Six crew members went missing on Wednesday after an oil tanker sank off Thailand’s eastern coast, prompting a search and rescue operation and preparations to contain a potential oil spill.
The Thai-registered vessel, Venus 14, which was used to supply fuel to fishing boats, sank approximately 27 nautical miles from the entrance to Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province, according to the Royal Thai Navy.
The navy’s First Naval Area Command launched an operation to locate the missing crew members and the sunken vessel, the Bangkok Post reported.
A naval patrol boat, Tor 113, and a maritime surveillance aircraft were dispatched to the area to assist in the search.
Authorities also issued warnings to vessels operating in nearby waters as rescue teams continued their efforts.
The Royal Thai Navy said it was coordinating with the Marine Department to prepare for possible marine pollution in the event of fuel leaking from the submerged tanker.
The amount of fuel aboard Venus 14 at the time of the sinking has not yet been established, raising uncertainty over the potential scale of any environmental impact.
As a precaution, the navy placed the tugboat HTMS Panyi and a helicopter on standby, along with personnel and equipment capable of responding to an oil spill.
Officials have not disclosed the circumstances that caused the tanker to sink or confirmed whether the crew transmitted a distress signal before the incident.
The navy said search and rescue operations would continue while authorities monitored surrounding waters for signs of fuel leakage and potential damage to the marine ecosystem.