Six crew members were reported missing after the Thai-registered fuel tanker Venus 14 sank in the Gulf of Thailand off Sattahip on 11 November 2026, prompting a search and rescue operation by the Royal Thai Navy.

The vessel, which supplied fuel to fishing boats, went down approximately 27 nautical miles from the entrance to the Sattahip Naval Base navigation channel in Chon Buri province, on a bearing of 227 degrees.

According to the navy, the First Naval Area Command received notification of the incident at around 9:00 a.m. local time and dispatched patrol boat Tor 113 and a maritime surveillance aircraft to search for the six crew members.

The operation also included efforts to establish the position of the sunken vessel and monitor the surrounding waters for possible fuel leakage.

A navigational warning was issued to vessels operating near the reported sinking location, advising them to exercise caution.

The navy coordinated with Thailand’s Marine Department to prepare for a possible oil spill. The naval tug HTMS Panyi, which has oil containment capabilities, and a helicopter were placed on standby, with personnel and pollution-response equipment ready for deployment if required.

The quantity of fuel aboard Venus 14 at the time of the sinking remains unknown. Authorities have not confirmed whether any fuel has leaked from the wreck.

The cause of the sinking has not been established.

As of reports published on 11 November, the location and condition of the six missing crew members remained unknown, with no confirmed rescue outcome reported.

The Royal Thai Navy said search and rescue operations would continue while authorities monitored the area for possible marine pollution.