PHUKET: A Royal Thai Navy helicopter was despatched at first light today to hunt for a cargo ship reported to have sunk at sea off Phuket last night, with 10 crew on board.
The helicopter will rendezvous with a Royal Thai Navy rescue warship at the spot where the cargo vessel was last seen, about 100 nautical miles from the coast of Thailand.
The frigate HTMS Saiburi put to sea last night once Marine Police passed on reports that a cargo ship was in distress off the coast.
It is believed the cargo ship, bound for Penang in Malaysia, has since gone down.
Marine Police said news that the cargo ship was in distress reached them about 5pm.
The Royal Thai Navy was notified because the Marine Police do not have vessels capable of sailing in heavy seas.
Strong winds have been whipping up waves off Phuket and the Andaman region.
The cargo ship, so far unnamed, was reported to be carrying a load of timber from Myanmar to Penang.
The helicopter will rendezvous with a Royal Thai Navy rescue warship at the spot where the cargo vessel was last seen, about 100 nautical miles from the coast of Thailand.
The frigate HTMS Saiburi put to sea last night once Marine Police passed on reports that a cargo ship was in distress off the coast.
It is believed the cargo ship, bound for Penang in Malaysia, has since gone down.
Marine Police said news that the cargo ship was in distress reached them about 5pm.
The Royal Thai Navy was notified because the Marine Police do not have vessels capable of sailing in heavy seas.
Strong winds have been whipping up waves off Phuket and the Andaman region.
The cargo ship, so far unnamed, was reported to be carrying a load of timber from Myanmar to Penang.
