Tanker turns up for dinner in near miss at Thai restaurant

Tanker turns up for dinner in near miss at Thai restaurant
Gary Dixon 10 October 2022 https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/tanker-turns-up-for-dinner-in-...

The Smooth Sea 18 managed to halt its progress just in time

Diners in Bangkok came very close to having an unwanted guest on Friday night.

Thai TV reported that the 7,400-dwt product tanker Smooth Sea 18 (built 2004) came within metres of crashing into a river-side restaurant in the Samut Prakan area of the Thai capital.

Video footage broadcast by Thailand’s TV 32 channel begins with panicked shouting as diners try to warn the Thai-flag tanker as it drifts closer.

Some of the audio is bleeped out as the ship continues to approach head-on within metres of the shore.

A seafarer appears by the bow railings as the ship finally slows to a stop.

The vessel is operated by Smooth Sea Co of Bangkok. The company has been contacted for comment.

The incident in the Chao Phraya river occurred while the Smooth Sea 18 was proceeding upstream with a full load of fuel destined for an oil terminal.

The ship went off course after it manoeuvred around a tug towing barges downstream, reports said.

During its evasive action, the ship dropped its anchor and went into full reverse.

The Smooth Sea 18 was reported to have reached its destination later on over the weekend.

Left Bangkok

The tanker then left Bangkok on 9 October, bound for Sriracha in Thailand.

AIS data showed the vessel anchored there on Monday.

The Equasis database list the ship’s protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance as provided by Ship Owners’ Mutual.

There are no port state control inspections on the tanker’s record.