Following marine oil leakage, Thailand tightens regulations

[webfact]

Energy Resources
Following marine oil leakage, Thailand tightens regulations
The Thai government is tightening environmental regulations in the wake of a massive oil spill on July 27.

BANGKOK, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The Thai government is tightening environmental regulations in the wake of last month's massive oil spill.

The July 27 leak occurred in PTT Global Chemical Plc's pipeline at a mooring used to transfer oil from the seabed to a tanker off the eastern province of Rayong, threatening a major tourist site, Ao Prao beach on the island of Koh Samet. Roughly 13,200 gallons of oil leaked into the sea.

PTT Global Chemical is a part of the state-owned oil and gas company, PTT Plc, known as PTTEP, Thailand's largest energy conglomerate.

Seeking to contain the damage as quickly as possible, PTT Global Chemical sought assistance from the regional office of Oil Spill Response Ltd. in Singapore to send experts.

PTTEP released a statement apologizing for the spill.

"As of today, the oil leak's impact at Prao Bay has been solved and the emergency situation there has now been terminated," the statement said. "The next phase is the recovery of the environment of which a plan is being prepared. This includes a plan for assisting the affected victims of the situation."

Thailand's Energy Ministry said the incident is the fourth major oil spill in Thailand's history. In 2009, another PTTEP subsidiary was involved in the Montara oil spill, one of Australia's worst oil disasters, in the Timor Sea off Western Australia.

Full story: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2013/08/14/Following-marine-oil-leakage-Thailand-tightens-regulations/UPI-36901376512193/

-- UPI 2013-08-15

[NongKhaiKid]

It doesn't matter if it is here or anywhere all the legislation in the world is only as good as enforcement and that's something that Thailand isn't good at doing.

Police officers in soft caps riding motorcycles the wrong way in a one way street then stopping others for no helmets jumps to mind. If the basics don't apply the serious stuff won't either because there's too much money involved and payable for the Nelsonian blind eye.

[tomross46]

The Thai government is tightening environmental regulations in the wake of last month's massive oil spill.

The problem is not regulation, because the politicians making the regulation have no idea on what is going on. The spill was caused by a process that was not being followed, whether the process problem was caused by maintenance not inspecting the connection or pipe.

The media has said that the pipe had holes in it. Is this because a reduction in a maintenance budget to increase profit. Replacing defective pipelines cost money, training cost money, enforcement of processes and procedures cost money. If there is a process problem fix the process. Government regulations solve nothing.

[impulse]

The Thai government is tightening environmental regulations in the wake of last month's massive oil spill.

The problem is not regulation, because the politicians making the regulation have no idea on what is going on. The spill was caused by a process that was not being followed, whether the process problem was caused by maintenance not inspecting the connection or pipe.

The media has said that the pipe had holes in it. Is this because a reduction in a maintenance budget to increase profit. Replacing defective pipelines cost money, training cost money, enforcement of processes and procedures cost money. If there is a process problem fix the process. Government regulations solve nothing.

This was a problem with a flexible rubber hose, not a pipeline leak. The hose was well within its expected life, but failed prematurely. It's being analyzed to see why it failed, and it may be awhile before that analysis is finished.

[slapout]

We have to accept that there will be accidents/spillage in the transfer of fluids or nearly any product from ship to shore.

The timely response with needed/ required equipment with operation by experienced/trained response team, is the secert to containment of any spill.

If the first response was to notify Singapore and ask for experts to travel to the site, this would indicate no one nor was containment equipment avaliable to manage containment of a relative small spill.

The guidelines/regulations are out there to prepare for this type of accident, containment, cleanup, etc, You cannot make regulations that are dependent on human action without imposing a penality for nonperforance/compliance, when needed.

This whole spill has been underestimated. responed to and pollution estimates, low balled from the get go. If spill response had been as effeciant as the spill damage committee's findings, this would have been a no mention in the news media.

[Thai at Heart]

We have to accept that there will be accidents/spillage in the transfer of fluids or nearly any product from ship to shore.

The timely response with needed/ required equipment with operation by experienced/trained response team, is the secert to containment of any spill.

If the first response was to notify Singapore and ask for experts to travel to the site, this would indicate no one nor was containment equipment avaliable to manage containment of a relative small spill.

The guidelines/regulations are out there to prepare for this type of accident, containment, cleanup, etc, You cannot make regulations that are dependent on human action without imposing a penality for nonperforance/compliance, when needed.

This whole spill has been underestimated. responed to and pollution estimates, low balled from the get go. If spill response had been as effeciant as the spill damage committee's findings, this would have been a no mention in the news media.

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.md.go.th%2Fasean-ospar_files%2Fnational_plan_new.pdf&ei=PlkMUpiuPI6qrAefiYHQAQ&usg=AFQjCNGb36xNkKkVPg2F6wmRmVpDsv76Rw&sig2=1Zd1ckeBx1kuBsqOQ1aFDQ&bvm=bv.50768961,d.bmk

They have all the plans in place for years

[Halion]

Just another "shut the stable door after the horse has bolted" . I wish I could believe that lessons will be learnt fom this incident however 30 years of pesonal history suggests that nothing will change in a culture that refuses to accept blame and responsibility and who can do nothing wrong.

[MaxLee]

Following marine oil leakage, Thailand tightens regulations

Sure they do,... keep the surface ONLY clean, problem solved, yippie case closed

[Nisa]

We have to accept that there will be accidents/spillage in the transfer of fluids or nearly any product from ship to shore.

The timely response with needed/ required equipment with operation by experienced/trained response team, is the secert to containment of any spill.

If the first response was to notify Singapore and ask for experts to travel to the site, this would indicate no one nor was containment equipment avaliable to manage containment of a relative small spill.

The guidelines/regulations are out there to prepare for this type of accident, containment, cleanup, etc, You cannot make regulations that are dependent on human action without imposing a penality for nonperforance/compliance, when needed.

This whole spill has been underestimated. responed to and pollution estimates, low balled from the get go. If spill response had been as effeciant as the spill damage committee's findings, this would have been a no mention in the news media.

While rarely is any response to any emergency like this perfect, it would seem they actually did one heck of a job getting this mess cleaned up in a very timely fashion.

One only needs to look at the current pictures of the beach compared to two weeks ago. Great job to all those, especially the many hundreds of volunteers who worked on the clean up.

There simply is no way to guarantee the ability by anyone to contain oil on the open seas with unpredictable tides and winds. If there was, oil spills would not be such a big deal.

[Nisa]

Just another "shut the stable door after the horse has bolted" . I wish I could believe that lessons will be learnt fom this incident however 30 years of pesonal history suggests that nothing will change in a culture that refuses to accept blame and responsibility and who can do nothing wrong.

I thought PTT immediatley accepted blame, apologized and said they would compensate anyone affected and pay for the costs of clean up.

Sounds to me like they are both taking responsibility as well as admitting wrong ... something I have never seen after an oil spill where lawsuits generally drag on many many years. PTT also has a perfect out by blaming the manufacturer (I believe Goodyear) of the tube which failed causing the leak and which was only 1 year old and scheduled to be replaced every 2-years.

Personally I believe it is rare to see any company respond this way in similar circumstances. Lawyers generally would never allow such things as admitting fault and taking financial responsibility especially when there is a good chance Goodyear may be also liable.

[ginjag]

We have to accept that there will be accidents/spillage in the transfer of fluids or nearly any product from ship to shore.

The timely response with needed/ required equipment with operation by experienced/trained response team, is the secert to containment of any spill.

If the first response was to notify Singapore and ask for experts to travel to the site, this would indicate no one nor was containment equipment avaliable to manage containment of a relative small spill.

The guidelines/regulations are out there to prepare for this type of accident, containment, cleanup, etc, You cannot make regulations that are dependent on human action without imposing a penality for nonperforance/compliance, when needed.

This whole spill has been underestimated. responed to and pollution estimates, low balled from the get go. If spill response had been as effeciant as the spill damage committee's findings, this would have been a no mention in the news media.

While rarely is any response to any emergency like this perfect, it would seem they actually did one heck of a job getting this mess cleaned up in a very timely fashion.

One only needs to look at the current pictures of the beach compared to two weeks ago. Great job to all those, especially the many hundreds of volunteers who worked on the clean up.

There simply is no way to guarantee the ability by anyone to contain oil on the open seas with unpredictable tides and winds. If there was, oil spills would not be such a big deal.

Your first two Paragraphs were spot on, but although on the surface it looks o.k. the poison levels are too high for sea bathing, it says NOT SAFE. (2 days ago report)

Now when our good tourists arrive they will not check in because of this after all it is a holiday destination for sand and sea.

2 areas / bays are still suffering. so no business unless you want sand only.

If you read the reports from the initial spill the way under estimated the leak and were late to call in the services of Singapore to help or the navy in Sattahip.

Edited August 15, 2013 by ginjag

[Nisa]

We have to accept that there will be accidents/spillage in the transfer of fluids or nearly any product from ship to shore.

The timely response with needed/ required equipment with operation by experienced/trained response team, is the secert to containment of any spill.

If the first response was to notify Singapore and ask for experts to travel to the site, this would indicate no one nor was containment equipment avaliable to manage containment of a relative small spill.

The guidelines/regulations are out there to prepare for this type of accident, containment, cleanup, etc, You cannot make regulations that are dependent on human action without imposing a penality for nonperforance/compliance, when needed.

This whole spill has been underestimated. responed to and pollution estimates, low balled from the get go. If spill response had been as effeciant as the spill damage committee's findings, this would have been a no mention in the news media.

While rarely is any response to any emergency like this perfect, it would seem they actually did one heck of a job getting this mess cleaned up in a very timely fashion.

One only needs to look at the current pictures of the beach compared to two weeks ago. Great job to all those, especially the many hundreds of volunteers who worked on the clean up.

There simply is no way to guarantee the ability by anyone to contain oil on the open seas with unpredictable tides and winds. If there was, oil spills would not be such a big deal.

Your first two Paragraphs were spot on, but although on the surface it looks o.k. the poison levels are too high for sea bathing, it says NOT SAFE. (2 days ago report)

Now when our good tourists arrive they will not check in because of this after all it is a holiday destination for sand and sea.

2 areas / bays are still suffering. so no business unless you want sand only.

If you read the reports from the initial spill the way under estimated the leak and were late to call in the services of Singapore to help or the navy in Sattahip.

I believe the tests reported a few days ago in the Bangkok Post stated the samples were taken Aug . 3th and 4th when the beach was covered in oil.

If you check this link you will see the waters are now pretty much safe and not dangerous with the most recent tests from the 13th and they expect the tests done today will actually be even better but they already are now categorized as not being dangerous even on Ao Phrao.

http://www.pattayamail.com/news/test-shows-sea-water-at-most-beaches-on-samet-island-safe-29290

Regardless, an oil spill is never good for tourism but I suggest you do a search for Singapore oil spills and you;ll find they have no magic way to protect their coastlines from oil spills. Certainly they could have asked for assistance sooner but again no response is ever perfect even when it comes to police or fire who often call for back up when they realize the situation has changed or is not as manageable as they hoped or assumed.

I guess it all depends on how you want to look at things ... be grateful within two weeks things are pretty much cleaned up or look for every instance were they could have done better and focus on that along with any other negative aspects.

Yes tourism will be hurt on the island for a short time but not devastated and this will soon all be in the past when it comes to tourism and this incident won't affect overall tourism given there are so many great tourist destinations including great beaches in Thailand.

Terrible thing that never should have happened and somebody needs to pay but it looks like somebody has already said they would and actually is already starting to do so.

Edited August 15, 2013 by Nisa

[ginjag]

We have to accept that there will be accidents/spillage in the transfer of fluids or nearly any product from ship to shore.

The timely response with needed/ required equipment with operation by experienced/trained response team, is the secert to containment of any spill.

If the first response was to notify Singapore and ask for experts to travel to the site, this would indicate no one nor was containment equipment avaliable to manage containment of a relative small spill.

The guidelines/regulations are out there to prepare for this type of accident, containment, cleanup, etc, You cannot make regulations that are dependent on human action without imposing a penality for nonperforance/compliance, when needed.

This whole spill has been underestimated. responed to and pollution estimates, low balled from the get go. If spill response had been as effeciant as the spill damage committee's findings, this would have been a no mention in the news media.

While rarely is any response to any emergency like this perfect, it would seem they actually did one heck of a job getting this mess cleaned up in a very timely fashion.

One only needs to look at the current pictures of the beach compared to two weeks ago. Great job to all those, especially the many hundreds of volunteers who worked on the clean up.

There simply is no way to guarantee the ability by anyone to contain oil on the open seas with unpredictable tides and winds. If there was, oil spills would not be such a big deal.

Your first two Paragraphs were spot on, but although on the surface it looks o.k. the poison levels are too high for sea bathing, it says NOT SAFE. (2 days ago report)

Now when our good tourists arrive they will not check in because of this after all it is a holiday destination for sand and sea.

2 areas / bays are still suffering. so no business unless you want sand only.

If you read the reports from the initial spill the way under estimated the leak and were late to call in the services of Singapore to help or the navy in Sattahip.

I believe the tests reported a few days ago in the Bangkok Post stated the samples were taken Aug . 3th and 4th when the beach was covered in oil.

If you check this link you will see the waters are now pretty much safe and not dangerous with the most recent tests from the 13th and they expect the tests done today will actually be even better but they already are now categorized as not being dangerous even on Ao Phrao.

http://www.pattayamail.com/news/test-shows-sea-water-at-most-beaches-on-samet-island-safe-29290

Regardless, an oil spill is never good for tourism but I suggest you do a search for Singapore oil spills and you;ll find they have no magic way to protect their coastlines from oil spills. Certainly they could have asked for assistance sooner but again no response is ever perfect even when it comes to police or fire who often call for back up when they realize the situation is not as manageable as they hoped or assumed.

I guess it all depends on how you want to look at things ... be grateful within two weeks things are pretty much cleaned up or look for every instance were they could have done better and focus on that along with any other negative aspects.

Yes tourism will be hurt on the island for a short time but not devastated and this will soon all be in the past when it comes to tourism and this incident won't affect overall tourism given there are so many great tourist destinations including great beaches in Thailand.

2 bays have mercury levels way high and they are out of bounds for swimming, Yesterday Thai TV.

I love parts of Samet, Tub Tim, Whitesand beach, no probs here.

The coral is black off the 2 main areas affected. No diving . Tourism at other places are not in Question. Here at the worst site as you say it looks brill, and my friends have put in hard work and long hours there, but take a hoe and dig into the sand 6 inches down you come to an oil layer. surface fine. water blue and looks inviting. We will have to see when these mercury levels fall, then the businesses in the 2 bays can get started on a slow recovery.

Nisa you don't have to defend so strong, I wish for all to be back to normal, and will wait to hear when the compo money starts to flow from PTT.

[Nisa]

2 bays have mercury levels way high and they are out of bounds for swimming, Yesterday Thai TV.

I love parts of Samet, Tub Tim, Whitesand beach, no probs here.

The coral is black off the 2 main areas affected. No diving . Tourism at other places are not in Question. Here at the worst site as you say it looks brill, and my friends have put in hard work and long hours there, but take a hoe and dig into the sand 6 inches down you come to an oil layer. surface fine. water blue and looks inviting. We will have to see when these mercury levels fall, then the businesses in the 2 bays can get started on a slow recovery.

Nisa you don't have to defend so strong, I wish for all to be back to normal, and will wait to hear when the compo money starts to flow from PTT.

I suggest you read the link I provided (http://www.pattayamail.com/news/test-shows-sea-water-at-most-beaches-on-samet-island-safe-29290) which already states the waters are no longer dangerous and gives a strong indication the report due out today will indicate they are safe.

I certainly never suggested the beach, water or environment in the area was perfect or 100% or even back to normal ... I assumed we all knew that an oil spill does lasting damage. I simply indicated folks had done a very good job in getting things cleaned up and taking responsibility but if you disagree then so be it ... we agree to disagree.

Edit: No reason to wait to hear about compensation starting to flow, as I stated, it is already happening http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Big-clean-up-on-Koh-Samet-while-local-fishermen-ge-30212363.html

Edited August 15, 2013 by Nisa

[ginjag]

2 bays have mercury levels way high and they are out of bounds for swimming, Yesterday Thai TV.

I love parts of Samet, Tub Tim, Whitesand beach, no probs here.

The coral is black off the 2 main areas affected. No diving . Tourism at other places are not in Question. Here at the worst site as you say it looks brill, and my friends have put in hard work and long hours there, but take a hoe and dig into the sand 6 inches down you come to an oil layer. surface fine. water blue and looks inviting. We will have to see when these mercury levels fall, then the businesses in the 2 bays can get started on a slow recovery.

Nisa you don't have to defend so strong, I wish for all to be back to normal, and will wait to hear when the compo money starts to flow from PTT.

Somebody is pulling your leg if they are trying to make you believe all the oil sunk 6 inches below the sand ... or is the suggestion they hauled in sand and added a 6" layer over the oil because for some reason that was more economical than hauling away a half inch of sand?

I suggest you read the link I provided (http://www.pattayamail.com/news/test-shows-sea-water-at-most-beaches-on-samet-island-safe-29290) which already states the waters are no longer dangerous and gives a strong indication the report due out today will indicate they are safe.

I certainly never suggested the beach, water or environment in the area was perfect or 100% or even back to normal ... I assumed we all knew that an oil spill does lasting damage. I simply indicated folks had done a very good job in getting things cleaned up and taking responsibility but if you disagree then so be it ... we agree to disagree.

Edit: No reason to wait to hear about compensation starting to flow, as I stated, it is already happening http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Big-clean-up-on-Koh-Samet-while-local-fishermen-ge-30212363.html

I will state again, it was filmed - digging in 1 hoe deep and 6 inches below the top surface was an Oil layer. Do not get things twisted-the report said MOST beaches-get it ??? not the 2 seriously affected.

Nisa I was there... get it don't need your links. No one is pulling my leg.

Never suggested oil was covered up--are you drinking ???

with washing up liquid oil sinks into the sand. Look it's not what I want to believe to paint a negative picture, it seems you have a problem always with anything that goes against anything that upsets the THAI thing...Get my drift.

please post and talk -discuss - not argue and say everyone is Thai bashing.

I try to speak the truth, and it is called feedback-NOT bashing.

[lee b]

good