Drifting Containers Near Similan Islands Raise Navigation Safety Concerns

Authorities in southern Thailand have issued a navigation warning after two drifting containers were spotted near the Similan Islands, a popular destination for daily excursions from Phuket.

The alert was released on March 29 by the regional maritime security center ThaiMECC 3. According to the report, local fishermen first noticed the containers on March 27.

Potential maritime hazard

Both containers are approximately 20 feet in size and are partially submerged, drifting freely at sea. One of them bears Hyundai markings, while no identifying features have been reported for the second.

Officials confirmed that no loose cargo has been observed in the surrounding waters. However, the containers themselves pose a potential danger to vessels navigating the area.

Possible link to sunken cargo ship

Although not officially confirmed, the containers may be connected to the cargo vessel SEALLOYD ARC, which sank on February 7 south of Promthep Cape in Phuket. Authorities did not directly reference the ship in the warning.

The incident site lies within a protected marine zone, as the waters around the Similan Islands are part of Mu Koh Similan National Park.

Ongoing monitoring

The Royal Thai Navy stated that relevant agencies will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as necessary.

At the same time, there have been no recent updates regarding the sunken vessel. The last report, published on March 16, mentioned the presence of a thin oil sheen near the wreck site. The ship was believed to have carried around 100,000 litres of fuel at the time of sinking.