Freighter runs aground in Mu Ko Surin National Park, damaging coral

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will sue the owner of a Myanmar-registered cargo ship which ran aground on the coral reefs in Chak Bay, in the Mu Ko Surin National Park, in the Andaman Sea off Phang-nga province, on June 1.

The department’s director-general, Atthaphon Charoenchansa, revealed that the vessel, named “MV.AYAR LINN”, scraped across coral reefs for a distance of 75 metres before running aground.

An initial assessment shows corals, covering an area of 150 square metres, have been damaged.

Atthaphon said that he was told by park officials that the skipper of the freighter appeared to have tried to evade interception by Myanmar officials for an unknown reason, adding that the vessel also struck an undersea rock formation, which breached the hull.

The vessel tried ground ashore, but ended up running onto the coral reefs, he explained.

Atthaphon also said that the owner of the vessel has not been in contact since the accident and the department is trying to contact the company to claim compensation for the damage.

He pointed out, however, that the priorities for park officials are fuel leaks and the cargo on the vessel, which includes about 3,000 sacks of cement and trash, and preventing them from entering the water.

He said he has ordered park officials to move the damaged vessel off the coral reefs.

Meanwhile, Kriangkrai Pocharoen, head of Mu Ko Surin National Park, admitted that strong winds and waves during the monsoon season pose an obstacle to the efforts to tow the vessel from the reefs.

He added, however, that he has requested booms, to prevent the spread of any oil spilt. A naval vessel, from the Third Fleet of the Royal Thai Navy, will be dispatched to the island to help to cope with any oil spills.