Sattahip to Songkhla car ferry service set to begin by March, Prachuap Khiri Khan misses out - for now

[webfact]

Sattahip to Songkhla car ferry service set to begin by March, Prachuap Khiri Khan misses out - for now

 

Picture: Bangkok Business News

 

A major new ferry service is set to begin operations to and from the eastern seaboard and the far south of Thailand. 

 

Run by Seahorse Ferry Co Ltd the new service will connect the Chuk Samet port in Sattahip run by the navy with the southern terminal in Songkhla. 

 

The 600 km journey will take 20 hours and there will be one journey per day.

 

Foot passengers, cars and cargo will be allowed.

 

The service could start as early as this month, certainly before the end of the first quarter, reported Bangkok Business News.

 

The plan is part of the ambitious scemes to connect the south with the Eastern Economic Corridor.
 

Withaya Yamuang, the chief of the harbor department said it would be the longest ferry route in Thailand beating those operated in Surat Thani. 

 

It will satisfy growing needs for cargo and tourism, he claimed. 

 

The road trip from Songkhla is 1,000 kms. 

 

A ferry service from Sattahip to Bang Saphan, Prachuap Khiri Khan has been delayed because of problems with road transport in Prachuap so they are pressing ahead with the longer service first. 

 

The service will leave Sattahip at 2 pm and reach Songkhla at 10 am the next day.

 

The return service also leaves Songkhla at 2pm and will reach Sattahip at 10 am. 

 

There is capacity for 500-600 people, 80 truck-trailers and 20 cars. 

 

No prices were reported by the media who said that the only hurdle remaining was the issue of safety.

 

As soon as this is resolved the service will begin either this month or next. 

 

The company has said that if take-up is 60% of capacity they will add a second ferry. 

 

The navy has upgraded the Sattahip port that will be able to cater to over 1,200 people a day. 

 

This is part of plans to upgrade several ports. 

 

Source: Bangkok Business News

 

 

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[TSF]

Maybe trucks from Mataphut and Eastern Seaboard will be interested but can't see many tourists/travelers going to be using it. They're tried many such ferry routes before in the past and apart from a couple of absolutely necessary services, they haven't got off the ground or ceased operation fairly quickly.  

[canopus1969]

the only hurdle remaining was the issue of safety   ????

[CLW]

5 minutes ago, TSF said:

Maybe trucks from Mataphut and Eastern Seaboard will be interested but can't see many tourists/travelers going to be using it. They're tried many such ferry routes before in the past and apart from a couple of absolutely necessary services, they haven't got off the ground or ceased operation fairly quickly.  

Right, for private persons the price must beat a flight + transportation in the south plus the time benefit.

Even with the higher domestic flight prices atm due to covid, a low-cost flight return plus rental car is probably cheaper.

We'll see when they announce prices.

[soi3eddie]

 

That is "one journey per day" meaning departures every other day from Sattahip and Songkhla using one ship for the 20 hours voyage.

 

[Jeffr2]

I've done the drive down to just past Surat Thani, and down to Koh Lanta and Phuket several times.  It's no fun.  The road is in bad shape in places, trucks fill the highways, and lots of stops when going through the various towns along the way.  It's not a relaxing drive.

 

I've love to try this ferry service.  Depends on the price.

[steve187]

17 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

I've done the drive down to just past Surat Thani, and down to Koh Lanta and Phuket several times.  It's no fun.  The road is in bad shape in places, trucks fill the highways, and lots of stops when going through the various towns along the way.  It's not a relaxing drive.

 

I've love to try this ferry service.  Depends on the price.

would be good to use to Songkhla and then drive back, stopping along the route for a 4 or 5 day touring holiday, or longer. but depends on price, on my trips down south with driving both ways i have only made it as far as surat thani

[arick]

Just bloody drive it's the same time.... And  you don't have to worry about sinking 

[arick]

Who the hell would want to go to either destinations... 

[arick]

23 minutes ago, steve187 said:

would be good to use to Songkhla and then drive back, stopping along the route for a 4 or 5 day touring holiday, or longer. but depends on price, on my trips down south with driving both ways i have only made it as far as surat thani

Nothing to see on the way back 

[sungod]

36 minutes ago, arick said:

Just bloody drive it's the same time.... And  you don't have to worry about sinking 

 Thats right, far safer on the roads!

[Jeffr2]

53 minutes ago, arick said:

Nothing to see on the way back 

Plenty to see.  Lots of great beaches and small towns.  But I've done that section too many times.  The ferry sounds great.  I really don't like the highway from Pattaya down to Surat.  NO fun.

[TSF]

53 minutes ago, arick said:

Who the hell would want to go to either destinations... 

That's what I was thinking. From a tourism perspective, both places are backwaters. But if lots of trucks are carrying goods from Eastern Thailand to Malaysia, then there could be some use for the ferry.

 

Pre covid we'd make a motoring trip down to the Deep South once a year, I really enjoyed the journey, taking 3-4 days from BKK - Songkhla, stopping a night in HH, Surat, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, stopping along the way to check out tourist attractions.

[Mr Meeseeks]

Big money-spinner for the Navy, safety be damned. 

[Ireland32]

3 hours ago, TSF said:

Maybe trucks from Mataphut and Eastern Seaboard will be interested but can't see many tourists/travelers going to be using it. They're tried many such ferry routes before in the past and apart from a couple of absolutely necessary services, they haven't got off the ground or ceased operation fairly quickly.  

They never carried vehicles, I would do it save Kilos on my truck , but what kind of amenities you sleep where have cabins or sleep truck 

[NanLaew]

In my wild and hedonistic youth, me and my mates did the Pattaya-Phuket trip by road twice. The fun and excitement on the outward trip had somewhat diminished after 10 days of beer and skittles and the return drive. For me, this ferry is on a winner with a one-way trip to the south and a more sedate drive back north with stopovers, or vice versa.

[losername]

1 hour ago, arick said:

Nothing to see on the way back 

That is an extraordinarily negative comment.  There are beaches, national parks, islands and much more for someone with time and the freedom of the open road.

[losername]

3 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

In my wild and hedonistic youth, me and my mates did the Pattaya-Phuket trip by road twice. The fun and excitement on the outward trip had somewhat diminished after 10 days of beer and skittles and the return drive. For me, this ferry is on a winner with a one-way trip to the south and a more sedate drive back north with stopovers, or vice versa.

Well said.

[Kerryd]

They (Seahorse Ferry) have a website set up (English and Thai), the  booking page is set up but you can't make bookings or check prices but if you browse the options it looks like they will have a number of choices for cabins as well as VIP and Regular seating. No mention of a galley.
https://www.seahorse-ferries.com/Home/blog-single.aspx?args=8F9CB7482264B41CD3BF54927B0B723279E0720352DFFB7D6F5466F9A597EF0D1AE3BD5D4103D510

The ferry they say they are going to be using looks like a proper boat:


It's a roro boat, the bow lifts and a retractable ramp folds out. Can't find any pics of the rear though. Has to be something similar though.

The ship's name is The Blue Dolphin. It appears that it was in service in Japan as a ferry as recently as 2015.

This blog has some pics of the galley, cabins and a couple pics of some seating areas. However, those pics may be from when it was being used in Japan.
https://www.blockdit.com/posts/6004eae45a8f410cde89379c

[berrec]

4 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

the only hurdle remaining was the issue of safety   ????

[sandyf]

4 hours ago, CLW said:

Right, for private persons the price must beat a flight + transportation in the south plus the time benefit.

Even with the higher domestic flight prices atm due to covid, a low-cost flight return plus rental car is probably cheaper.

We'll see when they announce prices.

It will be difficult for them to make it cheaper and easier than the train. I have done Bangkok to Hat Yai several times and fairly comfortable with the new rolling stock.

They may get some travelers from U-Tapao but the bulk will pass through Bangkok and Sattahip is a bit out of the way. With Bang Sue coming on stream shortly, to me it would be a no brainer.

[Mangkhut]

1 hour ago, arick said:

Just bloody drive it's the same time.... And  you don't have to worry about sinking 

Theres of course as we all know never any road accidents in Thailand - thus I approve your suggestion.....????????

[CLW]

6 minutes ago, sandyf said:

It will be difficult for them to make it cheaper and easier than the train. I have done Bangkok to Hat Yai several times and fairly comfortable with the new rolling stock.

They may get some travelers from U-Tapao but the bulk will pass through Bangkok and Sattahip is a bit out of the way. With Bang Sue coming on stream shortly, to me it would be a no brainer.

Even sleeper train has hard time to compete with flight prices. The problem for travelers are weekends or public holidays when the sleeper train is fully booked long in advance and also the airlines charge higher ticket prices

[KhaoYai]

2 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

I've done the drive down to just past Surat Thani, and down to Koh Lanta and Phuket several times.  It's no fun. 

Completely agree, I drove from Bangkok to Phuket once - never again.  I hope this route is successful - for those who like to drive and visit several destinations, it opens up the south without the hideous drive down there.

Not the best time to start though.

[sandyf]

3 minutes ago, CLW said:

Even sleeper train has hard time to compete with flight prices. The problem for travelers are weekends or public holidays when the sleeper train is fully booked long in advance and also the airlines charge higher ticket prices

I always use the sleepers. It will be a year on Friday since the last time when I did a border run to PB. We usually use first class and yes they are normally booked up but I have never known the second class to be fully booked. I was on my own last time so went second class, I think about 900 baht each way, the ferry will struggle to compete with that.

I have only done a few domestic flights, rather take the train. We flew up to CM in December as my wife's uncle is a bit disabled and a reminder of the hassle. Much easier to get the minibus to the station, on the train and go to sleep, arrive quite fresh next morning.

[Knocker33]

4 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

the only hurdle remaining was the issue of safety   ????

Never bothered them before. Why now? 

[Destiny1990]

Interesting only if it offers more terminals near Samui  Krabbi or Phuket..

[Jeffr2]

9 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Interesting only if it offers more terminals near Samui  Krabbi or Phuket..

Samui would be fantastic. Krabi and Phuket are in a different sea. A very long voyage.

[TSF]

49 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Samui would be fantastic. Krabi and Phuket are in a different sea. A very long voyage.

Reminds me one time back in 1980s it was reported some Andaman sea-gypsies rolled up at Samui. Lot of people were thinking how the bloody hell did they get there? ????

[cheapcanuck]

6 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

That is "one journey per day" meaning departures every other day from Sattahip and Songkhla using one ship for the 20 hours voyage.

 

Two ferryboats a day. Each port boat leaving port at 2pm and arrival at 10am, daily.