Salvage efforts are underway to recover a Myanmar-flagged freighter that ran aground on a coral reef in Mu Ko Surin National Park, located in the Andaman Sea. The MV Ayar Linn has remained half-submerged since June 1, 2025, prompting a multi-agency operation to lift the vessel without causing further environmental harm.
Salvage crews began work on Saturday, June 15, using 100 water-filled 200-litre tanks secured to the tail section of the ship. Air is now being pumped into the tanks to displace the water, creating buoyancy to help lift the freighter off the reef.
According to park officials, the vessel has shown signs of movement but remains lodged on the reef. Additional tanks and lift bags were attached on June 16 to assist in the recovery process.
Personnel from the Department of National Parks, the National Marine Park Operations Centre in Phuket, the Conservation Area Administration Office in Nakhon Si Thammarat, and a marine science professor from Phuket Rajabhat University are coordinating the operation.
Meanwhile, marine biologists have been surveying and documenting coral damage. Initial assessments by divers reveal harm to various species, including Acropora spp, Porites rus, Heliopora sp, and Porites lutea. Officials note that a full evaluation of the coral damage directly beneath the vessel cannot be made until it is fully raised. Some coral species, they added, may recover naturally over time.
Separate teams have been working to collect debris scattered into the sea during the incident, including car tires, paper, cardboard, and general waste from the vessel. The operation highlights ongoing concerns about the impact of maritime accidents on protected marine ecosystems.
