Phuket speedboat drivers, tour operators get safety training

By By Khunanya Wanchanwet

 

The training session was held at Phuket Boat Lagoon on Monday (Feb 24). Photo: Phuket Marine Office

 

PHUKET:-- A total of 75 speedboat drivers and representatives of tour operators who use the Koh Kaew channel underwent some basic training on Monday (Feb 24), being reminded of the speed limit in the channel and who has right of way.

 

The training session was held at the meeting room at Phuket Boat Lagoon, Phuket Marine Office Director Wiwat Chitchertwong told The Phuket News today (Feb 26).

 

The training session was held to follow the order issued by Marine Department Chief Witthaya Yamuang after his inspection of the site of the tour speedboat collision that killed two Russian children and injured more than a dozen more tourists on Feb 10, Mr Wiwat explained.

 

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-speedboat-drivers-tour-operators-get-safety-training-75011.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2020-02-26

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"So you understand you can't be drunk, right?"

 

All the training in the world won't help if there's no enforcement, and no negative consequences for violating the rules in favor a few more baht, or a few minutes faster.  

 

Just like on the roads...

 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

A total of 75 speedboat drivers and representatives of tour operators who use the Koh Kaew channel underwent some basic training on Monday (Feb 24), being reminded of the speed limit in the channel and who has right of way.

I had to read that three times before my brain confirmed what my eyes were seeing. Are they saying that before this, those operating boats transporting tourists didn't know, or might have forgotten the absolute basic principles of water navigation? Given the crashes and fatalities these guys have been producing, you could be forgiven for assuming that they did indeed need this, what I note was termed as, basic training.

May God help those in peril on the sea, especially when in Thai waters.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

being reminded of the speed limit in the channel and who has right of way.

These are things you'll explain to a 6 year old.

For adults it would be common sense. But here...

Talk all they want,everything will just go in one ear,straight out the other,there's just nothing in between to process and put in place any information.

No, what’s needed is proper training and exams that should cost loads to get a license which could be revoked if necessary.... and stricter policing.

3 minutes ago, Oztruckie said:

Talk all they want,everything will just go in one ear,straight out the other,there's just nothing in between to process and put in place any information.

 

What a load of tripe. 

 

They act perfectly rationally in a culture where the meager risk of violating the rules is far surpassed by the incentives to pack in more paying passengers, go faster, and skimp on safety equipment.

 

Back home, the incentives are stacked in the other direction.  By diligent enforcement- not by any kind of mental superiority.

 

Knee jerk reaction as usual.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Phuket speedboat drivers, tour operators get safety training

Isn't that Required Before they get a Speedboat License. What a Freak show.

Uniforms, medals, gold braide; orders, edicts, threats, pleas; lectures, amulets and bravado. None seems to work here to reduce anything in the area of water and roadway safety.

=we did something, we can all go home now, and forget this ever happened