Sunken vessel threat to Phuket marine traffic

PHUKET: Marine Officers have marked the cargo boat that recently sank, Unity, with a buoy and light to prevent any damage being done to other ships travelling between mainland Krabi and Phi Phi (story here).

“We have also put out public announcements over the radio to inform boat owners about the danger posed by the sunken boat,” Krabi Marine Office Director Chaisiri Khundam told the Gazette this afternoon.

The hull of the boat is resting on the seafloor at a depth of only about five meters, with one end of the boat breaking the surface.

“I have ordered the boat owner to take care of the salvage efforts,” Lt Cdr Chaisiri said. “Today they were about to start salvaging it, but the weather was too wild. They will try again.”

The owner told Lt Cdr Chaisiri that the salvage would be done by Wednesday at the latest, weather permitting.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong