Phuket: The Maritime Security Command Region 3 has identified the coordinates of the sunken cargo ship SEALLOYD ARC and is actively engaged in the recovery of floating containers following its sinking. The vessel has been located at a depth of 61 meters below sea level, with efforts currently underway to address oil leakage from the ship, which carried over a hundred tons of oil.
According to Thai News Agency, Vice Admiral Veerudhom Muangchin, Director of the Maritime Security Command Region 3, is leading the incident response team. He chaired a meeting attended by the Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department to plan the cleanup of the oil spill and contain the vessel's leakage. The HTMS Nongsaharai has been designated as the On-Scene Commander, utilizing sonar technology to pinpoint the precise location of the SEALLOYD ARC.
The vessel rests on a seabed of sand and mud with a slight tilt, and its stern mast is positioned 14 meters below the waterline, oriented at 284.5 degrees from bow to stern. A team led by HTMS Matphon, along with divers from the Royal Thai Navy's Third Naval Area Command's Special Operations Unit and Phang Nga Naval Base, successfully marked the ship's mast with buoys. Concurrently, HTMS Punyee led a spill cleanup and containment team, identifying a small diesel fuel leak surfacing southwest of the sunken ship. This information will guide a scheduled diving operation to seal the leak on February 10, 2026.
In terms of container recovery, HTMS Hua Hin has located and consolidated 19 containers into two units out of the 79 expected to have escaped. The Marine Department is coordinating with tugboats from the deep-sea port to transport these containers to a barge. However, immediate towing was delayed as the Marine Department is still in the process of assembling the necessary crane.
The Maritime Security Command Region 3 plans to deploy aircraft tomorrow to survey and expedite the recovery of any additional containers that may have escaped from the ship. The ship owner reports that 210 containers remain securely packed in the hull.