Rough Sea Nearly Sinks Koh Samui Boat

[george]

Rough sea nearly sinks boat with some 60 foreign tourists on board

SURAT THANI: -- A passenger boat between Koh Samui and Koh Tao nearly sank today morning after its engine broke down caused by an influx of sea water at the result of strong winds and rough sea.

Marine police said the boat carrying about 60 foreign tourists from Samui heading to Koh Pha Ngan was about five or six nautical miles away from the Pha Ngan island when its engine broke down about 9:30 am.

Pornlert Chokchai, Pha Ngan district chief, said the rough sea cause a lot of water to go inside the boat and thus causing the engine to shut down. Without the engine, the sea water could not be drained out, he said.

He said since the tourists were western divers heading to scuba diving at Koh Tao, many of them deserted the boat and used their diving gear to float on the sea pending a rescue.

The district chief said five fishing boats and a speed boat were sent out to rescue the tourists and pull the passenger boat to Koh Pha Ngan.

Pornlert said the rough sea and strong winds caused the waves to be about two metres high.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

--The Nation 2005-09-13

[george]

Ferry passenger takes helm as skipper panics in rough seas

SURAT THANI: -- A passenger took over the helm of a ferry carrying 60 Thai and foreign passengers yesterday after it almost capsized in heavy seas and the inexperienced skipper panicked. The 200-seat catamaran Bussamanee plies between Samui, Phangan and Tao islands. It was hit by three-metre waves off Koh Ma, about 4km west of Phangan island, while on its way from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao yesterday morning, passengers said.

The first wave swamped one of the two engines and following waves brought in a lot of seawater. The boat developed a severe list and the skipper Pitthaya Boonliang, 26, who was new to the job, began panicking.

A passenger identified only as Mr Nod, who is a fisherman, saw the danger, took over the wheel and brought the vessel safely to Chalok Lam pier on Koh Phangan.

Koh Phangan district chief Pornlert Chokchai and Chanchote Piriyasathit, chairman of Phangan Island's tourism promotion association, arranged the transport of the passengers to Koh Tao and then inspected the boat.

The initial inspection found the front of the boat had many cracks and required further inspection by the Marine Department.

The skipper was taken to Koh Phangan police station for questioning.

The Bussamanee , which is operated by Bussapakmanee Ltd, was one of the vessels which helped evacuate tourists from many islands in the Phuket area following the Dec 26, 2004 tsunami.

It was moved to Koh Samui about four months ago.

The weather office yesterday issued a small-boats warning for the Gulf of Thailand, saying a depression was moving from the South China Sea toward Vietnam bringing strong winds and rough seas.

--Bangkok Post 2005-09-14

[taxexile]

The boat developed a severe list and the skipper Pitthaya Boonliang, 26, who was new to the job, began panicking.

oh dear , new to the job and probably a stranger to training as well.

perhaps he should look for a job in the deck sweeping department instead.

[Sphere]

The boat developed a severe list and the skipper Pitthaya Boonliang, 26, who was new to the job, began panicking.

oh dear , new to the job and probably a stranger to training as well.

perhaps he should look for a job in the deck sweeping department instead.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Was he previously a driver for the bangkok tube? New and no training - the description fits!

[yeti]

Are The Nation and the Bangkok Post talking about the same event, or 2 different boats???

A lot of common points (boat with 60 passengers, between Phangan and Tao, a big wave which shut down engines), but even more discrepancies (passengers in the water with diving gear waiting for rescue boats to save them and bring back the boat to Phangan, or a foreigner taking the wheel to bring the boat to safety).

[taxexile]

..............and who is the mysterious mr.nod ?????????

[sriracha john]

..............and who is the mysterious mr.nod ?????????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dunno... but he gets a nod for taking charge and handling the situation. God bless fishermen everywhere.

Regarding the discrepancy in the news reports, it's interesting that district chief

Porn Alert seems to be giving conflicting accounts.

[sbk]

Actually they are both wrong, a friend of mine was on the boat and said that the boat was towed back to Koh Phangan on its way to Koh Tao. The second one got the location right, story wrong, first one got the story right, location wrong. Story was waves were coming in the boat, it was getting swamped, they called for help from the Marine police, boat never sank, noone got hurt, but the boat was definitely towed back to Koh P.

[yeti]

Actually they are both wrong, a friend of mine was on the boat and said that the boat was towed back to Koh Phangan on its way to Koh Tao. The second one got the location right, story wrong, first one got the story right, location wrong.  Story was waves were coming in the boat, it was getting swamped, they called for help from the Marine police, boat never sank, noone got hurt, but the boat was definitely towed back to Koh P.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Passengers jumped in the water with their diving gear ?

[sbk]

Didn't hear about that tho. Just heard about lifejackets being put on. I didn't talk to the guy in the boat (altho I do know him) but to a woman who works with him. Best part was the boat co wouldn't give him a refund but a replacement ticket on the Songserm boat to Koh Tao, an even ricketier, scarier boat, not one to be taking in rough weather!