Efforts underway to prevent oil spill from reaching Chon Buri beach

Local officials in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri province are battling to prevent an oil spill in Bang Saray Bay from reaching the coast. The source of the oil remains undisclosed.

Locals and tourists spotted lines of oil, approximately 3-to-4 kilometres offshore in Bang Saray Bay in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, yesterday, August 22. The spill was about 1 kilometre away from the coast and was expected to wash ashore on Bang Saray Beach very soon.

Officials from the Bang Saray Sub-District Office, the Maritime Interests Protection Center Region 1, the First Naval Area Command, and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources have already investigated the oil spill but have not yet identified the type of oil.

Officials also found that many islands near Sattahip Bay had already been affected by the oil, so relevant departments planned to remove the oil as soon as possible to resolve the situation.

A local fisherman, 60 year old Prajob Rengreep, told ThaiRath that he first spotted the oil spill three to four days ago near Rang Kwian Island. The oil spread widely across the water and headed towards the coast.

Prajob believed that the oil was engine oil from a large ship, not fuel from local fishing boats. He hoped the officials would remove the oil as quickly as possible.

The President of Bang Saray Local Fisheries, Rattanawalee Kongsanor, revealed that the oil spill could have many negative effects on the coast and marine life if it were to wash up. The polluted beach would also adversely affect the tourism industry.

Rattanawalee believed that the oil would not make its way to the coast as many government officials are currently working to clean up the sea.

Ban Mueang news agency reported that boom barriers had been installed to prevent the oil from washing up on the beach. It is expected that the relevant department will completely remove the oil by the end of today, August 23.

There has been no report on whether the officials will conduct a further investigation into the source of the oil and punish those involved.