The Pattaya Administration is working hard to improve safety for those who use local pleasure boats to travel to local Islands and participate in diving expeditions. Despite this, accidents are still happening and on Thursday Afternoon, yet another boating accident occurred off the coast of Pattaya. Thankfully no one was killed and four out of seventeen people on board sustained minor cuts and bruises. The accident occurred approximately 2 nautical miles off the coast of Sark Island and involved a recently modified vessel named “Ekaterina I” used to transport tourists from Pattaya to Larn Island. At the time of the accident, crew members claim there were too many people on the recently added top deck of the boat causing the boat to become unstable. Despite the seas being fairly calm, the crew suggested a wave caused the vessel to topple over. The owner of the boat is the Chitipat Company who confirmed the recent modification of the boat. An investigation is now underway to see if the boat was registered as a passenger carrier and insured and also if the modification had been approved by the relevant authorities. If not, the company will most likely receive a hefty fine. This incident is once again leading many to ask the question whether pleasure boats in Pattaya are safe and if accidents occur, are passengers protected by some form of insurance. Khun Itipon, the Mayor of Pattaya did attend the scene and promised assistance to those who were injured, but did not comment on the accident and the boat itself.

www.pattayaone.net

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25 Dec 2009

If the beauty in the turquiose and wearing the red floatation device was on the top deck with the other farangs......bound to turn turtle!!!!

Why the big painted "Diver" flag on the superstructure if it was just ferrying passengers from Pattaya to Koh Larn?

If the modification was not approved by a certified marine engineer, then I hope action is taken that would deter any other operator or captain from taking passengers on such a vessel.