In just one month, there have been two explosions aboard oil tankers on the Chao Phraya River -- which flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. The accidents claimed two lives, and injured a number of others, as well as alarming river community residents and users of the river. However, the reaction of the Marine Department leaves much to be desired.
On the morning of March 9, the Smooth Sea 2 oil tanker exploded as it docked at a pier in Samut Prakan province. Owned by petrochemical refiner IRPC, the tanker was carrying 1.8 million litres of petrol and diesel oil from a refinery complex in Rayong.
The Marine Department was reported to have launched an investigation. The issue gradually fizzled out and the department has given no further updates on the incident since.
And there was a similar accident again on Sunday. This time the Ampa-8 oil tanker, loaded with 3.2 million litres of oil exploded as it cruised past Phra Chulachomklao Fort on its way to Bangkok. The blast caused another explosion that resulted in the death of one crew member and injuries to four others on board. Again, the department launched a probe, while Samut Prakan provincial governor came out to tell people not to panic, and assure them that there was no risk of pollution as a result of the accident.
It would be no surprise many if that was the last update or information to be presented to the public following the announcement of an investigation.
The Marine Department is not popular and rarely garners much media attention, unlike other departments such as the Ministry of Transport that handle billion-baht rail infrastructure projects. The number of river-related accidents and fatalities is miniscule compared to the scale of road deaths across the nation, and therefore usually gather little attention from policy makers or even media.
Yet this is no excuse for complacency. The government has recently promoted boat transport to encourage tourism, reduce carbon emissions and save on logistics costs. Therefore the department must be proactive in promoting safety measures.
In August last year, the department announced its plan to boost safety standards on the Chao Phraya River and Pasak River. Its goal is to help increase logistics deliveries. As of now, the river handles around 40 million tonnes of freight each year, including agricultural products like rice and sugar, and energy products like oil. The new goal is 65 million tonnes annually. As part of safety upgrades, the department has spent money dredging up a stretch of river to build buffers along 29 kilometres of river bank in flood-prone areas as well as improving signs at danger points such as under bridges or bridge pillars.
But it will take more than infrastructure to improve river safety. The department must work harder in terms of law-making and campaigning to increase safety standards.
One thing that the department can do right away is promote transparency and include local communities in the decision-making process and safety campaigns. And following the two oil tanker explosions, the department owes both local residents and the wider public an explanation, or at least some proof that both have been thoroughly investigated.
These accidents serve as timely reminders that there may something amiss with safety standards on the Chao Phraya River. Doing nothing will only serve to reinforce the perception that the Marine Department is part of the problem, rather than the solution.
