Bad weather sinks two cargo vessels
Strong waves sank two cargo ships loaded with cement off Trang province on Monday as officials warned ships to avoid leaving shore.
Four seamen from both ships survived and were rescued by the partner vessels.
The two were among the four vessels that left Saengthong port in Trang’s Kantang district on September 6 for Koh Lanta off Krabi province. They were scheduled to upload the cement to a ship off Koh Lanta for transhipment to Myanmar.
High and strong waves whipped up by gale-force winds near Ban Had Yao off Koh Libong caused the two to sink. Their crew was able to reach other vessels, which also suffered wave damage but were able to pump the water out.
The ships’ owners tried to recover the vessels but the equipment was forced back to shore by strong winds and heavy rains.
Damage is estimated at about Bt50 million. Fishermen have been advised to stay in port until September 14.
