Vehicle and passenger ferry linking Sattahip, Prachuap and Songkhla could soon become a reality

[webfact]

Vehicle and passenger ferry linking Sattahip, Prachuap and Songkhla could soon become a reality

 

Picture: Hat Yai Focus

 

People in Pattaya could soon have a new passenger and vehicle ferry service across the Gulf of Thailand from Sattahip to Prachuap Khiri Khan. 

 

The ferry would then continue down to Songkhla in the far south of Thailand.

 

Test runs are set to start next month.

 

This development could mean people in Pattaya would be able to take their cars to places like Hua Hin without the need for the long drive via Bangkok.

 

Picture: Hat Yai Focus

 

A meeting was held at the end of last week between the harbor department and Seahorse Ferry Co Ltd who are proposing the new route. 

 

It would leave the commercial port at Sattahip in Chonburi and go to the main port at Prachuap before going to the "southern" port at Songkhla. 

 

The company outlined many reasons why the service would be a boon.

 

They cited improved logistics, increased competition, improvements to the economy, better for the environment, less traffic on the roads and fewer road accidents. 

 

It was stated at the meeting that the current journey by road was 1,130 kms and took up to 24 hours to Songkhla.

 

This could be reduced to 611 kms taking a maximum of 20 hours. 

 

Picture: Hat Yai Focus

 

The harbour department ordered an immediate examination of the readiness of the ports involved focussing on their size and safety features. 

 

Test runs for the service are expected to start as early as next month, reported the Thai media, with the potential for passengers to follow thereafter.  

 

Thaivisa notes that the devil will be in the detail for such a scheme. The Hatyaifocus.com report said that the ferry could carry vehicles. Whether this meant private cars or just trucks was not clear. 

 

Also the service would only be viable at the correct price point and no indication was available yet as to what this might be.

 

Source: Hat Yai Focus

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-10-28

 

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[RotBenz8888]

I don't have any phobias, but when it comes to boat trips in Thailand..... 

[Grumpy one]

Does your car insurance cover you when the boat sinks?

[NCC1701A]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

This development could mean people in Pattaya would be able to take their cars to places like Hua Hin without the need for the long drive via Bangkok.

soi 6 bar girls from Pattaya can visit their bar girl grandmothers working on soi 80 in Hua Hin.

 

very convenient .

 

 

[RotBenz8888]

4 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

Does your car insurance cover you when the boat sinks?

Why is covid19 insurance compulsory, while boat sinking insurance isn't? 

[jojothai]

"This development could mean people in Pattaya would be able to take their cars to places like Hua Hin without the need for the long drive via Bangkok."

I thought the main port in Prachuap was at the town. If so, dont these reporters know that is 100km south of Hua Hin, and Sathahip port is nearly 50 km from Pattaya. Thats another 3 hours travel to add on to the ferry time.
For Pattaya to Hua hin, thats no good for foot passengers. Better to get the bus. Unless they want to go to Prachuap town also.
Useful however for people wanting to go to Bang Saphan or Chumpon (for Kho Tao).
For a car probably not much better than driving round, depends how much the ferry costs.

[canopus1969]

2 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

Does your car insurance cover you when the boat sinks?

Yes

[Jeffr2]

2 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Yes

Depends.  If a rental car, then probably not.  Every policy is different.

[Mbolo]

This was reported some years ago also....more blah, blah I suspect 

[canopus1969]

47 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Depends.  If a rental car, then probably not.  Every policy is different.

Does not depend on anything, as long as it is public transport the car will be insured

[Jeffr2]

22 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Does not depend on anything, as long as it is public transport the car will be insured

Sorry, not true.  Again, check the details.  And if you are relying on the ferry companies insurance here?  Right...

 

https://www.drivenow.com.au/travel-centre/inter-island-ferry-transfer.jspc

 

Hertz and Firefly do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry and substantial fees apply where vehicles are returned on a different island.

 

AVIS do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry. Any vehicle travelling on the ferry is not covered by insurance.

 

BUDGET do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry. Any vehicle travelling on the ferry is not covered by insurance.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

This development could mean people in Pattaya would be able to take their cars to places like Hua Hin without the need for the long drive via Bangkok.

NCA1701A  take note, fresh meat is on the way.

[DrTuner]

How many times have they tried this now? Is the previous Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry still running? I don't know anybody who ever used it.

[Deli]

20 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

How many times have they tried this now? Is the previous Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry still running? I don't know anybody who ever used it.

 

AFAIK not running. Was dead b4 born, as for passengers only and no cars / bikes.

[Almer]

12 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

Does your car insurance cover you when the boat sinks?

Why should the boat  sink?

[canopus1969]

16 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

Sorry, not true.  Again, check the details.  And if you are relying on the ferry companies insurance here?  Right...

 

https://www.drivenow.com.au/travel-centre/inter-island-ferry-transfer.jspc

 

Hertz and Firefly do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry and substantial fees apply where vehicles are returned on a different island.

 

AVIS do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry. Any vehicle travelling on the ferry is not covered by insurance.

 

BUDGET do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry. Any vehicle travelling on the ferry is not covered by insurance.

Look again - I do not think the Thai ferry will get to NZ  ????

[Jeffr2]

41 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Look again - I do not think the Thai ferry will get to NZ  ????

You made a broad statement indicating insurance is always there.  I was just proving it isn't.  ????

[nursebob]

23 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

Does your car insurance cover you when the boat sinks?

when, not if.

[brianthainess]

16 hours ago, Deli said:

 

AFAIK not running. Was dead b4 born, as for passengers only and no cars / bikes.

Also what happened to the ferry from Sattahip to Bang--bao Koh Chang, did it ever run? Remind me again who OWNES the harbor there.

[Grumpy one]

11 hours ago, Almer said:

Why should the boat  sink?

That's the one thing Thai boat captains seem to do well

[Grumpy one]

37 minutes ago, nursebob said:

when, not if.

I have great confidence in Thai's  

[canopus1969]

3 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

You made a broad statement indicating insurance is always there.  I was just proving it isn't.  ????

It is always there as I first said – we are not interested in foreign countries - the subject was the new Thai ferries

[Jeffr2]

46 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

It is always there as I first said – we are not interested in foreign countries - the subject was the new Thai ferries

These guys do rentals here. 

 

https://www.rentalcars.com/en/guides/driving-your-rental/hire-car-on-ferry/

 

You’ll need the rental company’s approval up front before you take their car on a ferry. To avoid any nasty surprises when you arrive, it’s worth researching car hire companies that allow their cars on ferries before you book.

[Grumpy John]

4 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

You made a broad statement indicating insurance is always there.  I was just proving it isn't.  ????

The ferry sank off the coast of Taiwan a few days ago when in transit from Japan with a Thai crew on board.  The Taiwan Coast Guard rescued some of the crew.  So any trials to test the service will be delayed.

[Jeffr2]

6 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

The ferry sank off the coast of Taiwan a few days ago when in transit from Japan with a Thai crew on board.  The Taiwan Coast Guard rescued some of the crew.  So any trials to test the service will be delayed.

Not sure if that's the same company.  The one that sank is with Seatran.  They do the ferries between Samui and nearby islands to the mainland.

 

The one in this article is for another company.

[djayz]

The idea of connecting Pattaya and Hua Hin has been floated loads of times over the years. Just recently there was an article about building a bridge across the Gold of Thailand. Are any of these options ever going to be put into operation? 

[ChipButty]

 fewer road accidents. 

More sea accidents

[metisdead]

Posts using ALL CAPS have been removed.  If you do not want your posts to be removed, please stop posting while using ALL CAPS. 

[essox essox]

On 10/28/2020 at 3:51 PM, canopus1969 said:

Does not depend on anything, as long as it is public transport the car will be insured

who calls a boat/ferry public transport.....???

[Techno Viking]

4 minutes ago, essox essox said:

who calls a boat/ferry public transport.....???

 

Pretty much every country in the world.