6 crew missing after oil tanker sinks off Chon Buri

Navy condusting search operation and preparing for possible oil spill

PUBLISHED : 11 Nov 2026 at 14:48

Six crew members are missing from an oil tanker that sank off the coast of Sattahip in Chon Buri on Wednesday morning, according to the Royal Thai Navy.

The First Naval Area Command has begun a search and rescue operation to find the missing crew members of the Venus 14, while also preparing for a possibility of an oil leak.

The Thai-registered fishing fuel-supply vessel sank approximately 27 nautical miles from the entrance to Sattahip Naval Base, on a bearing of 227 degrees, according to the navy.

The navy patrol boat Tor 113 and a maritime surveillance aircraft have been deployed to search for the missing crew and locate the sunken vessel. Authorities have also issued warnings to other vessels navigating nearby waters.

The navy is coordinating with the Marine Department to prepare for potential pollution from an oil spill. It was not known how much fuel the ship was carrying when it went down.

The navy tugboat HTMS Panyi and a helicopter have also been placed on standby, with personnel and oil-spill response equipment ready for deployment as needed.

The Venus 14 is seen drifting before it sank on Wednesday. (Photo: Amporn Sangkaew)

The navy said it would continue search and rescue efforts while closely monitoring the situation to minimise any potential environmental damage to the marine ecosystem.