Pollution Control Department Confirms Phuket’s Seawater Quality Safe for Recreation

PHUKET –

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has confirmed that seawater along Phuket’s popular beaches remains within safety standards for recreational use, following concerns over a cargo ship sinking off the coast earlier this month.

Our previous stories:

Maritime authorities in Phuket, supported by the Royal Thai Navy, successfully rescued all 16 crew members from the Panama-flagged cargo vessel SEALLOYD ARC after the ship began taking on water southwest of Kaew Noi Island.

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has assessed that the oil spill from a Panama-flagged cargo vessel that sank off Phuket is unlikely to drift toward Thailand’s shoreline, while overall coastal seawater quality remains within normal standards.

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.

Now for the update:

Mr. Surin Warakitthamrong, Director-General of the PCD, assigned the Regional Environmental Office 15 (Phuket) to monitor coastal water quality after a Panama-registered cargo vessel sank southwest of Koh Kaew Noi, Rawai Subdistrict, on February 7th, 2026.

On February 10th, officials conducted the second round of seawater quality checks at five beaches, expanding coverage from the initial two sites (Rawai and Nai Harn) to include Kata Noi, Kata Yai, and Karon.

All parameters remain within Thailand’s coastal water quality standards (Category 4: recreational use). Dissolved oxygen levels were well above the minimum threshold of 4.0 mg/L, while pH values stayed within the acceptable range of 7.0–8.5.

Using the Oil Map mathematical model, the PCD projected the movement of potential oil slicks from the sunken vessel. The simulation indicated that any oil would drift southwest into open waters, away from Thailand’s shoreline, minimizing risk to coastal ecosystems and tourism.