to think of it, this could have been a failed practice run.!!

Edited July 4, 2012 by sportsman69

[TheGhostWithin]

Does the Royal Thai Navy not have its' own firefighters? So, they could not protect their own fleet in the case of fire at sea in this case? A bit of a concern. Luckily their enemies would mostly attack by land and out of reach of naval fire.

Thailand, the hub of firemen without fire equipment!

[sportsman69]

Does the Royal Thai Navy not have its' own firefighters? So, they could not protect their own fleet in the case of fire at sea in this case? A bit of a concern. Luckily their enemies would mostly attack by land and out of reach of naval fire.

Thailand, the hub of firemen without fire equipment!

Agree with your bottom line, but if you read the story and associated links it is no longer Navy property. I believe it is now a rusting hulk in the confines of Krabi port under the jurisdiction of the Or Bor Tor requiring the waste of sheetloads of money to turn / maintain it, into a museum.

Basically a Krabi maritime version of Phuket's Welcome Gate.

[stevenl]

Any connection with Phuket?

[sportsman69]

Any connection with Phuket?

No need to get snotty. None whatsoever except this story is in Phuket news, so just drawing a comparison.

[LucidLucifer]

Thailand, the hub of firemen without fire equipment!

Considering the long running sh1t-storm the last time some was bought, they are probably too scared to get any.

[stevenl]

Any connection with Phuket?

No need to get snotty. None whatsoever except this story is in Phuket news, so just drawing a comparison.

Who is drawing a comparison? All I'm saying is, why is this thread in the Phuket news. Makes no sense at all.

[sportsman69]

Any connection with Phuket?

No need to get snotty. None whatsoever except this story is in Phuket news, so just drawing a comparison.

Who is drawing a comparison? All I'm saying is, why is this thread in the Phuket news. Makes no sense at all.

Maybe the Blues Brothers can answer that. Certainly .

[NomadJoe]

Not a warship. A cargo ship.

[KeyserSoze01]

If "oil stains" were combustible by welding sparks, I would have been dead a long, long time ago.