Phuket –
The Pollution Control Department has issued an urgent advisory to the public following the sinking of the Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel SEALLOYD ARC, which went down southwest of Kaew Noi Island, Phuket, on February 7, 2026.
The vessel, a dry cargo/container ship weighing 4,339 gross tons and measuring 113 meters in length, was carrying 297 shipping containers when it sank at a depth of 61 meters. Several containers have since floated free and dispersed around the wreck site.
Pollution Control Department Director-General Surin Warakitthamrong announced the advisory on February 10, 2026, emphasizing the potential risks posed by hazardous materials that may be stored inside some of the containers. The department invoked its authority under Section 32 of the State Administration Act of 1991 to issue official safety guidelines.
Authorities urge residents, fishermen, and tourists to exercise extreme caution if they encounter any shipping containers or chemical substances along the coast or at sea. The key recommendations include:
- Maintain distance: Do not approach suspicious containers. Keep at least 50–100 meters away. Children, tourists, and unauthorized individuals are strictly prohibited from approaching.
- Do not open containers: Especially those marked with hazardous material symbols.
- Avoid contact: Do not touch liquids, oil residues, or chemical lumps leaking from containers, as they may be corrosive or absorbable through the skin.
- No ignition sources: Refrain from smoking, lighting fires, or operating engines near areas with chemical odors, as many substances may be highly flammable.
