Swift Response Restores Beach on Coral Island After Oil Spill

Phuket —

The Royal Thai Navy cleans up the beach on the Coral Island, south of Rawai following reports of oil residue along the beach.

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.

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

An oil spill from a sunken cargo vessel has begun washing ashore on Phuket’s beaches, raising concerns over environmental damage and tourism.

The integrated task force, comprising of personnel from multiple agencies including the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket Office, and supported by Navy vessels, moved quickly to assess the situation and remove the oil traces.

Upon inspection, officials discovered scattered oil residue along sections of the shoreline. Cleanup teams successfully collected significant amounts of the material, restoring the beach to its natural condition.

Authorities added that the swift action was meant at minimizing environmental damage to marine and coastal ecosystems, safeguarding tourism resources, and reinforcing public confidence in safety.

By the end of the operation, the beach had returned to normal, with officials confirming that the incident posed no ongoing risk to residents or visitors.