Thailand tackles second offshore oil spill in three weeks
11 February 2022, 12:04
Oil from the earlier spill made it onto a beach.
A second oil spill in less than three weeks is being tackled in the Gulf of Thailand.
An estimated 1,320 gallons is believed to have leaked 12 miles off the eastern province of Rayong – the same place where 5,800 gallons spilled into the sea on January 25.
The clean up from the earlier spill – from a mooring point – was declared finished last week, but only after some oil made it onto a beach.
The new leak was reported on Thursday and believed to have come from an underwater pipeline to the mooring point, which was undergoing repairs according to its operator Star Petroleum.
Thai navy spokesman Vice Admiral Pokkrong Manathatphalin said three large slicks from the leak were detected, with chemicals being applied to disperse them.
Floating booms were also deployed, with Star Petroleum saying in a statement the situation is under control.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed his concern and ordered Rayong officials, the navy and the transport ministry’s marine department to urgently contain the problem, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.
