A Panama-flagged dry cargo and container vessel, SEALLOYD ARC, has sunk in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phuket after taking on water and developing a severe list, authorities reported.
The ship, en route from Port Klang in Malaysia to Chattogram (formerly Chittagong) in Bangladesh, began listing sharply on 7 February 2026, prompting a distress call and a major maritime response.
All 16 crew members aboard were safely rescued by Thai maritime forces and brought ashore in Phuket with no reported injuries.
The vessel, carrying around 297 containers, including several with hazardous materials, sank a few kilometres off Phuket’s tourist-busy coast. Aerial surveys have detected a long oil slick stretching several miles across the water, raising environmental concerns and prompting authorities to initiate oil spill containment and cleanup operations.
Salvage and environmental protection efforts are underway as naval and maritime units work to mitigate navigation hazards and marine pollution risks. Local navigation warnings have been issued for vessels operating near the incident area.
