Govt floats plans for new ferry service between Pattaya and Cha Am

file photo

BANGKOK: Thailand’s deputy transport minister has revealed plans for the launch of a new ferry service that will provide a link between Pattaya and Cha Am.

According to Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, the new service will help to boost tourism in Thailand and also help tourists easily visit both destinations by reducing overland travel time by more than half.

However, details remain unclear as to when the Pattaya - Cha Am ferry service will be operational or how much it will cost for passengers.

The Bangkok Post also reports that Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul has proposed the launch a new international cruise liner route that will link Phuket with Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam, something which Singapore is also said to be keen on.

The Post also describes how the Tourism and Sports Ministry wants to promote more marine related tourism, which it is estimated currently draws around 100,000 tourists to Thailand each year, with the government hoping new sea transport links will help to attract even more visitors from cruise liners.

Earlier this week, plans were announced to construct two new cruise line terminals in Krabi and Surat Thani, although it is unknown when construction will be begin.

-- 2015-03-07

If this was a viable route wouldn't somebody have already sewn it up?

All good ideas in my view, if reputable private investors go for it, but a strong emphasis on safety and cleanliness is a must.

If this was a viable route wouldn't somebody have already sewn it up?

Licensing is a hassle without government backing.

There used to be a link between the two but it was a fairly small vessel that could not be used when the sea was rough, which made it all rather unreliable.

Personally I would rather drive if I have the choice; I dont trust Thai ferries very much.

Look at the size of that vessel, or is she thinking of a fast ferry about the size of the tender alongside the ship?

Whatever happened to these.

Just how many million tourists will want to travel from Pattaya to Hua Hin / Cha Am?

Or is the Tourism Minister dreaming again?

At last, a use for that Aircraft Carrier.

Wasn't this tried before and failed due to lack of passengers using the route ?

I think this would be a success if it was done properly, so far only a few half baked attempts have been tried and understandably failed.

A proper fast ferry with the ability to carry passengers plus cars would be a solution that could work, similar to the ferries that run between Scotland/England and Ireland, the distance is about 70km and some of those modern ferries could do that in just one hour thirty minutes, the initial expense being the terminals at both ends able to handle such a large vessel, the ferry could be contracted for a year to see if such a thing is feasible, obviously the fare will also be a big factor, too expensive and it would never get off the ground

I think this would be a success if it was done properly, so far only a few half baked attempts have been tried and understandably failed.

A proper fast ferry with the ability to carry passengers plus cars would be a solution that could work, similar to the ferries that run between Scotland/England and Ireland, the distance is about 70km and some of those modern ferries could do that in just one hour thirty minutes, the initial expense being the terminals at both ends able to handle such a large vessel, the ferry could be contracted for a year to see if such a thing is feasible, obviously the fare will also be a big factor, too expensive and it would never get off the ground

too expensive and it would never get off the ground

Is it a boat or a plane?

I remember a few years back about the talk of an overnight ferry between Pattaya and Koh Samui yet another Pie in the Sky idea that will never happen !!

Do so many people go there every day ?

Pattaya - Hua Hin / Cha Am ferry

last week it was a high speed train, is that still on as well ?

​Guess all these tourist can stay in Pattaya or Hua Hin / Cha Am and travel for the day, that would save looking and booking a different Hotel..

​Edit: wonder what happened to that Casino Ship that used to go from Pattaya or was it BKK area, was about that size

Look at the size of that vessel, or is she thinking of a fast ferry about the size of the tender alongside the ship?

Whatever happened to these.hover.jpg

Just how many million tourists will want to travel from Pattaya to Hua Hin / Cha Am?

Or is the Tourism Minister dreaming again?

Mate, if that vessel is not suitable for your needs, then I'm sorry. But I'm quite happy to slum it.

I have been saying this for years, absolute nightmare drive. The golf society take an annual trip to Hua Hin, i will choose the ferry any day as long as it is done right. It would be even better if it is large enough to carry cars.

This is a very useful service which used to operate on the Hua Hin / Pattaya route.

Lots of people appear to go from Hua Hin to or from Pattaya on their travels around Thailand. Right now they get a bus or a taxi and it takes pretty much all day.

With the proper backing a boat large enough to take plenty of cars would work out quite well I'm sure. Lots of people will want to continue driving south from Pattaya and when travelling the other way you can continue driving down to the south for Phuket, etc.

Are these people absolute idiots? They had it for awhile. http://www.thailand-huahin.com/ferry-huahin-pattaya-timetables.html

I guess when you steal the keys to the house and there's nothing else to do, you sit and dream up ideas. I'm waiting for someone claim they've discovered fire. Hold on it's comin...

Thailand has a dire lack of ferry services. The roads are so bad and dangerous that I would for sure take a ferry over a 10 hour road journey.

Fast ferries would in fact be quicker than by road.

It's such a pity that the photo of the new ferry boat is overshadowed by that enormous ocean-going cruise ship moored alongside....................

im holding my breath waiting.

Its been done twice privately. June 2012 the beach area in Klong Tien was purchased compulsory by the Tessabhan for a new marina to start June 2015. Already has quayside etc so good to see its being followed through

No statistics or discussions as to what sort of vessel, or for that matter, what sort of service.

There use to be a service from Kaohsiung to Macao. The ship was the Macamosa. It was a vehicle carrying ferry. It went away. Are there still Hong Kong / Shanghai ferries ?

The Singapore cruise ship ferry idea sounds interesting, but again not numbers or discussion as to the type of service.

Can't they get a bigger boat ???

It won't be long before "Beloved (unelected) Leader" will be instigating a Low Earth Orbital Space Shuttle Link between Swampy and Don Muang, the whole lot of them are off their heads! I want a pint of what he drinks!!!!! -

Never mind, pull up your chairs, settle down in front of the T.V just a few hours to go until he takes over the T.V airwaves for tonight's driveling rhetoric rambling by a complete lunatic devoid of any understanding of ordinary people, a good 90 minutes of complete rubbish, by an arrogant XXXX.

The man is a sociopath at best and maybe even a psychopath.

im holding my breath waiting.

I wouldn't....you will certainly die!

Oh my God..... This will lead to plenty of Quality Expats and locals alike from The Dark Side to just come and disturb the peace and quiet

And, madame where are the feasability studies? Or is it to outdo the transport minister with his plans for a few ports for cruiseships, or is it to please your boss?

She is at it again.

I think this would be a success if it was done properly, so far only a few half baked attempts have been tried and understandably failed.

A proper fast ferry with the ability to carry passengers plus cars would be a solution that could work, similar to the ferries that run between Scotland/England and Ireland, the distance is about 70km and some of those modern ferries could do that in just one hour thirty minutes, the initial expense being the terminals at both ends able to handle such a large vessel, the ferry could be contracted for a year to see if such a thing is feasible, obviously the fare will also be a big factor, too expensive and it would never get off the ground

the problem I see with all of this as regards fast ferries for cars etc is your water depths, if you start using "big vessels" going to get rather problematic if they are not regularly dredging channels into the terminals, which get very expensive

the only other option is "flat bottomed" ferries and they are not fast by any stretch of the imagination, and what happens when the weather comes up ?

Oh my God..... This will lead to plenty of Quality Expats and locals alike from The Dark Side to just come and disturb the peace and quiet

I gather you are trying to say that the purebreds in Hua Hin do not want an invasion of the soi dogs from Pattaya.

Most sound I should think.

It's about 60 miles -- the old ferry took 3hrs15mins -- needs to be under 2 hours so they need a car-carrying hovercraft or hydrofoil and backers with deep pockets to run every morning and evening, both ways, every day.

How would the fare be set? The cost of a cars depreciation, fuel and time saved? Would passengers be charged separately. Maybe I will still be around if or when this comes into fruition.