Koh Pha-ngan Cracks Down On Speedboats Operations

[george]

Koh Pha-ngan cracks down on speedboats operations

SURAT THANI: -- The southern resort island of Koh Pha-ngan is set to introduce a sweeping crackdown on speedboat operations, including a possible ban on night time journeys on Full Moon Party nights, following last week’s disaster which killed several foreign tourists when their speedboat capsized.

The Sawatdee Chaloemchok Nawa 5 capsized off the Koh Pha-ngan coast on 1 February as it took tourists back from the island’s famous monthly Full Moon Party. A total of 15 people are known to have died in the incident, among them ten are foreign tourists.

Yesterday Mr. Pornlert Chokchai, Koh Pha-ngan district chief, said that the district authorities were teaming up with the local marine transportation office to convene a meeting of speedboat operators to determine a new set of guidelines aimed at improving tourist safety.

The guidelines are likely to include a ban on speedboats ferrying tourists at night time, and a ban on speedboats waiting on Hat Rin Beach, where the parties take place, to accept passengers.

Mr. Pornlert said that the ban on night time sailings was necessary in order to prevent future incidents, noting that tourists tended to be under the influence of alcohol after the parties and unable to help themselves should a disaster occur. At the same time, rescue workers found it more difficult to operate under night time conditions.

By making boats use designated piers, local officials will be able to check that passengers are wearing life vests, and that boats are not overloaded.

Until last week’s incident, the end of each Full Moon Party often saw as many as 50 speedboats wait off Hat Rin Beach in a scramble to vie for passengers.

Mr. Lertporn Praprithitham, head of the Koh Pha-ngan Marine Transport Office, noted yesterday that while legislation was already in place to bring the speedboats under control, these regulations required strict enforcement.

Tomorrow the office will send staff to inspect over 100 speedboats in the Koh Samui – Koh Pha-ngan area, in order to ensure that they comply with legislation.

--TNA 2005-01-30

[dazdaz]

I am very sorry to hear of the loss of life.

The day after the tsunami I was on one of those speed boats and did'nt enjoy the ride.

The worst part was coming back from the island to Koh Samui, because whoever fought(scrambled) hardest made it onto the boat, and so they did'nt have to wait another hour to return.

The full moon party is a big disappointment anyway, but it does bring Baht into the area.

It's ashame that it takes a tragedy for each legislation to be made.

[Freddie_fly]

DazDaz misses the point of the article as do most people reading about accidents in Thailand. The Legislation already exists !!!!.

While tourists and Thai's alike continue to die needlessly in road, rail, air and marine accidents the laws currently on the books in Thailand are adequate to prevents many of these incidents. Simply put these laws are not enforced, and in many cases the local authorities are not only ignoring these laws in order to reduce costs, but due to the poor training of law enforcement and government staff, there is also ignorance of the statutes currently on the books.

regards

Freddie

[john b good]

DazDaz misses the point of the article as do most people reading about accidents in Thailand. The Legislation already exists !!!!.

While tourists and Thai's alike continue to die needlessly in road, rail, air and marine accidents the laws currently on the books in Thailand are adequate to prevents many of these incidents. Simply put these laws are not enforced, and in many cases the local authorities are not only ignoring these laws in order to reduce costs, but due to the poor training of law enforcement and government staff, there is also ignorance of the statutes currently on the books.

regards

Freddie

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So true.

After the hotel fire in Jomtien that took around 100 lives a few years back they had a fire safety crack down in the big mango. Cinema owners that were not in compliance refused the order to close and elected to pay the daily fine of 50 baht instead. When you have a mentality that thinks that up and of the people who allow it you need ask no more.

And remember they had at least one & a half hours warning of the tsunami and elected to ignore it rather than sound the alarm.

[sonnyjc7]

Call me cynical but the only ones the law will apply to is the ones who can not affford the bribe to have tthe inspectors look the other way. But maybe the operators will do something although thast's in your dreams.

[maxisrael]

Sorry to say but the passengers on the speedboats are to blame as well THEY should refuse to go on a overloaded boat without the hand out of life jackets ! or where they high on booze or drugs ? so they could not make a dicision ?

It is known the boat owners and / or skippers don't know their responsibilities what is the Thai translation for responsibility ? I think MAI PEN RAI.

The only importent thing for them is money and hopefully now something is done to prevent other disasters and the law will be enforced (for how long ?) in a few months it's all back to what is was before until the next accident

[Artisi]

If you think anything will change - you probably still believe in Father christmas

[RDN]

One of my favourite beach-side eateries is "Gypsy Kitchen" on the east coast of Si Re island which is itself on the east coast of Phuket island.

The only thing I don't like about the place is that speed boats regularly drop off customers from the other more easterly islands, and these people have to walk through the row of tables which are along the beach to get to the car park for their lift back to the hotel.

But one thing I noticed even before the tsunami was that they were all wearing life jackets. Of course, these were all sober families and couples on a trip organised by a hotel....

[The_Moog]

Excellent - a new crackdown. I love 'crackdowns' . The word itself makes me go all goose pimply.

[robsamui]

These small speedboats are supposed to hold 25 or so. What doesn't seem to have been mentioned in the newspapers is that 2 boats were involved, both overloaded to the max with around 40-45 passengers. The boats were racing each other, with the stoned passengers cheering them on. The current regulations are already adequate, but like all these things, won't be enforced unless someone from the top decides to focus on this.

[limbos]

Rob,

I've heard the same rumour, about 2 boats racing each other.

What is your source?

Edited January 31, 2005 by limbos

[bendejo]

From what I've seen laws in Thailand usually only apply when cops are present.

[RDN]

From what I've seen laws in Thailand usually only apply when cops are present.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...sometimes that's precisely when they are broken.