LPG Tanker Grounds Itself Near Pattaya, Sparking Alarm Among Locals and Visitors

In the early hours of March 25, 2025, an LPG tanker found itself stuck on the rocky shores near Koh Larn, just off Pattaya City. Thankfully, it was confirmed that the vessel was empty, easing fears of a gas leak.

The NP Bangpakong tanker, weighing in at 3,996 dwt and operated by SC Group Holding Co. Ltd., was making its way from chachoengsao’s Bang Pakong District to Rayong’s Map ta Phut port when it ran aground around 2:25 am at Laem Wan close to Ta Waen Beach.

Local authorities jumped into action to evaluate the situation.Upon inspection, they found that the double-hulled design had grounded its ballast tank—this crucial feature helped prevent any dangerous leaks from occurring.

According to the captain’s account, he had swerved sharply to avoid colliding with a fishing boat right before getting stuck.

Naturally, this incident sent ripples of panic through both residents and tourists nearby; many were worried about a potential explosion due to the tanker’s LPG cargo capabilities. However, officials quickly reassured everyone that there was no danger since all tanks were empty during this mishap.

Despite these assurances regarding immediate safety concerns, environmental worries lingered—especially regarding possible harm to local coral reefs in proximity to where the ship stranded. In response to this incident and acknowledging their role in it due to operational oversights, SC Group Holding issued a statement taking full responsibility for what happened.

The company pledged complete cooperation with ongoing investigations while promising corrective measures like stricter safety protocols moving forward. They’re already working on refloating efforts for their vessel by deploying a tugboat from Map Ta Phut along with engineers and technicians who are assessing any damage incurred during grounding.

Initial evaluations indicated some issues with ballast tanks but thankfully showed no breaches in cargo tanks themselves. The Pattaya Regional