Phoenix salvage team walks away from contract – police to take over

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

A private sector company has walked away from the contract to salvage the ‘Phoenix’ and bring it back to the surface after numerous failed attempts and two months of excuses why they were unable to resurface the vessel. The company continually complained about weather and strong currents despite many calm days during their fruitless two months of operations.

 

They have officially cancelled the contract to salvage the ‘Phoenix’ boat after saying they are unable to complete the operation. Police will now be responsible to recover the vessel as it remains important evidence in forthcoming court cases.

 

The Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith says, “The private company says it is unable to complete the salvage operation for the ‘Phoenix’ boat. They have informed the Department of Marine to cancel the salvage operation after they have tried their best.”

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phoenix-salvage-team-walks-away-from-contract-police-to-take-over

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2018-11-06

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

Phoenix salvage team walks away from contract – police to take over

What are they going to do? Try to whistle that boat out of water?

Better start ringing the bell, going to need a few hands

Easy somebody make a phone call to Smit in Singapore job done, that is if you realy want the wreck salvaged 

Oh well, they tried their best.  Maybe give the teaching, medical .....or wait!  I heard rumors there's fast cash in bus and truck brake repairs...

Surely the Chinese could provide a salvage company that could get the job done?

Had the money,can't do the job and done a runner..I think I've had a few mates in my village go through the same experience.i like the way they have cancelled the contract but that's thai contracts for you.the Chinese will be looking down even more on Thailand and it's a laughing stock to other countries.that boat would of been up in a couple of days in most countries.what a pathetic sham.

There are many talented Thais, 
If we work together, we’ll be stronger, stronger!
Just come outside the coconut shell,
Whoever says we’re crazy will only get stupider, stupider!

So the government has just wasted a load of money, again,

as I am sure the company got paid for farting about with 

45 gallon drums filled with air,achieving nothing.

get the blimp out, if its not laying in a warehouse somewhere

full of holes.joking aside,they need proper airbags,a barge with

a crane that's able to lift it ,and a experienced salvage company 

that knows what it's doing,and that's NOT the Police.

regards Worgeordie

Not to worry folks, after this pathetic balls up, they will despatch Big Joke, hes sure to <deleted> it, oops fix it.????

I wonder if they managed to contaminate any evidence of safety breaches in the construction of the vessel?

No result = should be no pay. That's the rule of salvage.

46 minutes ago, CanuckThai said:

Oh well, they tried their best.  Maybe give the teaching, medical .....or wait!  I heard rumors there's fast cash in bus and truck brake repairs...

There's some lifesaving contracts out there looking for low cost, untrained personnel.

44 minutes ago, happy chappie said:

Had the money,can't do the job and done a runner..I think I've had a few mates in my village go through the same experience.i like the way they have cancelled the contract but that's thai contracts for you.the Chinese will be looking down even more on Thailand and it's a laughing stock to other countries.that boat would of been up in a couple of days in most countries.what a pathetic sham.

does it say they were paid? Can't see anything in the article... 

7 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

does it say they were paid? Can't see anything in the article... 

 

7 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

does it say they were paid? Can't see anything in the article... 

A Thai cowboy outfit like this would not be able to operate for nearly 3 months without funding.the contract was probably handed to a cousin of somchai.same sort of what the lifeguard contract was on Phuket beaches.

29 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

No result = should be no pay. That's the rule of salvage.

Ah but TIT where government funds are thrown at contracts as they all get a slice of the cake.take the lifeguard contract.i think it was 19 million baht and nothing to show for it.why it wasn't paid out monthly I can only put down to get rich quick Thai mentality and greed of tax payers money.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Police will now be responsible to recover the vessel as it remains important evidence in forthcoming court cases

Does that mean the boat is never going to see the surface again?

I could have predicted this outcome months ago, when they started to try to drag it into shallower water. Get a real salvage company with big air bags or forget it. They've already wasted more money than they will ever recover from an offshore company. I guess they'll hold the Thai woman in jail and take whatever assets they can find. 

 

Now the police are in charge of the salvage? On that's right, they have been in charge all along, so that should work! ???? 

Possibly the Navy would be best could they not use one of their subs to drag it up.

3 hours ago, colinneil said:

Not to worry folks, after this pathetic balls up, they will despatch Big Joke, hes sure to <deleted> it, oops fix it.????

He can't swim! 

3 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

does it say they were paid? Can't see anything in the article... 

Yes, they were paid.

Everybody involved has been paid very well, except for the poor souls that died or were injured because safety was not an issue in the salvage 'attempt'.

No surprise the contract has been cancelled, the budget has been blown, no more money to be made here.

Somchai salvage ?   

4 hours ago, happy chappie said:

 

A Thai cowboy outfit like this would not be able to operate for nearly 3 months without funding.the contract was probably handed to a cousin of somchai.same sort of what the lifeguard contract was on Phuket beaches.

 

if contract is based on nepotism, cronyism or a bribe, at least give it to a competent company.

There's a couple of large barges currently in Thai waters, Songkla and the gulf of Thailand. Drag one of these round, sling it up, and nice and slowly lift and pump....... Robert's your fathers brother........ Had a mate on the Concordia job, he's in Thailand, give him a bell........ not after six though........

Safer to swim then to take one of those floating coffins perhaps ?

Just a question, but why don't they just deploy the Thai Navy seals, surely this would be a good excercise and PR stunt for the "Elite" wonders of the Kingdom ?  (Just a thought)......

12 minutes ago, SupermarineS6B said:

There's a couple of large barges currently in Thai waters, Songkla and the gulf of Thailand. Drag one of these round, sling it up, and nice and slowly lift and pump....... Robert's your fathers brother........ Had a mate on the Concordia job, he's in Thailand, give him a bell........ not after six though........

Lots of local knowledge available, just has to be used.

4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Lots of local knowledge available, just has to be used.

I've just remembered, there's probably one of the most experienced salvage divers in Thailand who lives in Phuket..... ex SBS........ But i doubt they'll be calling him....... I think what with the cave job it would be too much loss of face......

6 minutes ago, SupermarineS6B said:

I've just remembered, there's probably one of the most experienced salvage divers in Thailand who lives in Phuket..... ex SBS........ But i doubt they'll be calling him....... I think what with the cave job it would be too much loss of face...…

Yes I believe that's the crux of the matter, as you (and stevenl) have said...……….corruption and incompetence coupled with "loss of face" prevail. 

 

However par for course here so we shouldn't really be surprised.

Time to bid it out to foreign interests who can accomplish the task.