Chonburi: 16 Filipino sailors rescued from an abandoned freighter

[webfact]

16 Filipino sailors rescued from an abandoned freighter

 

 

CHONBURI: -- Sixteen Filipino crew members of an abandoned Liberia-registered freighter which has been anchoring in the Gulf off Si Chang island in Chon Buri for several months were rescued on Tuesday by officials from several agencies.

 

At the order of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan following a tipoff about the plight of the crew members on board the freighter, Panomitis. AV, officials from the Royal Thai Navy, the marine police, immigration and labour departments boarded the vessel and found 16 Filipino sailors.

 

The sailors told the officials that they had not been paid for several months now since the freighter has been anchoring off Si Chang island. They also said that they were out of food and drinking water but thanks to a non-governmental organization which recently provided them with food and water.

 

Pol Maj-Gen Kraiboon Suadsong, a staff member of General Prawit, who led the rescue operation said would investigate whether the abandoned sailors were victims of a human trafficking syndicate or not.

 

He added that immigration officials were not informed of the arrival of the vessel. The Labour Ministry will report the case to the Foreign Ministry so the Philippine embassy in Bangkok will be informed and help can be arranged for the sailors.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/175590-2/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-08-10

[taichiplanet]

is it normal to have a foreign ship moored in your waters for several months without investigation?

[SOTIRIOS]

.....wow......

 

...could have been a lot worse....thankfully the vessel was too big to make disappear...

[sharecropper]

4 hours ago, taichiplanet said:

is it normal to have a foreign ship moored in your waters for several months without investigation?

 

In Thailand, yes. Wasn't there another one that capsized recently and spilled oil near the port? That had been there for months as well I seem to recall.

[bluebluewater]

If they JUST had those submarines they Thai Navy would put an end to that crap.

[taichiplanet]

4 hours ago, taichiplanet said:

is it normal to have a foreign ship moored in your waters for several months without investigation?

 

38 minutes ago, sharecropper said:

 

In Thailand, yes. Wasn't there another one that capsized recently and spilled oil near the port? That had been there for months as well I seem to recall.

 

they must know the ships are there. The only reason i can think of why they don't act earlier is that maybe after a certain time, when the ship is declared abandoned, then the authouities can claim the ship and its contents. Just a guess though.