On January 6, 2021 oil rig workers discovered an abandoned Chinese ship floating off the coast of Thailand, crewless. According to reports, Chevron’s oil rig workers noticed the vessel labelled ‘Jin Shui Yuan 2’ in Chinese characters in the Gulf of Thailand. Jin Shui Yan 2 was first found 100 nautical miles (115 miles) from the Thai city of Songkhla.
Surprisingly, the ship had no cargo or paperwork on board that may have been used to identify the crew. The ship’s lower deck had not been used in a long time, according to the investigation.
Following the unexplained finding, local authorities began working with Thailand’s marine department to prevent the ship’s oil leak from causing environmental damage. However, the ship sank while being towed by the Thai Navy near Sichon District in Nakhon Si Thammarat province owing to heavy winds.
Buoys were installed to identify the location where it sank, and fishermen were advised to use caution while sailing. A notice was also issued requiring the vessel to be salvaged within 15 days.
If the shipowner comes forward, he or she will have to claim the wreckage.