Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... g-to-coast
Efforts were underway to contain about 400,000 litres of crude oil which leaked from an undersea pipeline near Map Ta Phut in Rayong province on Tuesday, Marine and Coastal Resources Department director-general Sopon Thongdee said on Wednesday.
The pipeline belongs to Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC).
Mr Sopon said the company informed the department of the oil leak on Tuesday night.
It was necessary to stop the spilled oil flowing north towards beaches in Rayong, he said.
Atthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Pollution Control Department, said a slick 180,000-200,000 litres in size was heading to the shoreline between Mae Ramphueng beach and the Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet Marine National Park. Unless halted, it would reach there on Friday around 3-5pm.
The Marine and Coastal Resources Department, the navy and other agencies had been informed and action was being taken to solve the problem, he said.
An SPRC announcement, said the leak occurred at a single-point mooring (SPM) area in the middle of the sea for tankers to load or offload oil.
The company's emergency response team had taken steps in line with safety procedures. Activities in neaby areas had been halted.
The leak had been sealed at 12.18am on Wednesday and dispersants sprayed on the oil spill. The company was continuing to assess the situation.
SPRC had notified the Environmental Monitoring and Control Centre (EMCC), fishing communities and the Region 1 Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC) of the incident, the statement said.
The company had been provided with boats and manpower, along with other necessary equipment, to combat the spill by both government and private agencies, it said.
..................................................................................................................
Ah well, after all the tourists have been tested, they won't need any sunscreen on the beaches.
Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
Oil spill endangers fragile recovery on Koh Samet
An oil spill flowing towards Koh Samet is dampening the island's tourism outlook as operators could face an influx of cancellations, as happened with a previous leak at Ao Phrao in July 2013.
"We do not want a repeat of the terrible spill at Ao Phrao Bay, as locals worked for years to clean it up," said Sarinthip Tupmongkholsup, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samet.
She said natural resources damaged by the previous leak have not fully recovered. Even though the incident occurred at a particular part of Koh Samet, poor air quality from the massive amount of crude oil affected travel sentiment for the whole island, said Ms Sarinthip.
According to the Pollution Control Department, 180,000-200,000 litres of the 400,000-litre spill were heading to Mae Ramphueng Beach and the Khao Laem Ya–Mu Koh Samet Marine National Park. Without intervention, the oil is scheduled to hit the shore on Friday at 3-5pm.
Ms Sarinthip said an oil spill is worse for tourism than a Covid-19 outbreak because tourists cannot swim and seafood is likely to be contaminated.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... -koh-samet
An oil spill flowing towards Koh Samet is dampening the island's tourism outlook as operators could face an influx of cancellations, as happened with a previous leak at Ao Phrao in July 2013.
"We do not want a repeat of the terrible spill at Ao Phrao Bay, as locals worked for years to clean it up," said Sarinthip Tupmongkholsup, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samet.
She said natural resources damaged by the previous leak have not fully recovered. Even though the incident occurred at a particular part of Koh Samet, poor air quality from the massive amount of crude oil affected travel sentiment for the whole island, said Ms Sarinthip.
According to the Pollution Control Department, 180,000-200,000 litres of the 400,000-litre spill were heading to Mae Ramphueng Beach and the Khao Laem Ya–Mu Koh Samet Marine National Park. Without intervention, the oil is scheduled to hit the shore on Friday at 3-5pm.
Ms Sarinthip said an oil spill is worse for tourism than a Covid-19 outbreak because tourists cannot swim and seafood is likely to be contaminated.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... -koh-samet
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
May be the usual half assed reporting, but why does the "Company" not have its own quick response equipment on standby. The article says that it is "crude oil", which is probably correct as there is a refinery there. They are going to need more than some dispersant sprayed on that crap to break it up!The company had been provided with boats and manpower, along with other necessary equipment, to combat the spill by both government and private agencies, it said.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
Also seems that their only concern is how much money they'll lose. Is 'contaminated seafood for tourists' a bigger issue than the massive destruction of marine life? Evidently.Ms Sarinthip said an oil spill is worse for tourism than a Covid-19 outbreak because tourists cannot swim and seafood is likely to be contaminated.
As usual in Thailand, profit comes before everything else.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
A lot of truth in this:
.............................................................................................................
Unwarranted spill optimism
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... l-optimism
As efforts to save the seas off Rayong continue following an undersea pipeline leak near Map Ta Phut, public scepticism is growing about the kind of preventive measures and crisis management the company, Star Petroleum Refining Co (SPRC), has in place -- as well as in regard to the response from state authorities.
Despite the fact the impact on marine ecology has yet to be gauged, several state agencies have tried to downplay this, insisting the oil leak that began on Jan 25 and has continued since is not as serious as a similar mishap in 2013 when a large slick hit Koh Samet, a major tourist attraction in this eastern province. At that time, delays to the clean-up worsened the problem.
Optimism by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa over the latest oil spill is seen as premature if not out of place, while authorities are working around the clock as they try to stop the oil from drifting to beaches and communities.
"It's not good news, but it's not that bad," the minister was quoted as saying by Thai-language media outlets, comparing this week's incident to the 2013 spill. Chemical dispersants have been sprayed from helicopters in a timely manner, while at around 20,000 litres, the amount of leaked oil is less than previously reported by the company, he said.
"Only a thin film of oil has been spread over the sea,'' the minister said, as if expressing relief.
He issued a plea to all oil production operators to strictly take care of their transport and pipeline systems, to ensure all are in 100% working order to prevent more calamities.
According to SPRC, it contacted -- and solicited help from -- various state agencies after it learnt of the leak, which has been blamed on the erosion of certain parts of the pipeline.
The company claimed it had followed all the safety guidelines, notifying the Environmental Monitoring and Control Centre (EMCC), fishing communities and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC) Region 1 about the incident.
In particular, it said it coordinated with Singapore-based Oil Spill Response (OSRL), which was to send experts to the troubled spot.
The environment minister said he believed the oil could be contained. Yet some experts remain pessimistic. If the containment measures fail, oil could reach Rayong's beaches by this afternoon, they say.
The minister said the SPRC would have to pay for the clean-up, and authorities will ask the company to compensate for the long-term impact.
Such a soft approach is baffling, however. Indeed, the public is sceptical as to whether SPRC has any other option but to take responsibility for the damage caused to marine ecology and the impact on communities, especially fishermen.
Moreover, the fact that Mr Varawut neglected to dig deeper into the cause of the leak is somewhat disturbing. For laypeople, there is the impression that this sort of pipe erosion could have been prevented, had the company put in place proper maintenance measures.
Unless the authorities get tough on operators, oil pipeline leaks and other harmful incidents will happen again. According to the Marine Department, there have been 235 oil leaks in the past 45 years, putting the health of Thai seas at great risk.
As such, it is incumbent on the government, particularly the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other agencies, to show that they have implemented all necessary measures to prevent these operators from escaping responsibility.
This probably says it all:
.............................................................................................................
Unwarranted spill optimism
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... l-optimism
As efforts to save the seas off Rayong continue following an undersea pipeline leak near Map Ta Phut, public scepticism is growing about the kind of preventive measures and crisis management the company, Star Petroleum Refining Co (SPRC), has in place -- as well as in regard to the response from state authorities.
Despite the fact the impact on marine ecology has yet to be gauged, several state agencies have tried to downplay this, insisting the oil leak that began on Jan 25 and has continued since is not as serious as a similar mishap in 2013 when a large slick hit Koh Samet, a major tourist attraction in this eastern province. At that time, delays to the clean-up worsened the problem.
Optimism by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa over the latest oil spill is seen as premature if not out of place, while authorities are working around the clock as they try to stop the oil from drifting to beaches and communities.
"It's not good news, but it's not that bad," the minister was quoted as saying by Thai-language media outlets, comparing this week's incident to the 2013 spill. Chemical dispersants have been sprayed from helicopters in a timely manner, while at around 20,000 litres, the amount of leaked oil is less than previously reported by the company, he said.
"Only a thin film of oil has been spread over the sea,'' the minister said, as if expressing relief.
He issued a plea to all oil production operators to strictly take care of their transport and pipeline systems, to ensure all are in 100% working order to prevent more calamities.
According to SPRC, it contacted -- and solicited help from -- various state agencies after it learnt of the leak, which has been blamed on the erosion of certain parts of the pipeline.
The company claimed it had followed all the safety guidelines, notifying the Environmental Monitoring and Control Centre (EMCC), fishing communities and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC) Region 1 about the incident.
In particular, it said it coordinated with Singapore-based Oil Spill Response (OSRL), which was to send experts to the troubled spot.
The environment minister said he believed the oil could be contained. Yet some experts remain pessimistic. If the containment measures fail, oil could reach Rayong's beaches by this afternoon, they say.
The minister said the SPRC would have to pay for the clean-up, and authorities will ask the company to compensate for the long-term impact.
Such a soft approach is baffling, however. Indeed, the public is sceptical as to whether SPRC has any other option but to take responsibility for the damage caused to marine ecology and the impact on communities, especially fishermen.
Moreover, the fact that Mr Varawut neglected to dig deeper into the cause of the leak is somewhat disturbing. For laypeople, there is the impression that this sort of pipe erosion could have been prevented, had the company put in place proper maintenance measures.
Unless the authorities get tough on operators, oil pipeline leaks and other harmful incidents will happen again. According to the Marine Department, there have been 235 oil leaks in the past 45 years, putting the health of Thai seas at great risk.
As such, it is incumbent on the government, particularly the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other agencies, to show that they have implemented all necessary measures to prevent these operators from escaping responsibility.
This probably says it all:
there is the impression that this sort of pipe erosion could have been prevented, had the company put in place proper maintenance measures.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
Workers race to keep oil from Rayong shores
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ong-shores
RAYONG: Hundreds of workers set up oil barriers along beachfronts in this eastern province on Friday as authorities raced to limit the environmental damage from oil that leaked from an underwater pipeline earlier this week.
The leak from a pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling an estimated 50,000 litres of oil into the ocean 20 kilometres off the coast.
A 47-square-kilometre area of the sea has been affected and an oil slick was drifting close to Rayong’s coastline on Friday, a satellite image from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) showed.
The navy, which is working to contain the spill at sea, said it may take over a month to restore the beach areas affected. It had said earlier that a cleanup could take five days.
SPRC workers on Friday unfurled long inflatable oil boom barriers near the tide line, designed to try and keep the slick from spoiling the beaches. Authorities have previously warned the spill could affect Khao Lam Ya National Park, home to exotic coral reefs and sealife.
The government has filed an official complaint to seek compensation for the damages the oil spill has caused, Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate told reporters on Friday.
In 2013, an oil spill from another undersea pipeline blackened beaches in Rayong and caused environmental damage that took months to restore, hurting fishing and local tourism.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ong-shores
RAYONG: Hundreds of workers set up oil barriers along beachfronts in this eastern province on Friday as authorities raced to limit the environmental damage from oil that leaked from an underwater pipeline earlier this week.
The leak from a pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling an estimated 50,000 litres of oil into the ocean 20 kilometres off the coast.
A 47-square-kilometre area of the sea has been affected and an oil slick was drifting close to Rayong’s coastline on Friday, a satellite image from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) showed.
The navy, which is working to contain the spill at sea, said it may take over a month to restore the beach areas affected. It had said earlier that a cleanup could take five days.
SPRC workers on Friday unfurled long inflatable oil boom barriers near the tide line, designed to try and keep the slick from spoiling the beaches. Authorities have previously warned the spill could affect Khao Lam Ya National Park, home to exotic coral reefs and sealife.
The government has filed an official complaint to seek compensation for the damages the oil spill has caused, Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate told reporters on Friday.
In 2013, an oil spill from another undersea pipeline blackened beaches in Rayong and caused environmental damage that took months to restore, hurting fishing and local tourism.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
Oil spill reaches shoreline in Rayong
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -in-rayong
Some of the oil that leaked from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand washed up on a beach in Rayong province late on Friday, a senior official said.
The Royal Thai Navy, which is working to contain the spill at sea, said it may take over a month to restore affected beach areas, following the leakage of an estimated 50,000 litres of oil on Tuesday night.
The leak from a pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling into the Gulf of Thailand 20 kilometres from Rayong province.
A 47 sq km area of the sea was affected before the slick drifted to Rayong's shoreline on Friday, a satellite image from the government's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency showed.
video at link
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -in-rayong
Some of the oil that leaked from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand washed up on a beach in Rayong province late on Friday, a senior official said.
The Royal Thai Navy, which is working to contain the spill at sea, said it may take over a month to restore affected beach areas, following the leakage of an estimated 50,000 litres of oil on Tuesday night.
The leak from a pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling into the Gulf of Thailand 20 kilometres from Rayong province.
A 47 sq km area of the sea was affected before the slick drifted to Rayong's shoreline on Friday, a satellite image from the government's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency showed.
video at link
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
For those on FB, the Post has a live stream ... looks messy ...
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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handdrummer
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Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
Watched it on Thai news this evening. The only people working on the problem are the people who live there.
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
Blackened beach in Rayong off limits to public
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -to-public
Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong is now off limits to the public as a major clean-up continues of an oil spill caused by a leak from an undersea pipeline, provincial governor Charnna Iamsaeng said on Saturday.
Police are monitoring entrances and exits to the beach as the incident could pose health risks, Mr Charnna said.
The governor asked all vendors in the area to close temporarily until normal conditions can be restored. The beach has been declared a disaster area.
Attapon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Pollution Control Department, said the sludge, which has contaminated at least three kilometres along the coast, is a mixture of crude oil and concentrated dispersants.
“The sea looks like a viscous liquid of chocolate. The initial plan is to skim the oil off the water, use absorbent materials and spray the chemicals,” Mr Attapon said.
Oil spill the last straw for Rayong tourism
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ng-tourism
Oil washing up on Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong could be the “nail in the coffin” for hotels and restaurants already brought low by the pandemic, local hospitality business operators said on Saturday.
The navy and pollution experts are scrambling to clean up the mess created by the spill that took place in the Gulf of Thailand on Tuesday after at least 60 tonnes of crude leaked from a pipeline about 20 kilometres off the coast.
Crews in yellow plastic protective suits fanned out along the beach on Saturday afternoon to start cleaning up the oil slick that began washing ashore late Friday night.
Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC), the operator of the undersea pipeline that leaked, said it was trying to minimise the amount of oil reaching the shoreline by using booms.
An aerial surveillance aircraft is monitoring the slick on the sea. A 47-square-kilometre area was affected before the slick drifted to the shoreline late Friday, a satellite image from the government’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency showed.
Marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat said the oil slick was expected to continue to wash up on shore over the coming days due to stronger winds.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -to-public
Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong is now off limits to the public as a major clean-up continues of an oil spill caused by a leak from an undersea pipeline, provincial governor Charnna Iamsaeng said on Saturday.
Police are monitoring entrances and exits to the beach as the incident could pose health risks, Mr Charnna said.
The governor asked all vendors in the area to close temporarily until normal conditions can be restored. The beach has been declared a disaster area.
Attapon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Pollution Control Department, said the sludge, which has contaminated at least three kilometres along the coast, is a mixture of crude oil and concentrated dispersants.
“The sea looks like a viscous liquid of chocolate. The initial plan is to skim the oil off the water, use absorbent materials and spray the chemicals,” Mr Attapon said.
...........................................................................................................“At first, the officials said about 400,000 litres of oil were spilled. Then it’s 100,000 litres the second time. Now, it’s 50,000 litres. We no longer trust them because we don’t know what the truth is.”
Oil spill the last straw for Rayong tourism
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ng-tourism
Oil washing up on Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong could be the “nail in the coffin” for hotels and restaurants already brought low by the pandemic, local hospitality business operators said on Saturday.
The navy and pollution experts are scrambling to clean up the mess created by the spill that took place in the Gulf of Thailand on Tuesday after at least 60 tonnes of crude leaked from a pipeline about 20 kilometres off the coast.
Crews in yellow plastic protective suits fanned out along the beach on Saturday afternoon to start cleaning up the oil slick that began washing ashore late Friday night.
Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC), the operator of the undersea pipeline that leaked, said it was trying to minimise the amount of oil reaching the shoreline by using booms.
An aerial surveillance aircraft is monitoring the slick on the sea. A 47-square-kilometre area was affected before the slick drifted to the shoreline late Friday, a satellite image from the government’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency showed.
Marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat said the oil slick was expected to continue to wash up on shore over the coming days due to stronger winds.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
'Disaster area' slick drives away visitors
Huge clean-up effort under way after oil slips through booms
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... y-visitors
Rayong: Mae Ramphueng beach in this eastern province has been declared a disaster area after oil leaking from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand washed ashore and blackened the sand.
Personnel from various agencies were stepping up efforts to remove oil sludge from the shoreline.
The leak from the pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling into the Gulf of Thailand 20 kilometres off the coast of Rayong, officials said yesterday.
A 2-km stretch of Mae Ramphueng beach in Moo 10, tambon Taphong of Muang district, was blackened by the oil slick. According to a satellite image taken at 10.53am yesterday by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, the spill covered 67 square kilometres of sea area, and a 5-km stretch of the slick closed in on the shoreline of Mae Ramphueng beach.
more at link
Huge clean-up effort under way after oil slips through booms
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... y-visitors
Rayong: Mae Ramphueng beach in this eastern province has been declared a disaster area after oil leaking from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand washed ashore and blackened the sand.
Personnel from various agencies were stepping up efforts to remove oil sludge from the shoreline.
The leak from the pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling into the Gulf of Thailand 20 kilometres off the coast of Rayong, officials said yesterday.
A 2-km stretch of Mae Ramphueng beach in Moo 10, tambon Taphong of Muang district, was blackened by the oil slick. According to a satellite image taken at 10.53am yesterday by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, the spill covered 67 square kilometres of sea area, and a 5-km stretch of the slick closed in on the shoreline of Mae Ramphueng beach.
more at link
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
Fishing crews fear 5-year recovery after oil spill
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -oil-spill
Oil companies urged to ramp up prevention measures
The nightly armada of bobbing green lights from squid boats has all but disappeared near the site of an oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand, as devastated local crews brace for lost income and damaged fish stocks.
The Royal Thai Navy is scrambling to clean up Tuesday night's spill from a pipeline that leaked at least 60 tonnes of crude oil 20 kilometres off the coast of Rayong province.
Authorities have declared Mae Ram Phueng Beach a disaster zone and closed it to swimmers as crews in yellow plastic protective suits begin the clean-up.
Rayong resorts and seafood restaurants say the spill is a "nail in the coffin" for their businesses after the tourism industry's continued pandemic downturn.
For long-time fishermen who have been asked to halt their catches for at least a month in exchange for emergency payments, there is a feeling of deja vu.
They recall the long road to environmental and economic recovery after another pipeline leak in the same area in 2013.
Initial compensation for that accident was around $900, but fisherman Tuem 46, says it is no substitute for regular work.
"I don't want compensation. I want a healthy sea that I can work in for my livelihood," he told AFP.
"The sea can give us money every day. The sea was good in the past few years. I do not know how many years before it becomes good again."
- Five-year recovery -
Tuem usually makes around US$30 a day from a seven-to-10-kilogramme haul but he says now he will struggle to cover the cost of petrol to retrieve his fishing nets.
"The impact is immediate and clear. I do not know what to do," he said.
AFP joined a group of fishermen on a boat trip Sunday -- their fishing haul amounted to about 10% of their usual catch and many fish were dead.
Burapha University marine scientist Thanomsak Boonphakdee, who was taking water samples at the beach over the weekend, says it will take a long time to fully assess environmental damage from the disaster.
The marine life took at least five years to recover from the 2013 incident, he said.
"Crabs, small fish and shrimp are the (creatures) that will be affected most," he told AFP.
A dozen ships are spraying dispersant chemicals and so far more than 80,000 litres has been doused over the affected area.
Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited, the operator of the pipeline and whose major shareholder is US giant Chevron, said it was trying to minimise the slick's ecological impact using booms.
But satellite imagery shows the slick had already spread to an area of 51 square kilometres on Sunday, local media reported.
There are also fears a national park on the island of Ko Samet will be affected and Thai authorities Sunday deployed absorbent material to Ao Prao beach as a precaution.
- Transparency calls -
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa urged oil companies in Thailand to ramp up prevention measures and boost inspections and maintenance programs on land and sea.
"I do not want this kind of accident to happen again. The expense of spending money to solve a major disaster after it happened, cannot compare with companies increasing the inspections," he told reporters in Rayong.
Greenpeace, which has called on the Thai government to set up an independent investigation into the spill, said incidents are becoming far too common.
Between 1974 and present day there have been 240 oil spill incidents in Thailand, the environmental group said.
"The oil spill will affect marine life and could be fatal for fish, shrimps, shellfish," Greenpeace warned.
Another fisherwoman, Nid, 62, lamented it was heartbreaking to see another disaster after seeing the area's recovery in recent years.
"We are just small insects who have no voice to be heard," she told AFP.
..........................................................................................................
There is absolutely no technical reason why this was not dealt with within minutes of a a leak being discovered.
Just as with fire precautions being in place, there should be a rapid response unit in place 24 hours a day. Inflatable booms and despersant equipment must be available at all times.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -oil-spill
Oil companies urged to ramp up prevention measures
The nightly armada of bobbing green lights from squid boats has all but disappeared near the site of an oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand, as devastated local crews brace for lost income and damaged fish stocks.
The Royal Thai Navy is scrambling to clean up Tuesday night's spill from a pipeline that leaked at least 60 tonnes of crude oil 20 kilometres off the coast of Rayong province.
Authorities have declared Mae Ram Phueng Beach a disaster zone and closed it to swimmers as crews in yellow plastic protective suits begin the clean-up.
Rayong resorts and seafood restaurants say the spill is a "nail in the coffin" for their businesses after the tourism industry's continued pandemic downturn.
For long-time fishermen who have been asked to halt their catches for at least a month in exchange for emergency payments, there is a feeling of deja vu.
They recall the long road to environmental and economic recovery after another pipeline leak in the same area in 2013.
Initial compensation for that accident was around $900, but fisherman Tuem 46, says it is no substitute for regular work.
"I don't want compensation. I want a healthy sea that I can work in for my livelihood," he told AFP.
"The sea can give us money every day. The sea was good in the past few years. I do not know how many years before it becomes good again."
- Five-year recovery -
Tuem usually makes around US$30 a day from a seven-to-10-kilogramme haul but he says now he will struggle to cover the cost of petrol to retrieve his fishing nets.
"The impact is immediate and clear. I do not know what to do," he said.
AFP joined a group of fishermen on a boat trip Sunday -- their fishing haul amounted to about 10% of their usual catch and many fish were dead.
Burapha University marine scientist Thanomsak Boonphakdee, who was taking water samples at the beach over the weekend, says it will take a long time to fully assess environmental damage from the disaster.
The marine life took at least five years to recover from the 2013 incident, he said.
"Crabs, small fish and shrimp are the (creatures) that will be affected most," he told AFP.
A dozen ships are spraying dispersant chemicals and so far more than 80,000 litres has been doused over the affected area.
Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited, the operator of the pipeline and whose major shareholder is US giant Chevron, said it was trying to minimise the slick's ecological impact using booms.
But satellite imagery shows the slick had already spread to an area of 51 square kilometres on Sunday, local media reported.
There are also fears a national park on the island of Ko Samet will be affected and Thai authorities Sunday deployed absorbent material to Ao Prao beach as a precaution.
- Transparency calls -
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa urged oil companies in Thailand to ramp up prevention measures and boost inspections and maintenance programs on land and sea.
"I do not want this kind of accident to happen again. The expense of spending money to solve a major disaster after it happened, cannot compare with companies increasing the inspections," he told reporters in Rayong.
Greenpeace, which has called on the Thai government to set up an independent investigation into the spill, said incidents are becoming far too common.
Between 1974 and present day there have been 240 oil spill incidents in Thailand, the environmental group said.
"The oil spill will affect marine life and could be fatal for fish, shrimps, shellfish," Greenpeace warned.
Another fisherwoman, Nid, 62, lamented it was heartbreaking to see another disaster after seeing the area's recovery in recent years.
"We are just small insects who have no voice to be heard," she told AFP.
- Oil that leaked from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand washes up on a beach in Rayong province on Friday. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)
- c1_2256415.jpg (395.53 KiB) Viewed 528 times
There is absolutely no technical reason why this was not dealt with within minutes of a a leak being discovered.
Just as with fire precautions being in place, there should be a rapid response unit in place 24 hours a day. Inflatable booms and despersant equipment must be available at all times.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
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handdrummer
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- Posts: 5389
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:58 am
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
The owners of the pipeline should be fined and the fines given to the fishermen to cover their wages for the next 5 yrs.
Unless the fines are stiff enough the pipeline owners won't do anything significant.
Unless the fines are stiff enough the pipeline owners won't do anything significant.
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centermid7
- Banned
- Posts: 629
- Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:43 pm
Re: Oil spill off Rayong, slick heading to coast
As many may recall not so many years ago an oil spill came ashore here with some pretty thick sludge. More of it in the Khao Takiap as I recall but trailing down to Hua Hin as well. The authorities (with the unprotected aid of hotel staff) did a bit of clean up and they declared that all was well. The surface stuff was mostly gone but dig down and it was still there.