Thai navy searches for six crew members after tanker sinks off Chonburi
A patrol vessel and aircraft have been deployed to find the crew, while teams prepare to respond to possible oil pollution from the sunken tanker.
- A fuel tanker, the Venus 14, sank off the coast of Chonburi, leaving six of its crew members missing.
- The Royal Thai Navy has launched a search and rescue operation, deploying a patrol boat and an aircraft to find the missing individuals.
- In addition to the search, authorities are monitoring the site for oil leakage and preparing for a potential environmental cleanup.
The Royal Thai Navy’s First Naval Area Command launched an urgent search and rescue operation for six crew members on Wednesday (November 11, 2026), after receiving a report that the Venus 14, a tanker supplying fuel for fishing operations, had sunk at 9am.
The reported position was 27 miles from the entrance to the Sattahip Naval Base navigation channel, on a bearing of 227 degrees.
The command immediately dispatched patrol boat T113 and a Do 228 patrol aircraft for the search and rescue operation.
It was also checking for oil leakage and verifying the location of the sunken vessel, while alerting passing vessels to ensure navigational safety.
The command also coordinated with the Marine Department to prepare for possible oil pollution.
It ordered preparations for the naval tug Panyi and a helicopter, with personnel and oil clean-up equipment to be made ready for immediate deployment upon request.
The navy confirmed its readiness to make every effort to find and rescue those in distress, while closely monitoring and working to prevent impacts on the marine environment.
