Koh Samui passenger ferry half sinks in heavy seas at Donsak port - no deaths or injuries

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported that one of the Raja ferry company's passenger ferries listed and half sank in heavy seas at the Donsak port on the mainland in Surat Thani, southern Thailand.

 

The incident happened after passengers and crew had disembarked so there were no deaths or injuries.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The 2005 ton vessel is used to take passengers to and from Koh Samui.

 

It tilted in 5-6 meter deep water at the port.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The media said it had apparently hit something solid under the water.

 

It was carrying a lot of fuel and lubricant oil but there were no reports of a spillage.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Elsewhere in Thailand's print media an Interior Ministry spokesman admitted the accident saying that other ferry services continued unaffected.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

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[JoePai]

Someone forget to close the bow door- Herald of Free Enterprise

[Wiggy]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The media said it had apparently hit something solid under the water.

Hmm. After all the passengers, cars and crew alighted the ferry would’ve been higher in the water. Even allowing for a receding tide it’s unlikely for ‘something solid’ to be in the vicinity of a ferry terminal that has been used for years without a previous incident. My guess (having seen this type of thing before) is that the ballast/fuel was shifted to one side by the swell (or it was incorrectly balanced) causing it to list. 

[racket]

By the look of this thing, one would wonder if it was just a matter of time. I have been inside this ferry before and let me tell you, the whole structure is rotten from the bottom up. These things were going 24/7 and the question is if they ever gets maintained.

[steven100]

It looks pretty decrepit, a crack in the hull or similar I would imagine.   

[Tropicalevo]

Quote

It looks pretty decrepit, a crack in the hull or similar I would imagine.  

The article in the BP said that strong waves kept pushing the ferry against the pier until it tilted and took in water. The ferry settled on the seabed

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, Wiggy said:

My guess (having seen this type of thing before) is that the ballast/fuel was shifted to one side by the swell (or it was incorrectly balanced) causing it to list. 

Or someone got enthusiastic and decided to clean the sea strainer.???? 

It'll be back in service in a week.

[phetphet]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The media said it had apparently hit something solid under the water.

In upcoming news! Thailand's new submarine damaged while on trials near Koh Samui. ????

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The incident happened after passengers and crew had disembarked so there were no deaths or injuries.

How fortuitous.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Wiggy said:

Hmm. After all the passengers, cars and crew alighted the ferry would’ve been higher in the water. Even allowing for a receding tide it’s unlikely for ‘something solid’ to be in the vicinity of a ferry terminal that has been used for years without a previous incident. My guess (having seen this type of thing before) is that the ballast/fuel was shifted to one side by the swell (or it was incorrectly balanced) causing it to list. 

Yes, ballast either shifted or was not accounted for and caused the list.

[wealthychef]

52 minutes ago, phetphet said:

In upcoming news! Thailand's new submarine damaged while on trials near Koh Samui. ????

This is a glorious theory!  I love it.  

[jaywalker]

That one strikes a nerve with me.

 

I was out on Phang An in 2005 it happened to be a full moon. ARRRRGHH!

 

I was 38 & my daughter was concieved there.

 

Hillside bungalow looking back towards Samui.

 

Boats HAULING ASS all night. Daytime too.

 

Six Swedish tourists died.

 

Dummy had three outboard engimes on the boat, probably doing 50 knots. the steering cable broke and it capsized....at 55 MPH.

[Toby1947]

4 hours ago, racket said:

By the look of this thing, one would wonder if it was just a matter of time. I have been inside this ferry before and let me tell you, the whole structure is rotten from the bottom up. These things were going 24/7 and the question is if they ever gets maintained.

Maintainance and Thailand should not be mentioned in the same paragraph. Thai Air is a disaster waiting to happen almost banned from Europe & USA a few years ago over maintainance issues. But of course maintainance cost money 

[trainman34014]

Unbalanced Ballasting in my opinion.     I wonder if the Skipper or Crew know anything about Seamanship ?

[Chongalulu]

18 minutes ago, Toby1947 said:

Maintainance and Thailand should not be mentioned in the same paragraph. Thai Air is a disaster waiting to happen almost banned from Europe & USA a few years ago over maintainance issues. But of course maintainance cost money 

That’s the mindset of lacking foresight. In virtually all instances good maintenance SAVES money in the long run through preserving longevity and preventing more costly repairs . 
I was once told (regularly changing)good quality oil is the cheapest mechanic of all.

[crazykopite]

They are rust buckets worse car Ferries I’ve ever been  on and I’ve travelled the globe extensively I’m not even sure if they would pass a seaworthy test in Europe . Let’s not forget it’s not that long ago that another Raja ferry sank sadly with loss of life that to was on route to Donsak from Samui  thankfully no one was killed this time ????????

[KhunLA]

Lucky they didn't have their oops in open waters.

 

Think I'll stick to the mainland.  Just another reason not to go to Samui, as IF I'd ever return for a visit.

[misterphil]

6 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

If you read the article it says Raja Farries.

Raja is the ferry company, not the name of the vessel. 
 

its ferries, not farries too. 

[khunPer]

1 minute ago, misterphil said:

Raja is the ferry company, not the name of the vessel. 
 

its ferries, not farries too. 

It's both a ferry company and the name of the vessel, i.e, "Raja 10"...????

[FarAway]

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

They are rust buckets worse car Ferries I’ve ever been  on and I’ve travelled the globe extensively I’m not even sure if they would pass a seaworthy test in Europe . Let’s not forget it’s not that long ago that another Raja ferry sank sadly with loss of life that to was on route to Donsak from Samui  thankfully no one was killed this time ????????

While I agree with you on the unbelievable condition of the "ferries" of Raja in Samui, I think you never saw ferries in Africa? :D 

[josephbloggs]

31 minutes ago, misterphil said:

Raja is the ferry company, not the name of the vessel. 

Yes, and Seahorse is Seahorse, nothing to do with Raja.

 

Quote

its ferries, not farries too. 

Brilliant, well done for pointing out a typo, very well done.

[RichardColeman]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The media said it had apparently hit something solid under the water.

I did not think the subs had arrived yet.

[sherwood]

"half sunk" seems about right for a Thai operation, half way good enough is good enough.

[wensiensheng]

Have we established that it’s not the Seahorse yet? If so, maybe I’ll read a few more comments.

[3NUMBAS]

they have many times 

[spidermike007]

Seatran is a competing company and seems to keep their ferries clean and well maintained. The same cannot be said about Raja. Many of their ferries are older. I used to take those ferries alot, and I never  trusted Raja. 

[metisdead]

A troll post and the replies have been removed.

[EVENKEEL]

This is the reason I wouldn't ride the Seahorse with family. Regardless the vessel it's the crew that worries me. Don't think an overnighter to Samui would be carefree.

[neeray]

8 hours ago, steven100 said:

It looks pretty decrepit, a crack in the hull or similar I would imagine.   

"Decrepit", just like some of the old fogeys in the current ruling party. Hull cracking and sinking is inevitable. 

[Geordieabroad]

I reckon this is why the Thai government are going for submarines