Old, abandoned ship sinks while being towed ashore-c1_2244559_220109153344-jpg

SURAT THANI: An old vessel of unknown origin found drifting near an oil platform in the Gulf of Thailand sank while being towed ashore for examination on Saturday night, according to Rear Admiral Surasak Pratanworapanya, deputy director of the Area 2 Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC).

The ship, believed to be an abandoned cargo ship, was first sighted on Wednesday drifting near an oil platform of Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd (Chevron Thailand) about 70 nautical miles southeast of Koh Samui.

Crew at the oil platform reported the sighting to V/Adm Sunthorn Khamkhlai, commander of 2nd Naval Area, who on Thursday ordered a drone to be flown out for an aerial examination and the Tor 113 patrol boat dispatched to the spot.

On Thursday night at 10pm, the vessel was found by the patrol boat at the spot reported by Chevron and naval officers went on board to conduct an examination. The vessel, about 80 metres long and with the name Fin Shul Yuen 2 painted on its sides, was believed to be a cargo ship.

Chinese characters were seen on parts of the ship, but all the numbers had been scraped off. No crew were on board, and there was no sign of any documents, cargo, anchor or other equipment.

The ship was very old, and appeared to have been intentionally abandoned.



Old, abandoned ship sinks while being towed ashore