Oil Spill Monitoring and Marine Environmental Law Enforcement for Ship-Source Pollution in Major Ports of Thailand
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Ship-source oil spills remain a persistent environmental challenge in large ports, particularly in developing maritime states. This study investigates oil spill monitoring and law enforcement in Thailand’s major ports, including Map Ta Phut, Laem Chabang, and Sattahip, with a focus on the interaction among technology, data, institutional coordination, and enforcement. It employs a mixed-methods research design (n = 11), combining qualitative interviews and quantitative expert elicitation. In Phase 1, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with eleven purposively selected key stakeholders and analyzed thematically to identify structural, technological, and legal constraints. The findings indicate that advanced monitoring technologies, including satellite-based surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), real-time sensing systems, AI-based data analytics, digital data management systems, and integrated real-time monitoring platforms, are critical for effective detection and response. In Phase 2, quantitative assessments were conducted with the same group using a five-point Likert scale to evaluate perceived government effectiveness. The findings reveal a clear disparity in enforcement effectiveness across different types of oil spill incidents. Monitoring and response mechanisms for navigation-related accidents were perceived as highly effective (mean = 4.00-4.27). In contrast, effectiveness declined to moderate levels for incidents caused by technical failures and human error (mean = 3.00-3.27). It was rated low for the investigation and prosecution of illegal oil discharges (mean = 2.73). The results highlight a significant enforcement gap between law enforcement practices and the adoption of advanced monitoring technologies, as well as their impact on operational effectiveness, primarily due to limitations in legal frameworks, evidentiary standards, and inter-agency coordination. The study underscores the need to develop integrated policies to enhance technological integration, recognize digital data as admissible legal evidence, and strengthen institutional coordination to meet international standards, thereby improving maritime good governance and sustainable marine development
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The content and information in the articles published in the Journal of Science and Technology, Sisaket Rajabhat University reflect the opinions and responsibilities of the respective authors. The editorial board of the journal does not necessarily agree with, nor share responsibility for, these views.
Articles, information, content, images, etc., published in the Journal of Science and Technology, Sisaket Rajabhat University are copyrighted by the Faculty of Science and Technology, Sisaket Rajabhat University. If any individual or organization wishes to republish all or part of the content, or use it for any other purpose, they must obtain written permission from the Journal of Science and Technology, Sisaket Rajabhat University beforehand.
References
Al-Qassim, M. (2023). Environmental enforcement technology adoption: Marin environment in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Doctoral dissertation. Brunel University London. https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/25984
Purohit, B. K., Tewari, S., Prasad, K. S. N. V., Talari, V. K., Pandey, N., Choudhury, P., & Panda, S. S. (2024). Marine oil spill clean-up: A review on technologies with recent trends and challenges. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 80, 103876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103876
De Kerf, T., Sels, S., Samsonova, S., & Vanlanduit, S. (2024). A dataset of drone-captured, segmented images for oil spill detection in port environments. Scientific Data, 11, 1180. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03993-8
Department of Legal Treaties, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2005). United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. Bangkok: Erawan Publication. (in Thai)
Ebisi, E. A., Guo, Y, & Soomro, Z. A. (2025). Environmental conservation and corporate social responsibility (CSR): insights from Nigerian oil and gas industry using stakeholder and environmental justice theories. Administrative Sciences, 15(7), 275. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15070275
Govindarajan, S. K., Mishra, A., & Kumar, A. (2021). Oil spill in a marine environment: Requirements following an offshore oil spill. Rud. Geol. Naft. Zb. 36 (4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.17794/rgn.2021.4.1
Hadavand, M., Azadbakht, F., & Ghazanfari, H. (2022). The International Maritime Organization and Civil Liability for Offshore Oil Pollution. Int. Studies Journal (ISJ) 18(4), 161–177. https://doi.org/10.22034/isj.2022.306679.1610
Jumphot, S. (2017). Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment. Faculty of Law. Thammasat University. Bangkok: Winyuchon Publication House. (in Thai)
Marine Department. (2021). Safety Measures, Prevention, and Elimination of Water Pollution from Oil, Chemicals, and Hazardous Substances at Port Facilities. Marine Department Announcement No. 134/ 2021. (in Thai)
Marine Department. (2024). Marine Transportation Statistics FY2023 (Waterway Transport Statistics). Planning Division, Marine Department, July 2024, 14-19. (in Thai)
Siraphum, K., & Nannapasorn, I. (2021). Enforcement of Environment Law of Thai-Maritime Enforcement Command Center under International Laws and Standards: Marine Oil Spills from Ships. Proceedings 20th Conference on Environmental Engineering, Science and Management, Environmental Engineering Association of Thailand, May 12-14, 2021. (pp. 123-124). (in Thai). Hotel Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid, Khon Kaen. https://www.eeat.or.th/.../20th-national-environmental
Siraphum, K., & Nannapasorn, I. (2022). Monitoring and Enforcement of Marine Environmental Law for Sustainable Development Goals. Proceedings of 5th SHSRNNIC. October 21, 2022. Via Zoom online program. (in Thai). https://www.shsrn-conf.com/history
Siraphum, K., Nannapasorn, I., Seree, T., & Piyarat, P. (2025). A Study on Guidelines for Developing an Integrated Technology System for Marine Environmental Management in Thailand. Proceedings Conference on EEAT2025 (Environmental Innovation and Technology to Practicability for Green Development), Environmental Engineering Association of Thailand, December 15, 2025, 77-83. (in Thai). Hotel Tk Palace and Convention, Bangkok. https://www.eeat.or.th/eeat-conference-footer/eeat2025
Subcommittee on Knowledge Management for National Maritime Interest. (2019). The Sea and Oceans and National Maritime Interests. Bangkok: National Security Council. 11-29. (in Thai)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2019). Guidelines for the development of marine pollution contingency plans. Nairobi, UNEP AHEG 2019, 3, INF 7, 18-22 Nov 2019
