Trawler sinks off Phuket after collision with barge
PHUKET: In the latest marine mishap off Phuket, a crew of 12 fishermen were saved by another fishing boat after their trawler slammed into a sand barge off Wichit last night.
Pol Sub-Lt of the Phuket Marine Police received a report of the accident at 7am.
The 10-meter trawler Sri Thong Prae 4 from Ranong was cruising about 2 kilometers from Koh Tapao Noi when its port bow slammed into the anchored sand barge Kantang Lamliang 6 at about midnight, he said.
The crew of its companion vessel, Sri Thong Prae 7, came to assist as the wooden trawler began taking on water.
All 12 crew were rescued from the wooden vessel, but efforts to salvage the swamped trawler have proven fruitless.
At last report the vessel was completely swamped, with only a small section above the waterline.
Sub-Lt Jeerayuth told the captains of both vessels to file reports at the Phuket City Police Station so that an investigation into who was responsible can begin.
— Sitthipong Nongkaew
