Picture: Daily News

 

Transport minister Saksayam Chinchob paid an inspection visited to the Samet port in Chonburi ahead of the start of the Blue Dolphin ferry next year.

 

The ferry boat will begin service just one day a week to the south of Thailand. It will go on Tuesdays and return north next day.

 

There is capacity for 100 vehicles - 80 trucks and 20 cars. 

 

It will travel at 36 kmph and take twenty hours leaving at 2 pm and arriving at 10 am each way. 

 

There is capacity for 536 passengers.

 

Daily News reported that it will help to alleviate traffic congestion and keep cargo off the road to the tune of 90,000 vehicles a year. 

 

No date was given for the start just that tests have been completed. 

 

The service will be expanded later.

 

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I guess the previous announcement start date of Nov 8 didn't go so well;

 

 

"takes 12 hours leaving at 2pm and arriving at 10am .."  !!!!!

1 minute ago, RmcaIssan said:

"takes 12 hours leaving at 2pm and arriving at 10am .."  !!!!!

All those time zones it has to cross.

2 hours ago, RmcaIssan said:

"takes 12 hours leaving at 2pm and arriving at 10am .."  !!!!!

It says 20 hours

200 vehicles each way x 365 = 73000. Unless they're counting motorbikes. 

1 hour ago, tompelli said:

200 vehicles each way x 365 = 73000. Unless they're counting motorbikes. 

Yea, but this is Thailand so they have to push the load to a dangerous leve and hold more than the recommended amount, otherwise some one will lose face and can’t have that happening, can we!!!

6 hours ago, bbko said:

I guess the previous announcement start date of Nov 8 didn't go so well;

 

Actually the ferry has been operating for 5 weeks already and the Minister watched it unload, despite it being delayed for several hours to meet his schedule. Where the reporters get their information from is a mystery..  Pricing and schedules are posted on The Seahorse Ferry Facebook page. What would have been more helpful was if the Minister helped find a long term solution to berthing in Songkhla.

 

3 hours ago, tompelli said:

200 vehicles each way x 365 = 73000. Unless they're counting motorbikes. 

My maths was about the same only I used 2X52 instead of 365.

 

7 hours ago, RmcaIssan said:

"takes 12 hours leaving at 2pm and arriving at 10am .."  !!!!!

It will travel at 36 kmph and take twenty hours leaving at 2 pm and arriving at 10 am each way. 

Are motorbikes allowed?

13 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Are motorbikes allowed?

Unfortunately this article provided absolutely inaccurate information which was further confused by many ridiculous comments.  The Ferry started commercial operations since November and currently is only sailing once a week due to operating at only 30% capacity.. It also had to adjust its schedule due to port congestion in Songkhla, where the local authorities appear determined to see the ferry fail. The ferry accepts all types of vehicles (excluding dangerous cargoes), including motorcycles.  We welcome anyone to come and visit the ferry and see for themselves exactly what is available/possible. 

6 hours ago, HammerMan said:

Unfortunately this article provided absolutely inaccurate information which was further confused by many ridiculous comments.  The Ferry started commercial operations since November and currently is only sailing once a week due to operating at only 30% capacity.. It also had to adjust its schedule due to port congestion in Songkhla, where the local authorities appear determined to see the ferry fail. The ferry accepts all types of vehicles (excluding dangerous cargoes), including motorcycles.  We welcome anyone to come and visit the ferry and see for themselves exactly what is available/possible. 

Good, Post-Covid, I quite fancy a sea trip down and a bike trip home.

8 hours ago, HammerMan said:

Unfortunately this article provided absolutely inaccurate information which was further confused by many ridiculous comments.  The Ferry started commercial operations since November and currently is only sailing once a week due to operating at only 30% capacity.. It also had to adjust its schedule due to port congestion in Songkhla, where the local authorities appear determined to see the ferry fail. The ferry accepts all types of vehicles (excluding dangerous cargoes), including motorcycles.  We welcome anyone to come and visit the ferry and see for themselves exactly what is available/possible. 

 

Sounds like another big cash burn.   

 

How long can you stay in the game?

On 12/11/2021 at 6:49 PM, Leaver said:

 

Sounds like another big cash burn.   

 

How long can you stay in the game?

It's a good question..  numbers/bookings are growing and we're hopeful that by early next year we'll increase sailings.. fortunately we have sufficient capital to keep going for quite a while, but ultimately everyone has their limit on losses.

On 12/11/2021 at 2:59 AM, HammerMan said:

Unfortunately this article provided absolutely inaccurate information which was further confused by many ridiculous comments.  The Ferry started commercial operations since November and currently is only sailing once a week due to operating at only 30% capacity.. It also had to adjust its schedule due to port congestion in Songkhla, where the local authorities appear determined to see the ferry fail. The ferry accepts all types of vehicles (excluding dangerous cargoes), including motorcycles.  We welcome anyone to come and visit the ferry and see for themselves exactly what is available/possible. 

Hammerman, we are planning a group of 6+ motorcycles roundtrip in February 2022. Wishing you upward success and increased frequency of your service. Maybe you can get your press office to blitz the press (TV and Newspapers), Facebook, Insta, YouTube with accurate and informative info on a regular basis?

  

8 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Hammerman, we are planning a group of 6+ motorcycles roundtrip in February 2022. Wishing you upward success and increased frequency of your service. Maybe you can get your press office to blitz the press (TV and Newspapers), Facebook, Insta, YouTube with accurate and informative info on a regular basis?

  

Yes agree with you, we are planning a media day. We also will announce January schedules this week..  

On 12/14/2021 at 10:34 PM, HammerMan said:

It's a good question..  numbers/bookings are growing and we're hopeful that by early next year we'll increase sailings.. fortunately we have sufficient capital to keep going for quite a while, but ultimately everyone has their limit on losses.

 

Once again, I wish the project well, but as seen in the past with other projects, the Thai's will push it to the brink, squeezing every baht out of it they can, and then, if it's still successful, they will invent new things that need to be complied with, or new licences or permits that will need to be required.

 

They resist progress here because it cuts into their traditional corrupt cash payments system all across the country, thus, Thailand continues to remain in

The 3rd World.  

looks like a pick up + 2 passengers staying in a 2 beded room will be 10,000 one way, 

https://www.seahorse-ferries.com/Home/blog-single.aspx?args=8F9CB7482264B41CD3BF54927B0B723255C8BEE9F09D0CC27821C0E2DA0C9C927FAA8B77BA2A7DE4