160,000 litres of crude oil were carelessly spilled
into the Gulf of Thailand in Rayong District on Wednesday, October 30,
1996, during what company officials called “a routine transfer”. The
large quantity of oil was accidentally released off the tanker ONCE,
chartered by British Petroleum (BP), as it was moored 19 km. off the
coast of Mab Ta Phut.
Although the cause of the accident is still officially unknown, Navy
sources have revealed that a valve at the reception facility was thought
to have leaked, and that human error is most likely the cause. The
polluter is subject to a fine of up to 60,000 baht and/or a three year
jail term. Those affected by the accident can seek legal redress in
courts.
Star Petroleum Refining Co. officials, whose dock the tanker was moored
at, revealed that the 160,000 litres of crude oil had caused a slick
covering four square kilometres. The slick eventually split into two
major slicks, a large one offshore and a smaller one inshore. The larger
slick then dispersed into smaller slicks and floated onto beaches on Koh
Chuang, Koh Phra, Koh Mu, Koh Kham and Chuk Samet, and coral around the
islands is under threat. Two larger slicks were also west of Koh Chuang
and were slowly making their way toward Koh Khram and possibly Pattaya.
Star Co. called in East Asia Response Ltd., a Singapore based company
specializing in oil clearance, because the spill is beyond the
capability of local operations. The Navy and Harbor Pollution Control
Departments are also involved in the clean up, which, officials said, is
now completed.
Workers had been spraying the spill with chemical dispersants in an
effort to prevent an environmental disaster. Chemical dispersants were
used to break down the oil into thin layers, after which they will
naturally degrade. Officials have said that the dispersants may have an
effect on the environment, but since the spill occurred in deep water,
the effect should be minimal.
Officials said that no more chemical dispersants will be used, as the
remaining slicks will now naturally degrade. “They are not dangerous,
but they just look ugly,” Prakorn Prasertwong of the Harbor Department
told reporters.
The Navy will be responsible for cleaning up the rest of the slicks in
their jurisdiction, and the Pollution Control Department will monitor
long term effects.
Marine biologists, however, said the impact of the spill could be felt
for years. If left unchecked, storms could blow the crude over a wide
area and move inshore, where the impact would be severe. In that event,
the crude would block sunlight from water and deprive marine plants and
plankton of light needed for photosynthesis. Eventually, the oil could
settle on the seabed and coral, devastating marine life. It could also
smother beaches and mangrove forests, and have a devastating effect on
tourism.
The eastern coast from Chonburi to Rayong has seen several spills in
recent times. Last year, a 10 km stretch of coast in Rayong was polluted
by a spill from a petroleum company’s treatment plant. In June last
year, 5 km of Bang Sean Beach was covered by two spills of unknown
origin. In May last year, Pattaya and Jomtien Beaches were also covered
by spills.
Harbor Department Chief Wit Woraphop was quoted as saying that oil
spills were inevitable since Thailand is an industrialized nation, and
that contingency measures are in place.
However, oil spills should not be inevitable. It is ludicrous to say so.
The effects of these spills are devastating, killing wildlife,
destroying vegetation, and, closer to the hearts of local officials,
severally effect tourism. The question remains; how was this allowed to
happen?
