Pattaya Tour Boat Catches Fire

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: July 25th 2008

PATTAYA TOUR BOAT CATCHES FIRE TOURISTS AND CREW RESCUED

A tour boat taking tourists on a diving expedition had a problem with the engine which later caught on fire in the middle of Pattaya Bay on July 24, 2008. Both crew and tourists, in total 19 people, were rescued safely. The boat later sank. The damage was about 6 million Baht.

On July 24, at 1pm, Pattaya Sea Rescue officers was notified by Mr. Aphisak Tienthong, (49), from Sattahip, captain of the boat,"J.C.Hunter", that the vessel was on fire and requested help. The engine had caught fire while the boat was moored for the tourists to dive and look at coral around Koh Lan Island Beach, Pattaya Bay. The incident took place about 17 nautical miles from the shore. The flames were too intense and could not be put out, putting all 19 aboard in danger, so the captain told the passengers and most of the crew to don life jackets and jump overboard to await rescue.

Luckily, Fire Fighter and Rescue boats arrived in time to prevent any loss of life. At the incident, the rescue teams found the tourists who were American, French, and Russian, the crew and a tour guide, altogether 19 people, frightened but safe, floating in the sea, waiting for help. The luxury twin-deck boat had sparks and flames coming from the engine room and was also pouring out smoke. The rescuers helped the tourists and crew to get aboard the Rescue boat and immediately transferred valuable equipment, including oxygen tanks for diving, out of the stricken vessel. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

Some of the rescuers examined the engine room fire and used chemical fire extinguishers and water to try and put out the fire, but without success. The fire was spreading rapidly, and the vessel began to take on water. The captain ordered the remaining crew to abandon ship and 20 minutes later, the boat sank The rescuers later safely put the passengers and crew ashore at Bali Hai Pier.

Mr. Sanit Boonmachai, Council Member of Pattaya City and President of Pattaya Committee for Safety, who was the team leader co-ordinating sea rescue said that the authority would see if the boat could be salvaged, otherwise, it would be abandoned. Mr Sanit also expresssed his gratitude to the sea rescue team for having safely rescued all aboard.

[Jareddiving]

What a bullshit story..

Nobody was on board, everone was diving. And passengers floating in the water???

Everyone was on the Island.

[BigSnake]

What a bullshit story..

Nobody was on board, everone was diving. And passengers floating in the water???

Everyone was on the Island.

Whatever; just happy to here that no one was hurt or kill, which so often the case in these types of accidents.

Edited July 25, 2008 by BigSnake

[Jareddiving]

Then it still can be a bullshit story

[Basil B]

What a bullshit story..

Nobody was on board, everone was diving. And passengers floating in the water???

Everyone was on the Island.

They must have been good swimmers to swim 17 nautical miles to the shore.

BB

[Chang_paarp]

I know Pattaya's press has some major problems with credibility but this one is a true stinker.

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: July 25th 2008

PATTAYA TOUR BOAT CATCHES FIRE TOURISTS AND CREW RESCUED

A tour boat taking tourists on a diving expedition had a problem with the engine which later caught on fire in the middle of Pattaya Bay on July 24, 2008. Both crew and tourists, in total 19 people, were rescued safely. The boat later sank. The damage was about 6 million Baht.

On July 24, at 1pm, Pattaya Sea Rescue officers was notified by Mr. Aphisak Tienthong, (49), from Sattahip, captain of the boat,"J.C.Hunter", that the vessel was on fire and requested help. The engine had caught fire while the boat was moored for the tourists to dive and look at coral around Koh Lan Island Beach, Pattaya Bay. The incident took place about 17 nautical miles from the shore. The flames were too intense and could not be put out, putting all 19 aboard in danger, so the captain told the passengers and most of the crew to don life jackets and jump overboard to await rescue.

Luckily, Fire Fighter and Rescue boats arrived in time to prevent any loss of life. At the incident, the rescue teams found the tourists who were American, French, and Russian, the crew and a tour guide, altogether 19 people, frightened but safe, floating in the sea, waiting for help. The luxury twin-deck boat had sparks and flames coming from the engine room and was also pouring out smoke. The rescuers helped the tourists and crew to get aboard the Rescue boat and immediately transferred valuable equipment, including oxygen tanks for diving, out of the stricken vessel. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

Some of the rescuers examined the engine room fire and used chemical fire extinguishers and water to try and put out the fire, but without success. The fire was spreading rapidly, and the vessel began to take on water. The captain ordered the remaining crew to abandon ship and 20 minutes later, the boat sank The rescuers later safely put the passengers and crew ashore at Bali Hai Pier.

Mr. Sanit Boonmachai, Council Member of Pattaya City and President of Pattaya Committee for Safety, who was the team leader co-ordinating sea rescue said that the authority would see if the boat could be salvaged, otherwise, it would be abandoned. Mr Sanit also expresssed his gratitude to the sea rescue team for having safely rescued all aboard.

Now lets try to get this straight.

Fire starts 17 miles off shore.

Captain calls for help.

Flames are so intense they could not be put out.

Captain orders abandon ship, most crew and all passengers get off.

Help arrives.

All in water are picked up.

All the valuable gear is saved.

The rescuers inspect engine and try to put out fire. (Fire must have been less intense by now)

Captain order rest of crew off ship.

20 minutes later boat sinks.

Do I smell an insurance claim here?

[Basil B]

Do I smell an insurance claim here?

Bt 6M ???

Am I right in thinking it was not that long ago that that boat was up for sale Bt 5M?

As for the reporting on location, with that information rescue services would never have found them.

I think from the photos on Pattaya Daily News it is one of the far islands, Koh Klung Badan or Koh Man Witchi, I think the 17NM is the distance to Sattihip Naval Base.

For reference Balli Hi Peir to Koh Larn is 4.2NM (7.8Km) and to Koh Man Witchi 11.6NM (21.6Km)

BB

[Jareddiving]

It happenend at Koh Rin.

And the boat was insured for 3 million Baht so don't know who made up the 6 million Baht.

BASIL B.. i dont have a idea what you are talking about.

The boat sunk because they pulled out the plug.. That was the only way to save as much as possible of the ship.

The boat is going to be salvaged and towed straight back to the dry dock.( Where it actually just came from)

Insurance claim?? Dont think so..

[Briggsy]

Do boats have plugs, like my bath. I never knew. And what about big ones like oil tankers? Do they have plugs too?

[Basil B]

Do boats have plugs, like my bath. I never knew. And what about big ones like oil tankers? Do they have plugs too?

No, boats do not have plugs like you have in your bath, "Pulling out the Plug" is a slang phrase for "Scuttling"

wikipedia describes Scuttling as:

Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull. This can be achieved in several ways - valves or hatches can be opened to the sea, or holes may be ripped into the hull with brute force or with explosives.

Scuttling a boat in the right depth of water was probably most sensible thing to do and it appears that it was soon raised (salvaged).

I would speculate that the only accurate thing reported by "Pattaya Daily News" was the engine caught fire, probably the supply of sea water for cooling was interrupted causing the engine to over heat and the oil inside the engine combusted, this was why it was so difficult to extinguish.

BB

Edited July 29, 2008 by Basil B