The claim was filed by Surin Islands National Park following the June 1 incident, when the MV Ayar Linn, carrying 3,000 bags of cement and over 7,700 litres of diesel fuel, struck a reef and sank in Jak Bay, at the northern end of Mu Ko Surin.
The wreck remains submerged and continues to pose a serious threat to the marine ecosystem.
After the incident, the Phang Nga Marine Office issued an order banning the use of unsafe or unseaworthy vessels and mandated the salvage, dismantling, and removal of the Ayar Linn.
Despite earlier efforts by Surin Islands park officials, Royal Thai Navy officers, and members of the local Moken community to lighten the vessel’s load and create buoyancy, the ship remains lodged on the reef, causing ongoing environmental harm.
A high-level meeting led by the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 3 (Thai MECC 3), which operates from the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command at Cape Panwa, was held on Monday (June 16) to coordinate urgent salvage efforts and plan for coral restoration.
A dive survey conducted by national park staff and marine scientists from Phuket Rajabhat University revealed approximately 75 metres of reef had been damaged. Blue coral (Porites lutea), which grows just 0.5cm per year, suffered the most ‒ around 80% loss in the affected area.
Additional damage was recorded to staghorn and choti corals, while brain, cauliflower, and star corals were less severely affected.
To prevent further destruction, officials agreed to expedite the removal of the wreck to a nearby beach where there is no coral. Once relocated, the damage will be reassessed and restoration efforts will begin, including replanting coral ‒ particularly blue coral, which could take years to recover naturally.
The Thai MECC 3 has scheduled a salvage mission for June 18–20. The operation will involve HTMS *Mannok*, a special operations diving team, and 50 naval personnel from coastal defense units.
This recovery initiative is part of a broader marine conservation effort under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, whose foundation is supporting the restoration of marine ecosystems and biodiversity in Thai waters.
Officials stress that salvaging the Ayar Linn and rehabilitating the damaged coral reef are critical steps in protecting the fragile marine environment of the Surin Islands for future generations.