One crew member has died and another three injured in a massive explosion on a Thai tanker near Bangkok.
Footage from the Thai Navy shows the moment the huge explosion hit the 3,000-dwt Smooth Sea 2 (built 1983) amidships on Wednesday, sending flames and a plume of black smoke into the sky.
The tanker was berthed on the Chao Phraya river in Samut Prakan, the Thaiger website reported.
Three seafarers were able to escape.
Human remains were later found on the vessel. The victim has not yet been identified.
Samut Prakan’s Marine Department Office had been alerted at 9am local time by Thai oil company IRPC that a vessel was on fire.
Firefighters spent around 30 minutes bringing the blaze under control.
No pollution was reported in the river.
The Marine Department has begun an investigation into the cause of the incident.
The double-bottomed tanker is owned by Smooth Sea of Thailand and had arrived from Rayong on Tuesday night.
Gasoline and diesel on board
Reports said the vessel has 1.8m litres of gasoil and 1.3m litres of diesel in its tanks.
Insurance cover is provided by the Shipowner’s Club in the UK.
The Equasis database lists no port state control inspections for the vessel.
Bangkok’s Smooth Sea has a fleet of 14 small tankers.
