Thai Marine Dept Urged To Check Pier Safety Ahead Of Loi Krathong Festival

[webfact]

Marine Dept Urged to Check Pier Safety Ahead of Loi Krathong Festival

BANGKOK: -- The deputy transport minister has urged the Maritime Department to inspect the safety of ports and ferry piers ahead of the Loi Krathong festival.

Deputy Transport Minister Kueakul Darnchaiwichit said he has instructed the Marine Department to check Chao Phraya River piers and ensure that they are all in good condition, in order to prepare for high tide and the approaching Loi Krathong season.

He reported that there are ten ferry piers that need repairs, including Saphan Put, Nonthaburi, Ratchawong, Oriental, Pin Klao, Thevet, Si Phraya, Sathorn and Rama 7.

The maintenance work is estimated to cost four million baht and is expected to be completed in May.

Marine Department Director General Thawanrat Ornsira assured the public that all piers under his agency's supervision are safe.

He went on to say that his department is planning to spend 600 million baht on widening and dredging rivers across the country, starting with the section of Chao Phraya River between Singburi and Chainat provinces, as part of of the effort to tackle massive flooding and improve logistics.

Thawanrat added that his agency has also launched a volunteer training program to assist in the improvement of the marine transportation system and the integration with other transport services, for the convenience and safety of commuters.

In addition, the official said the program includes support for exporters within the scope of Thai maritime laws.

The program opens on November 17.

Inquiries can be made to the 1199 hotline.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-10

[rubl]

BANGKOK: -- The deputy transport minister has urged the Maritime Department to inspect the safety of ports and ferry piers ahead of the Loi Krathong festival.

Deputy Transport Minister Kueakul Darnchaiwichit said he has instructed the Marine Department to check Chao Phraya River piers and ensure that they are all in good condition, in order to prepare for high tide and the approaching Loi Krathong season.

He reported that there are ten ferry piers that need repairs, including Saphan Put, Nonthaburi, Ratchawong, Oriental, Pin Klao, Thevet, Si Phraya, Sathorn and Rama 7.

The maintenance work is estimated to cost four million baht and is expected to be completed in May.

In my innocence I expected piers in need of repairs to be closed off till done. Somehow 'ensure in good condition', 'ten need repairs' and 'expect completion in May' seems to suggest that. Unless some inspector / expert signs off on temporary repairs that is. Two more weeks to go ?

PS what about those hundred-thousands who use these piers every working-day?

[anterian]

I'm glad to see that someone has realised that dredging and deepening river beds is the cheapest way to reduce flooding.

[rubl]

I'm glad to see that someone has realised that dredging and deepening river beds is the cheapest way to reduce flooding.

May be cheapest short term, but long term effect may be equally disastrous.

Deepening may effect speed of water flow, erosion, disturb (sweet) water table, influx of salt water, danger of flooding due to stormy weather from the south (at least for the Chao Praya), etc., etc.

Start with dredging (silt and other rubbish) short term and a study on deepening effects long term.

[ronrat]

And when the marine surveyors have finished get them to check the Jetskis in Phuket and Pattaya. Any minor blemish at all, that is likely to cause dispute, and they are out of the water.

Dredging is only good at the mouth of the river. Further up you destroy shrimp and fish breeding grounds.