Phuket Tourists, Crew Saved From Sinking Dive Boat

[webfact]

BREAKING NEWS: Phuket tourists, crew saved from sinking dive boat

Thursday, July 14, 2011

PHUKET: -- A joint rescue effort by the Phuket Tourist Rescue Center and the Royal Thai Navy has safely recovered all 27 people aboard a sinking dive boat off Phuket tonight.

A distress call was received from the dive boat Laksanawadee at 6:15pm, an officer at the Tourist Rescue Center in Chalong told the Phuket Gazette.

The boat, a large, two-level cruiser with 16 tourists on board, was returning from a dive trip to Koh Dok Mai (“Flower Island”) when it capsized in heavy seas near Koh Mai Thon, about 16 kilometers west of Chalong Pier.

“The Third Naval Area Command responded immediately by sending a 50-meter warship. We sent our own rescue speedboat and the dive company sent one its speedboats to assist the rescue effort,” he said.

All tourists on board – 11 men, three women and two young girls – and the eight dive instructors and guides and three crewmen were recovered safely, he added.

“We took 10 people on board the Tourist Rescue Center boat, which will return to Chalong. We are not sure whether the Royal Thai Navy boat will return here [Chalong] or back to its base at Cape Panwa,” he added.

As the rescue team left the scene, the overturned dive boat was believed to be still sinking.

It is not clear if or when a salvage operation will be launched.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-07-15

[steelepulse]

Glad to hear it turned out OK for all pax and crew on board. I didn't see any mention of the dive company however. I sure hope the company had insurance.

[stevenl]

This boat was not seaworthy and has not been for quite some time now. This was the upteenth breakdown it experienced in a short period of time as well.

If just divecenters would stay away from this boat, and there is one more I don't trust at all, it would be much, much better for everybody. But money talks, the boat is rented out cheaply, so there will always be somebody using it, even if they (should) know it is totally unsafe.

The boat is in the shipyard BTW, and I'm sure will be available for rent in a few days.

Edited July 15, 2011 by stevenl

[LivinginKata]

The boat is in the shipyard BTW, and I'm sure will be available for rent in a few days.

Unbelievable ... but hey TIT ..

[katabeachbum]

The boat is in the shipyard BTW, and I'm sure will be available for rent in a few days.

Unbelievable ... but hey TIT ..

I have been on board some of the diveboats, and it is unbeliveable what they go to sea with. Very few diveboats are up to International standards on safety. A brief inspection of fuel tanks and engine bay would keep them stranded in most countries

[LivinginKata]

I have been on board some of the diveboats, and it is unbeliveable what they go to sea with. Very few diveboats are up to International standards on safety. A brief inspection of fuel tanks and engine bay would keep them stranded in most countries

Hey ... the boat floats and the engine starts. What more do you want .... Really sad ...

[stevenl]

I have been on board some of the diveboats, and it is unbeliveable what they go to sea with. Very few diveboats are up to International standards on safety. A brief inspection of fuel tanks and engine bay would keep them stranded in most countries

Hey ... the boat floats and the engine starts. What more do you want .... Really sad ...

Fortunately most of the diveboats in the area are safe. There are just 2 that are not IMO. Well, at the moment only one, but in a few days there will be two again.

[VocalNeal]

If was an avid diver and lost some of my gear I would be aggrieved. But on the whole if I were a tourist "The dive boat sank" is a much better story back home than "I saw a blue fish"

[webfact]

Phuket dive boat 'did not capsize'

PHUKET: -- The dive boat that 27 people were safely recovered from yesterday evening is now back in Phuket, a source at the dive company who was on the boat told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

“The boat did not capsize. The bilge pump failed, so the captain pulled the boat into calm waters behind an island,” he said.

“We were not sure whether we could get the pump working again so as a precaution we called for assistance and sent out a speedboat to get the passengers safely back ashore.

“The Phuket Tourist Rescue Center also sent a boat to help, and this is probably where the misunderstanding that the boat had capsized arose,” he added.

The people on board were not in any danger, he said.

“Ten minutes after the speedboats had left Phuket to pick the customers up, the pump started working again, but we brought them back by speedboat anyway,” he said.

No people were injured in the incident.

“No one was in any danger. The worst anyone suffered was one guy cut his finger,” he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-07-15

[TheShockMaster]

Fishy.

[steelepulse]

>>a source at the dive company who was on the boat told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

Somehow I've missed the company.Which company was it that had it's only bilge pump fail?

[stevenl]

>>a source at the dive company who was on the boat told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

Somehow I've missed the company.Which company was it that had it's only bilge pump fail?

Kontiki was operating the boat, but they were renting it. I presume the source here would be a Kontiki source. The owner of the boat is another divecompany, Scuubadoo.

[Yme]

What is the point of a story about a boat operated by an unnamed diving company being involved in some sort of incident that the an unnamed dive company operator denied the graveness of?

This is supposed to be quality journalism? oh, Thailand, quality journalism/ newspapers, oxymoron

Edited July 16, 2011 by Yme

[katabeachbum]

>>a source at the dive company who was on the boat told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

Somehow I've missed the company.Which company was it that had it's only bilge pump fail?

spot on

a commercial boat for 20-50 people with ONE bilgepump. even 30 feeters have at least 3 electrical, and one mechanical

[snorkelador]

Following is a statement from the boat operator, regarding the incident and strange accusations e.g. boat capsized, people floating in the water for hours and the boat having only one bilge pump. Other people who posted in this thread and most definitely have received the following by email seem to have no interest in posting Kjell's side of the story...

"I would like to clarify some things regarding the much-reported incident on Thursday July 14 and also thank some people involved.

First, the boat did not sink. It did not capsize or even list at all. Nobody was in the water. Nobody died. There were in fact no serious injuries whatsoever. One passenger had a minor cut.

Second, the boat was seaworthy and has passed a full inspection by the marine authorities. It had major refurbishment and service ahead of the high season and recently underwent some gear box maintenance. Incidentally, the gear box and the engine worked fine and still do.

Third, I was on the boat that day. Until the arrival at the shipyard. I am happy to set the record straight.

--

This is what actually happened:

Thursday 14 July was an uneventful day until the afternoon. As usual there were contingency plans for diving elsewhere had the weather been bad. The weather was in fact fine in the morning and stayed so into the early afternoon, when the weather very rapidly changed and not in a manner consistent with earlier weather reports. Heading back, some waves were coming from several directions at once. Of course the boat will take on water. Most any boat will.

Our boat has three pumps, one running straight off the engine and two electrical pumps which run off batteries. The bigger of the latter two pumps is brand new and was installed on Saturday 9 July 2011. We continually upgrade the boat, even in the low season.

Usually the main engine pump is more than enough even in very rough seas with one (1) electrical back-up to assist if needed. This has been the case for many years but unlike previous years, the boat had two (2) back-up pumps on Thursday.

For some reason the two electrical pumps failed. One permanently, one intermittently and this one later came back on after some superb crew work. The main pump was working but water levels were higher than usual. Now, it is very possible that the boat could have made port in Chalong on its own. But keeping the passengers onboard would have made for a late and uncomfortable arrival in the dark. More importantly, we take absolutely no unnecessary risks where passenger, staff and crew safety are concerned. Hence the decision to stop in sheltered waters at a nearby island and immediately arrange for an evacuation of the passengers and dive staff as a precaution. Naturally we also issued life vests.

The speedboats duly arrived and picked up the passengers and dive staff in an orderly manner. A nearby fishing boat assisted and towed us back while our engine and batteries ran the two working pumps. All water was hereforth kept very comfortably at bay. The boat arrived at the shipyard at about 02:45 on Friday morning and is now in a dry dock.

That is it. It was no more dramatic than that.

--

We kept the passengers informed throughout. Many of them have since praised us for the manner in which the whole incident was handled. One passenger, a Flight Captain flying for a major European airline, said that in his considered, professional view we handled it just like flight crew are trained to do if anything out of the ordinary happens. Of the sixteen guests onboard, six came back for fun diving the very next morning. A lovely Australian couple who were onboard have already commented online in a local Phuket newspaper and been very gracious. In short, the passengers seem not to have been particularly fazed by their experience.

--

I thank the Royal Thai Navy, the Royal Thai Police and all the Rescue Services in Phuket, as well as the speedboat company assisting them for their quick and professional response. The airline pilot was very impressed that Phuket has such an efficient operation in place.

The people of Thailand certainly have every reason to be proud of their Services and the fine men and women who work there.

Thanks to all the dive staff onboard for their cool and calm demeanour throughout. Thanks also to the diligent Thai office staff at various Phuket dive centres who assisted so well in coordinating everyting.

Heartfelt thanks to our hard-working crew and Captain. They worked from the start to ensure that this had such an undramatic outcome and didn't escalate into something bigger.

I finally give thanks to the Captain, crew and owner of the fishing boat that so kindly assisted us. Their Thai cheerfulness and good humour throughout was amazing to behold!

ขอขอบคุณทุกๆคนที่ให้ความ ช่วยเหลือ

--

We will inspect the boat carefully in the shipyard over the coming weeks. There was some damage to the top front deck ahead of the wheelhouse during the actual towing itself – as can be expected under the circumstances - but the hull and superstructure are intact, as is to be expected. This is one sturdy boat.

Kjell Nylund"

[stevenl]

Following is a statement from the boat operator, regarding the incident and strange accusations e.g. boat capsized, people floating in the water for hours and the boat having only one bilge pump. Other people who posted in this thread and most definitely have received the following by email seem to have no interest in posting Kjell's side of the story...

I don't want to go into a slagging contest, so won't react to Kjell's side of the story here.

I will point out 2 things though in snorkelador's post:

Kjell is not the boat operator but the boat owner. The boat was rented to another company who was therefor the operator.

I can't think of anyone else but me in this thread who 'posted in this thread and most definitely have received the following by email', but I did not receive this by email.

[snorkelador]

Following is a statement from the boat operator, regarding the incident and strange accusations e.g. boat capsized, people floating in the water for hours and the boat having only one bilge pump. Other people who posted in this thread and most definitely have received the following by email seem to have no interest in posting Kjell's side of the story...

I don't want to go into a slagging contest, so won't react to Kjell's side of the story here.

I will point out 2 things though in snorkelador's post:

Kjell is not the boat operator but the boat owner. The boat was rented to another company who was therefor the operator.

I can't think of anyone else but me in this thread who 'posted in this thread and most definitely have received the following by email', but I did not receive this by email.

I do not know who is the legal owner of said boat, but AFAIK Scuuba Doo runs the boat, as in their staff etc. and last time I saw the boat it had not Kontiki written on it. To my knowledge they had chartered the boat and the customers were mostly theirs. That would make them more of a diving operator than a boat operator in my books, but that would be all splitting hairs over nothing.

Good job then that I posted his statement as the email, intended to reach all diving operators, somehow did not make it through to you.

Btw. I am not related to or benefiting in any way shape or form from either Scandinavian Scuuba Doo or Kontiki. Just believing in the principle of spreading all sides of a story before rumors get completely outta hand.

Edited July 19, 2011 by snorkelador

[stevenl]

Good job then that I posted his statement as the email, intended to reach all diving operators, somehow did not make it through to you.

Btw. I am not related to or benefiting in any way shape or form from either Scandinavian Scuuba Doo or Kontiki. Just believing in the principle of spreading all sides of a story before rumors get completely outta hand.

No, not only did I not receive it, I know there are others, both small and big, who did not receive it as well.

I believe the best thing to do at this point in time for Kjell would be to let the story die. With continuous attention to it it won't put the incident in a better light and will only refresh people's memories.

[Bizz]

This boat was not seaworthy and has not been for quite some time now. This was the upteenth breakdown it experienced in a short period of time as well.

If just divecenters would stay away from this boat, and there is one more I don't trust at all, it would be much, much better for everybody. But money talks, the boat is rented out cheaply, so there will always be somebody using it, even if they (should) know it is totally unsafe.

The boat is in the shipyard BTW, and I'm sure will be available for rent in a few days.

This is an opp-seen statement without facts.

Contrary to Maritime law also.

Do not tell me just because there were no fatalities Maritine law does not hold precedence.

[stevenl]

This is an opp-seen statement without facts.

Contrary to Maritime law also.

Do not tell me just because there were no fatalities Maritine law does not hold precedence.

You realise this is Thailand?

[snorkelador]

This is an opp-seen statement without facts.

Contrary to Maritime law also.

Do not tell me just because there were no fatalities Maritine law does not hold precedence.

You realise this is Thailand?

What is that supposed to mean? That competing dive operators as well as random individuals are able to throw slanderous remarks with impunity and no one should care?

I am all for higher safety standards on boats, but sadly this has hardly been the focus here.

Edited July 20, 2011 by snorkelador

[stevenl]

This is an opp-seen statement without facts.

Contrary to Maritime law also.

Do not tell me just because there were no fatalities Maritine law does not hold precedence.

You realise this is Thailand?

What is that supposed to mean? That competing dive operators as well as random individuals are able to throw slanderous remarks with impunity and no one should care?

I am all for higher safety standards on boats, but sadly this has hardly been the focus here.

In general diveboats in the area are safe, I have no hesitation booking guests or going myself on any of the boats, with 2 exceptions.

[katabeachbum]

what I have read so far, a boat recieves some spray from the sea, 2 electrical pumps do not work, and the one mechanical pump is unable to keep the water out, so if it continues its voyage its about to sink

perhaps upgrading all bilge pumps would make it safer on this matter

well, cudos to the crew on board handling the situation in an excellent way

[snorkelador]

what I have read so far, a boat recieves some spray from the sea, 2 electrical pumps do not work, and the one mechanical pump is unable to keep the water out, so if it continues its voyage its about to sink

perhaps upgrading all bilge pumps would make it safer on this matter

well, cudos to the crew on board handling the situation in an excellent way

Both electrical back up pumps failing, may have been a common cause failure. I would start looking at the electrical system and try to have both pumps as independent as possible.