State agencies to tighten scrutiny of vessels in Gulf
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THE Marine Department and related agencies have been asked to step up inspections at sea and examine the logbook of ships, as part of measures to stop ships dumping fuel.
However, top officials of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry admitted on Monday that it was too late to catch those responsible for the oil spill that contaminated the shore from Samut Sakhon to Prachuap Khiri Khan – as there was no solid proof to identify the ship responsible for the damage and it had already fled.
Ministry permanent secretary Kasemsant Jinnawaso said there had been discussions with the Marine, Pollution Control, and Marine and Coastal Resources departments to work out ways to prevent further problems from ships that dump or “leak” oil.
Kasemsant said the first action that would be implemented was to let the Marine Department inspect the sea more than 12 nautical miles from the shoreline to search and prevent ships from dumping oil into the sea.
