First: It is really nice to see the reaction of the Thai authorities. That is a proper response. Good.

It is like these guys who go swimming with a red flag and personal warning and have to be rescued. The captain should lose his licence (he has one?) and a hefty penalty for doing the journey with dangerous goods while there was a explicit warning out. The destination, if put pressure or special incentives on the boat to deliver, should pay for the pumping operation, including the damages and safety procedure now taken place. Send a ship into harms way and the rest of the Thai taxpayers have to pay, does not sound right to me.

And last: Waves of 4 m height constitute a storm here, really?

Posted by Lena on September 5, 2010 12:42

Seconded. A decent reaction from the Thai authorities.
Questions certainly need to be asked about the Captain taking to the sea when the Maritime Police suggested all vessels should stay in port.

Questions could also be asked about the 'conversion' of this boat from fishing trawler to fuel deliverer. Was it licensed, registered and checked?

The fishing boats i see have very low freeboard - the deck at the sides doesn't sit very much above the sea level (for hauling the nets aboard.)This design does NOT lend itself well to 4m high waves. At this time of year in Phuket we have a number of squalls coming through. Winds can hit 50+knots for a short period of time - say 20 mins or so, before backing down to 20 knots. That's quite a lot of wind and high sea for such vessels (low freeboard and high, chunky wheelhouse)
I think the designs are unseaworthy and i wouldn't take to the sea in one.

Posted by Mr Man on September 5, 2010 15:40

Agree with Lena that the authorities response seems impressive. Much better out of the gate than American authorities who preferred to let the oil company take the reins in the critical early days of the recent disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. As we saw, much of the Gulf coast completely lost their tourism and seafood industries for at least the short term.

Phuket adjoins one of the largest oil shipping lanes in the world, so the results of this effort could be an indicator of how well postured we are to respond to the nightmare scenario of a supertanker spill in the Andaman region.

Posted by Treelover on September 5, 2010 15:47

It's good to see that the authorities realise the devastating consequences a fuel spill off Racha Yai can have on the economy here and react quickly. I sure hope they can succeed in what is definitely not an easy task.

I hope that their vigilance does not stop there but extends to taking preventive measures in the future to ensure carelessness by a few individuals can no longer put the livelihoods of thousands at risk.

The captain of this vessel should never have been allowed to take to the sea in such perilous conditions with the hazardous cargo he transports.

Posted by Tom on September 5, 2010 18:09

Good to see them acting quickly and responsibly yes and inquiry should be held on the Captain and also whether the resort put pressure on him, but as a Sailor and a Seaman the final choice does remain the captains, and a five star resort like the Racha which charges quite a bit of money uses a converted fishing vessel instead of a small tanker that is a silly way to save money, these fishing boats when they are converted into something they are not designed for such as some of the dive vessels have had a habit of sinking.

Posted by Michael on September 5, 2010 20:17