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[Lite Beer]

13 rescued after Phuket cruise boat hits rock
Darawan Naknakhon

Electric Blue, listing to port, remains stuck on the rock, close to Laem Ka Beach.

PHUKET: Thirteen people, including 11 German tourists, had to be rescued on Sunday morning (December 21) when the small cruise boat they were on hit a rock and became stuck fast on it.

The incident took place near Leam Ka Yai Beach in Rawai.

The Deputy Mayor of Rawai, Theerepong Taodang, said that he was told by people from the Sea Gypsy village in Rawai that the two-deck boat, Electric Blue, had collided with the rock, cracking the hull.

The boat was heeling over to one side, he said, and those aboard were afraid it was going to sink.

Three long-tail boats and Rawai municipal rescuers in a dinghy were able to bring all the tourists safely to shore but the boat remained jammed on the rock.

Attempts were to be made today to to refloat it and bring it to shore for repairs.

Boonpeng Hanfalien, 42, a Thai passenger, explained that she had chartered Electric Blue on December 19 from Chalong pier to take her and 11 German friends to look at coral and to fish at Koh Hey, Koh Racha and Koh Phi Phi for three days and two nights.

“The incident happened about one kilometre from Rawai pier in the early hours yesterday, after the boat had left Phi Phi and was heading toward Chalong pier.

“The captain steered the boat close to shore and it hit the rock, which damaged the bottom of the boat,” she said.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/13-rescued-after-phuket-cruise-boat-hits-rock-50233.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

-- Phuket News 2014-12-22

[stevenl]

Why is the boat at Laem Ka when returning from Phi Phi?

[FireMedic]

Boonpeng Hanfalien, 42, a Thai passenger, explained that she had chartered Electric Blue on December 19 from Chalong pier to take her and 11 German friends to look at coral and to fish at Koh Hey, Koh Racha and Koh Phi Phi for three days and two nights.

So one Thai lady has 11 German friends she chartered the boat for? Maybe she's not a licensed guide so she can't say they are customers.

[stevenl]

Boonpeng Hanfalien, 42, a Thai passenger, explained that she had chartered Electric Blue on December 19 from Chalong pier to take her and 11 German friends to look at coral and to fish at Koh Hey, Koh Racha and Koh Phi Phi for three days and two nights.

So one Thai lady has 11 German friends she chartered the boat for? Maybe she's not a licensed guide so she can't say they are customers.

She would not have to be a licensed guide to charter a boat, but she would have to be to guide the people on the trip (would have to be a licensed marine guide). Plus she is very likely working as a travel agent without having a company, insurance, TAT license, etc.

[garrya]

What a farce! The Thai "passanger" and her 11 German friends. This is another ludicrous story from the amazing Thailand.

[NamKangMan]

What a farce! The Thai "passanger" and her 11 German friends. This is another ludicrous story from the amazing Thailand.

I would not be surprised if the "Thai passenger" was the girlfriend, or wife, of one of the 11 Germans, one of which, was actually showing the coral, and the fish, to the others.

[SOTIRIOS]

....what are the chances that they will 'get to the bottom of this'.....so to speak.....

[Emster23]

That darn rock jumped right out in front of the boat! Something fishy here for sure

[wabothai]

Fishy story !

[cloudhopper]

Yet another boating disaster in Phuket. No doubt an eminently qualified and licensed skipper. They'll get AIS installed on that rock someday soon...

[lvr181]

Uncharted rocks? No marker? No local knowledge? No common sense. Just the sort of situation the PM would NOT LIKE because he wants to increase tourism.

Well, Mr PM, how about " a cleanup" of the tourism industry so that foreign tourists will feel safe and comfortable in visiting this wonderful country? Not a big "ask" is it?

[ttthailand]

Yes, another boat accident.

My gf just told me that a 21 year old tourist just got hit by a boat in Koh Tao and has died.... OMG

Farang deaths in Pattaya, Bangkok, Koh Tao and another with a Russian diver in a lake all happening today

Edited December 22, 2014 by ttthailand

[sabye]

Come on peopel accidents happen in every country of the world. Thialand is not any worse than anywhere in the G20 countries. Ships hit rocks and sink every day around the world.

[misterphil]

Boonpeng Hanfalien, 42, a Thai passenger, explained that she had chartered Electric Blue on December 19 from Chalong pier to take her and 11 German friends to look at coral and to fish at Koh Hey, Koh Racha and Koh Phi Phi for three days and two nights.

So one Thai lady has 11 German friends she chartered the boat for? Maybe she's not a licensed guide so she can't say they are customers.

She would not have to be a licensed guide to charter a boat, but she would have to be to guide the people on the trip (would have to be a licensed marine guide). Plus she is very likely working as a travel agent without having a company, insurance, TAT license, etc.

At least she's a Thai, and she's not a Russian tour guide.

[inzman]

Did the boat driver swim away? They always do a runner.

[CapeThai]

At least it's not made out to be an farang failed attempted mass suicide

Anyway, why has this vessel crashed into a rock / reef ?? This size boat should have a depth finder with auto alarm or was the Captain perhaps enjoying the party even more than the passengers ??

Edited December 22, 2014 by CapeThai

[Joakimbkk]

I live near the peer, in Chalong 555, a bunch of police <deleted> were recently around... hmm... I got scared with those pricks, high season pay time you know that - well, as usual, the BS prevails in the Kingdom Of the X-crap...

[LivinginKata]

Off topic rant removed.

[Bogan Koori]

Amazing Thailand, the hub of shipwrecks

[Wombat6]

Why is the boat at Laem Ka when returning from Phi Phi?

OK Clever Boy.....so you have knowledge of the area so why the stupid question....are you asking anyone in particular or just trying to be a smart Ass ???

[stevenl]

Why is the boat at Laem Ka when returning from Phi Phi?

OK Clever Boy.....so you have knowledge of the area so why the stupid question....are you asking anyone in particular or just trying to be a smart Ass ???

So a question that points out either the report is incorrect or the quoted person is incorrect is stupid?

[Capex]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Why is the boat at Laem Ka when returning from Phi Phi?

OK Clever Boy.....so you have knowledge of the area so why the stupid question....are you asking anyone in particular or just trying to be a smart Ass ???

So a question that points out either the report is incorrect or the quoted person is incorrect is stupid?

The rock on which the boat was inadvertently impaled, has been visible at low tide since it was created long before Thais came to Thailand and has been on Thai Marine charts since the Royal Thai Hydrographic Department was created. It is not on any direct route from Phi Phi island to Chalong Bay but may have been included (not intentionally) in a private tour of the bay by the "well qualified" captain who purchased his ticket from Khun Phuripat of Marine Division 5, for B5,000!.

Please delete those parts of this submission that contravene board policy.

[stevenl]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Why is the boat at Laem Ka when returning from Phi Phi?

OK Clever Boy.....so you have knowledge of the area so why the stupid question....are you asking anyone in particular or just trying to be a smart Ass ???

So a question that points out either the report is incorrect or the quoted person is incorrect is stupid?

The rock on which the boat was inadvertently impaled, has been visible at low tide since it was created long before Thais came to Thailand and has been on Thai Marine charts since the Royal Thai Hydrographic Department was created. It is not on any direct route from Phi Phi island to Chalong Bay but may have been included (not intentionally) in a private tour of the bay by the "well qualified" captain who purchased his ticket from Khun Phuripat of Marine Division 5, for B5,000!.

Please delete those parts of this submission that contravene board policy.

Yes, incompetency is another and quite likely option.

[Soupdragon]

Did they get the boat off the rocks yet. Would be a shame if she was wrecked.

[lvr181]

Wow - good to see some consensus of opinion here for a change It is agreed that it was not the boat or the rock's fault, only total incompetence of the helmsman. Now we can all move forward to the next contentious issue (in the eyes and minds of us farangs) out of Thailand

Long Live the King.