Fire Engulfs Iconic “Ship Hotel” on Koh Chang: Emergency Teams Struggle to Contain Blaze

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture and video from responders.

 

A fierce fire has erupted at the abandoned Koh Chang Grand Laguna Hotel, a famous landmark on the island due to its distinctive ship-like design. The blaze broke out at approximately 11.00 on December 3, in the Koh Chang Tai subdistrict and continues to rage, with thick black smoke visible from afar.

 

Eyewitnesses report that the fire began on the third floor of the building before spreading to other parts of the structure. Firefighters and emergency responders are working to bring the situation under control, but after almost 3 hours the fire is still burning.

 

The once-renowned hotel, commonly referred to as the “abandoned ship hotel,” or “ghost hotel” for local claims it is haunted, has been a popular photography spot despite its long-abandoned state and lack of electricity. Safety concerns have prohibited visitors from entering the structure, although the exterior remained accessible.

 

Initial reports suggest that workers were inside the building conducting welding repairs at the time the fire broke out, potentially triggering the blaze. However, authorities have not confirmed this information. Forensic investigators will begin their work as soon as the fire is extinguished to determine its exact cause.

Residents and tourists in the area have been advised to avoid the site while emergency crews battle the flames.

 

-- 2024-12-03

 

 

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Fire Destroys Iconic Abandoned Ship Hotel on Koh Chang: Blaze Could Take Days to Extinguish 

 

Picture from responders.

 

A massive fire broke out at the abandoned ship hotel known as Koh Chang Grand Laguna, located in Bang Bao Village, Koh Chang Tai Subdistrict, Koh Chang District, Trat Province. Authorities estimate it will take several days to fully extinguish the flames, which have already spread to approximately 50% of the structure.

 

The blaze, reported to have started at the ship’s stern, quickly spread through the lower levels and moved toward the upper deck. Police Colonel Wallop Kangtharathip, chief of Koh Chang Police Station, received the report and coordinated efforts with local officials, including Mr. Jakkrit Salakphet, mayor of Koh Chang Tai, and Koh Chang District Chief Narit Palakwang Na Ayutthaya. Fire trucks were dispatched from the Koh Chang Tai Municipality to the remote site at the southern tip of Koh Chang Island.

 

Mr. Jakkrit stated that despite the deployment of over 50 personnel and firetrucks, efforts to control the blaze have been hindered by the structure’s construction, wooden fittings  and strong winds in the area. By 15.00 officials, including local leaders and national park staff, concluded that the fire could not be extinguished in a short time. The strategy now focuses on preventing the fire from spreading to nearby areas.

 

“The hotel’s wooden structure, which acts as a natural accelerant, and the ongoing windy conditions make this a highly challenging situation,” said Mr. Jakkrit. He added that complete containment is expected to take several days.

 

The Koh Chang Grand Laguna ship hotel, designed to resemble a floating cruise ship, was a unique landmark. It was built in 1992 by businessman Mr. Olan Assawarittikul, who initially invested in the hospitality business in Cambodia before relocating to Koh Chang due to political instability in the region.

 

The ship hotel once thrived as a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors who marveled at its innovative design. However, financial difficulties in recent years led Mr. Olan to put the property up for sale for over 1 billion baht. Despite its high valuation, no official transactions were ever finalized.

 

Fortunately, no tourists to the area were present at the time of the fire, as the ship hotel had long been abandoned. Officials are now awaiting discussions with Mr. Olan, the property owner, to assess the extent of the damages and the future of the site.

 

-- 2024-12-03

 

[snoop1130]

Fire engulfs iconic, haunted boat hotel on Koh Chang - video

By Petch Petpailin

 

Photo via Facebook/ Fire & Rescue Thailand

 

A fire broke out today at the iconic, and reportedly haunted boat hotel, Koh Chang Grand Laguna, located on an island in the southeastern province of Trat. Firefighters are still struggling to control the blaze.

 

The official Facebook page of Fire & Rescue Thailand reported that the fire began on the second floor of the landmark of Koh Chang at around 2pm, today, December 3, and gradually spread to other parts of the boat.

 

Photographs shared on the page show the cruise ship enveloped in black smoke, particularly concentrated at the front. Flames can also be seen emanating from some of the hotel’s windows.

 

As of the latest update on the Facebook page, at around 2.20pm, firefighters have been unable to contain the situation.

 

 

The cause of the fire remains undetermined but it is unlikely to be due to an electrical fault, as the hotel had no electricity supply.

 

The Koh Chang Grand Laguna cruise hotel was Asia’s first boat hotel when it opened in 2004. The luxury hotel offered rooms priced between 4,500 and 20,000 baht per night but was eventually closed due to an economic downturn around Covid-19 in 2020.

 

The abandoned cruise ship has since become a popular photogenic spot for tourists visiting Koh Chang. Visitors could explore the outdoor terrace for a fee of 100 baht while access to the interior and its seven floors required a payment of 150 baht.

 

According to Sanook, the cruise hotel previously featured 200 guest rooms. Much of the original hotel equipment and furnishings remained intact. The first two floors served as a lobby and meeting area, the third to fifth floors housed guest rooms, and the sixth and seventh floors were used as restaurants.

 

 

Most of the hotel rooms were locked, but some were left open, allowing visitors to see that many items remained untouched, including beds, refrigerators, televisions, towels, and even full bottles of drinking water.

 

In addition to its photographic appeal, the site was also infamous for its eerie reputation. While the hotel officially closed due to financial issues, locals believe it was haunted by the spirit of a guest who tragically fell to their death from the seventh floor.

 

Others claim the hotel was cursed by the ghost of a Russian tour guide who fell from the third floor after an argument with a female colleague.

 

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-12-03

 

 

[kwaussie]

The photo of 2 fire fighters holding hose with water dribbling out i can pee more water than that!

[Sig]

14 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

However, financial difficulties in recent years led Mr. Olan to put the property up for sale for over 1 billion baht. Despite its high valuation, no official transactions were ever finalized.

Financial difficulties....
I don't imagine that "high valuation" had anything to do with how much it was insured for.
Well, as luck might have it, his financial difficulties may be over!
I suppose it's better that it burn to the ground than spending decades rotting to the ground.

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Initial reports suggest that workers were inside the building conducting welding repairs at the time the fire broke out, potentially triggering the blaze.

The old hot works accident strikes again.

[Homburg]

I thought the fire was next week. My bad!

[Sydebolle]

Let me guess, the fire insurance policy remains updated and paid .......... 

[impulse]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Koh Chang Grand Laguna cruise hotel was Asia’s first boat hotel when it opened in 2004. The luxury hotel offered rooms priced between 4,500 and 20,000 baht per night but was eventually closed due to an economic downturn around Covid-19 in 2020.

 

That seems rather excessive.  I recall paying a small fraction of that to stay in very nice digs on the island.  And beachfront.

 

Edit:  Unless, of course, the rooms came with organic bed warmers and hot and cold running sheets.

 

Edited 12 hours ago by impulse

[AhFarangJa]

Looking at the old picture I personally think it is a blessing it burnt down It detracts a lot from the local scenery, basically, an eyesore. I wonder how many brown envelopes were passed around to gain planning permission. Also, I would agree with many posters on here....insurance scam.

[RichardColeman]

Insurance scam ? 

[baansgr]

Not insurance scam,.welders were working in the hotel. Insurance scam would of been done as arson 

[john donson]

14 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Not insurance scam,.welders were working in the hotel. Insurance scam would of been done as arson 

 

well that is a 'valid' excuse...welders can pay for damages at rate of 20 baht per day.... lol

[Wuvu2]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

Let me guess, the fire insurance policy remains updated and paid .......... 

 

A tried and true approach to clearing up nagging property issues. Sadly I don't think that's going to work for the waterfront 🙄

 

[Kerryd]

Yeah, insurance scam.
Abandoned hotel, restricted access, no electricity but for some reason they suddenly had welders inside and - shocker - a fire breaks out that apparently consumes the entire hotel.

Uh huh. Purely coincidence, right ?

[NicoBKK]

I did stay there as Hotel, I think it was 2006  - Breakfast was served in the ship. Here my pics

 

Edited 10 hours ago by NicoBKK

[khunpin]

Obviously arson. 🤷🏼‍♂️

And in a few years a new hotel will be build there. 

And everyone who can see a relation between the fire and the new hotel owner will be sued for damaging the world-class reputation of Thailand as a world-class holiday destination. 

That's why I there can't be any relation ... 🤷🏼‍♂️🤫

[kiwikeith]

3 hours ago, Sig said:

Financial difficulties....
I don't imagine that "high valuation" had anything to do with how much it was insured for.
Well, as luck might have it, his financial difficulties may be over!
I suppose it's better that it burn to the ground than spending decades rotting to the ground.

The question I was going to ask is was it insured? 

The fact that workers were doing welding repairs and it caught fire might be a cause that negates arson. 

However any insurance company that would insure that disgusting rotting ugly wreck would have to be crazy. Or they have to much money to wash. 

[Patong2021]

A burning testament to the lack of fire & safety building codes in Thailand.

Had the fire occurred when it was still in use, there could have easily been dozens if not hundreds of casualties if there had been an ongoing event.

 

3 hours ago, Sig said:

Financial difficulties....
I don't imagine that "high valuation" had anything to do with how much it was insured for.
Well, as luck might have it, his financial difficulties may be over!
I suppose it's better that it burn to the ground than spending decades rotting to the ground.

 

The burning has resulted in a toxic brew of chemical byproduct runoff that will pollute the wetlands. The burnt debris will most likely still be there a decade from now and  more of an eyesore.

 

46 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

Yeah, insurance scam.
Abandoned hotel, restricted access, no electricity but for some reason they suddenly had welders inside and - shocker - a fire breaks out that apparently consumes the entire hotel.
Uh huh. Purely coincidence, right ?

 

Nonsense.  How is it an insurance scam? There would have to be insurance in effect. Do you really expect anyone to believe that the owner was able to  place coverage on a  long term vacant building, let alone find coverage?

Even if the property had been insured as a vacant structure,  there most likely is no coverage in place. All property insurance contracts have exclusions for construction activity. And even if there was permission for maintenance, there would have been specific conditions applicable to hot work. Conditions such as the presence of  working fire extinguishers  and an employee specifically tasked with watching for a fire. The contractor would have to have insurance and that is most unlikely for a project like this and in Koh Chang.

[TheFishman1]

Yeah from multiple reasons I don’t think any insurance company would have insurance on an abandoned structure like that TIT

[Secret Bangkok]

I have worked with this property since 2008 Name  Koh Chang Grand Lagoona, Stay this boat sometime when visit property, Last year visit and pay 100 baht to access to GHOST SHIP. 

Good Bye 🙂 Good memory in this place 🙂

[LudwigK]

Insured, indebted objects burn so readily and well

[Blueman1]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Insurance scam ? 

Well Of Course,What Else ??

[Wongkitlo]

1 hour ago, Secret Bangkok said:

I have worked with this property since 2008 Name  Koh Chang Grand Lagoona, Stay this boat sometime when visit property, Last year visit and pay 100 baht to access to GHOST SHIP. 

Good Bye 🙂 Good memory in this place 🙂

I had heard differently about it's history than what the articles say.  I understood it was,a,passenger ferry which he sailed in there and then filled in behind it. He was not having financial difficulties but was old and his family were not interested in keeping the resort running. When I went there 4 years ago most of it seemed in ruins. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Wongkitlo
Edit

[Franky0815]

I was there 2 weeks ago. There were lots of warnings not to enter the ship hotel because of the danger of collapse. The national park employees also keep an eye on it. I wonder why welding work was still being carried out there?

[khunjeff]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Koh Chang Grand Laguna cruise hotel was Asia’s first boat hotel when it opened in 2004.

 

Not even close - the Saigon Floating Hotel opened in 1989.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Haegumgang

[HK MacPhooey]

4 hours ago, baansgr said:

Not insurance scam,.welders were working in the hotel. Insurance scam would of been done as arson 

Welders working on what exactly? Just carrying out essential work on a derelict hulk?

[ujayujay]

....suspect insufficient water pressure during firefighting

[billd766]

8 hours ago, kwaussie said:

The photo of 2 fire fighters holding hose with water dribbling out i can pee more water than that!

Looking at those hoses they should be at least 2 inches in diameter and fire fire pump  should be pumping at around 150 psi or 10.3 bar.

 

The problem with that is that you would need at least 3 and probably 4 Thai firemen at the nozzle end just to hold it. The fire truck look as though it has a 5,000 litre water tank which would be empty in 3 of 4 minutes.

[Sig]

4 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

The question I was going to ask is was it insured? 

The fact that workers were doing welding repairs and it caught fire might be a cause that negates arson. 

However any insurance company that would insure that disgusting rotting ugly wreck would have to be crazy. Or they have to much money to wash. 

Yeah, I though a bit of welding work would be a good cover story 😅