Ayutthaya:The salvage mission for the sunken tugboat in the Pa Sak River is expected to be completed by tomorrow. The tugboat, named Ch. Ratchaneerungruang, capsized in front of Wat Phanangcheong Worawihan in the Khlong Suan Phlu Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, yesterday afternoon. The vessel sank to a depth of 18 meters, but the driver, Mr. Anukool Phromwiphawadee, 62, managed to escape and was safely rescued.
According to Thai News Agency, officials suspended the initial rescue operation due to darkness and safety concerns. A large crane is being prepared to move the tugboat to shore. Divers have already marked the location and attached ropes to the hull. This morning, officials planned to use these ropes to slightly lift the vessel when the crane arrives, straightening it to facilitate towing to shallower waters.
Mr. Damrongsak Pakaporn, Acting Director of the Ayutthaya Regional Marine Department, held a meeting with shipping operators to coordinate the retrieval process. The Marine Department has collaborated with the Royal Irrigation Department to close dam gates, reducing the water level by 40 cubic meters to assist in the salvage operation. Cargo shipping in the area has been temporarily suspended for safety reasons until the operation is completed.
Mr. Manop Taohom, 61, a boat operator, reported that the vessel belonged to his brother, who sustained a fractured arm and is currently receiving treatment in a Bangkok hospital. The sunken boat is valued at about 3 million baht, with estimated repair costs after retrieval around 1 million baht.