Ferry to Koh Samui Malfunctions and Strands Frightened Passengers for Hours

[webfact]

 

Samui – Passengers on a ferry from Donsak to Samui Island suffered a major scare after the boat engine malfunctioned for more than two hours.

Mr. Om-In Limsuwan, who was one of the passengers on the ferry told the Phuket Express that on Thursday night (July 27th), the ferry departed from a pier in Donsak at 7:00 P.M.. The arrival on Koh Samui was scheduled for 8:30 P.M.. At about 8:00 P.M., the ferry engine failed which meant the electricity on the ferry was also shut off. The ferry was between the Fourth Island and Fifth Island at the time of the malfunction.

 

All staff on the ferry were wearing life jackets and asked all passengers to go up on the top deck of the ferry as there were many strong waves at that time. Many passengers were reportedly scared and crying, said Limsuwan.

 

By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2023/07/28/ferry-to-koh-samui-malfunctions-and-strands-frightened-passengers-for-hours/

 

-- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2023-07-29

 

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[flyingtlger]

Typical Thai reactive thinking. 

Instead of regular up keeping and being proactive, people wait for a catastrophe to happen before taking care of things....

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

All staff on the ferry were wearing life jackets and asked all passengers to go up on the top deck of the ferry as there were many strong waves at that time. Many passengers were reportedly scared and crying

No need to start the crying and screaming until the water is lapping over your feet on the upper deck

[edwinchester]

Only one engine on a ferry that size?

[Skipalongcassidy]

14 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

Only one engine on a ferry that size?

The other one was waiting for parts...

[bignok]

Night ferries dangerous

[brianthainess]

25 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

Only one engine on a ferry that size?

I was thinking the same thing. 

[pixelaoffy]

Insane taking ferries across the gulf..Dont think just because there is a ferry route then its safe ! Health and Safety Thailand...zero.

[bignok]

14 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

The other one was waiting for parts...

Give everyone a paddle. Start rowing.

[JoePai]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

No need to start the crying and screaming until the water is lapping over your feet on the upper deck

No problem as long as the band keep playing

[phetphet]

All the staff and crew were wearing life jackets. What about the passengers?

 

Start of the six day holiday, so ferry was probably full to capacity.

[Bangkok Barry]

Passengers are asking for the relevant authorities to check every ferry has been serviced for safety before use.

It was unclear if the passengers were getting any sort of financial compensation or refund for the incident from relevant authorities.

[blackshadow]

1 hour ago, edwinchester said:

Only one engine on a ferry that size?

its a big one       !!!!!

[paul1804]

2 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Only one engine on a ferry that size?

Its not unusual for boats to have one engine, quite common actually. 

[KhunLA]

Is there any other ferry route in the world that has more oops than ferries getting to Samui?

 

I might visit after the bridge is completed ... or not.

[metisdead]

Posts with trolling memes have been removed.

[spidermike007]

No mention of whether it was Raja or Seatran. Raja is typically less dependable, the boats are much older, and they seem to have more accidents and incidents.

[PETERTHEEATER]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Many passengers were reportedly scared and crying,.........

So would I be knowing the destination was Koh Samui.????

[cracker1]

There are several Companies running ferries on this route and it would be interesting to know which company operated the one mentioned in the story?

[petermik]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

No mention of whether it was Raja or Seatran. Raja is typically less dependable, the boats are much older, and they seem to have more accidents and incidents.

Keeping that under wraps...my guess though it was the one with just four letters ????

[khunPer]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Is there any other ferry route in the world that has more oops than ferries getting to Samui?

 

I might visit after the bridge is completed ... or not.

The ferry was from the Raja Ferry-line – the photo shows the name "Raja 5" – that sails from Don Sak on the mainland to Lipa Noi Pier on Samui. There is another route with slightly newer ferries, Seatran, which sails from Don Sak – their pier is next to the Raja Pier – to Nathon Pier on Samui.

[khunPer]

35 minutes ago, cracker1 said:

There are several Companies running ferries on this route and it would be interesting to know which company operated the one mentioned in the story?

Look at the photo...

[khunPer]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

No mention of whether it was Raja or Seatran. Raja is typically less dependable, the boats are much older, and they seem to have more accidents and incidents.

The Photo shows with line it is..????

[paul1804]

6 hours ago, blackshadow said:

its a big one       !!!!!

Yes correct, boats that size mostly have large engines, sometimes 1, sometimes 2, rarely 3.

 Google Wartsila marine engines, probably the most efficient marine engines and some are very large!

[paul1804]

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

Look at the photo...

A picture tells many stories!

[Sticky Rice Balls]

typical cause and effect....all the burmese with the paddles in the hull needed a water break....

 

imagine if thais were actually forced into the water, knowing what good swimmers they are...

at least they are fully dressed aka bathing suits on already...salty wet jeans.....rashy!

[Sticky Rice Balls]

1 hour ago, petermik said:

Keeping that under wraps...my guess though it was the one with just four letters ????

f.o.u.r?    is my guess right?

[transam]

8 hours ago, bignok said:

Give everyone a paddle. Start rowing.

You need an oar to start rowing.....????

[pj123]

Travelled on Raja on 5 May and Seatran 10 May last year, very noticecable the higher level of maintenance on the Seatran ferry. And the Raja belching out huge quantities of black smoke from its engines.

[simon43]

When I went on a Raja ferry early this year from Donsak to Phangan the ferry caught fire in the engine room!  It sailed around for an hour before it finally docked back in Donsak and everyone was evacuated.  (I posted a photo at the time on one of the forums, loads of smoke).