There was a fire in the middle of the Chao Phraya River, Samut Prakan Province at about 1:40 p.m. on March 27, 2022, resulting in the death of one person and several injured. On March 28, 2022 at 3:00 p.m., Mr. Sompong Jirasirilert, Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department Operations, along with Mr. Chatchai Vejsan, Director of the Samut Prakan Harbor Office and relevant officials went to the scene along with following up and listening to the plan to unload cargo (crude oil) from the Ampar 8 ship and set measures to prevent oil spills.

Maritime Authorities — Image Credits: md.go.th

Authorities on the scene immediately started to implement the ship loading and unloading plan, as well as issuing a notification from the Harbor Department urging the operators of ships passing through the area to exercise caution in navigation. and issued an order prohibiting the use of the ship until the situation was resolved.

As for the progress in the loading and unloading of oil (oil), Ayutthaya Development Leasing Company Limited (the shipowner) has hired Grace Ocean Marine Company Limited to carry out cargo handling operations. Ship to Ship (STS) form by preparing 2 tug boats (Sri Somboon 5 and Sri Somboon 11) to prepare in the area and help in case of emergency and encircle a 300-meter boom around the oil transfer point to prevent oil spills then bring the cargo ship that will be used to unload the oil.

fire being extinguishing crew on board Tanker Ampar 8 — Image Credits: กรมเจ้าท่า

The crew entered ‘Ampar 8’ to transfer oil from the ship at the scene by using 3 boats, the first ship, Ananthanasin, enter STS on the port side of Ampha 8 at 10:00 p.m. on March 28, 2022. The second vessel, Grace Korakot, entered STS on the left port. Ampar 8 boat at 4:00 a.m. on March 29, 2022 and the third boat Ananthanasin entered the STS on the port side of the Ampha 8 boat at 1:00 PM.

On 29 March 2022, a certain amount of oil had been pumped and it was expected to be completed by 16:00 on 29 March 2022 and no oil spills had been found around it.

Teerakulphisut Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department of safety has ordered all oil tankers/gas tankers to must install CCTV cameras inside the ship and connect the video signal to the operation center. Marine Department, ready to order to speed up review and improve safety measures to prevent recurrence of one such incidents.