The Big C5, Prachuap Sirikhan

Written by Stephen Burton

Depth Unknown

STOP PRESS May 19th 2005>>>Oil tanker sinks off Southern Thailand Coast

PRACHUAP KHIRIKHAN, May 18 (TNA) – The marine ecosystem in Thailand’s upper southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan has been put jeopardy by an oil tanker which capsized a week ago in fierce seas, just four kilometers from the coastline of a national park.

The large oil tanker was found by local fisheries and marine resource officials, as they prepared to create an artificial coral reef yesterday.

Completely upended, the Big C5 was traveling from the southern Surat Thani Province to Bangkok when it sunk on 10 May.

The crew of a boat which had been traveling with the vessel said that they had attempted to salvage it and pull it to shore, but had been unable to do so.

According to local reporters, the environmental damage from the disaster is already apparent.

A film of oil now coats the surface of the water despite the fact that the oil tanker was not said to have been carrying any oil at the time of the accident.

Home to several species of dolphins, the area where the tanker capsized is also thought to be a feeding ground for beluga whales.

Yesterday marine resources officials said that measures had been taken to minimize the environmental damage. (TNA)–E006

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