OCEAN DREAM BECOMES A NIGHTMARE

Posted on 03/04/2016 | About Thailand

‘Ocean Dream’ was in the Chonburi Sea (Thailand) on its way to China over a year ago. Instead it was anchored off the port of Laem Chabang in Sri Racha and has remained there since. Local media reports say that the cruise ship had been abandoned by its Chinese owner for over a year without crew or maintenance. This week the abandoned ship capsized and started sinking, with authorities fearing an environmental disaster.

Fishermen were the first to notice the ship listing to the left, but attempts to stabilize it by marine experts were futile. It became half submerged in the water.Thai authorities will investigate the cause of the accident and file a lawsuit for the cost of removing the wreck against the owner. Video on YouTube shows an oil slick extending hundreds of metres around the vessel and Thailand Marine Department confirmed that crews were working with skimmers and dispersants to clean the oil that had been released.The Chinese owners of the ship have ignored the authorities, who repeatedly requested that the ship be moved from Thai waters. The cruise ship Ocean Dream operated under the flag of Panama and was managed by Shanghai Eastime Ship Management. It was built in 1972 at Fincantieri Riva Trigoso shipyard in Italy.