Bangkok's boat piers to be reconstructed



BANGKOK, 9 March 2015 (NNT) -- The Marine Department has announced its plan to reconstruct all boat piers on the Chao Phraya River, the goal being to increase safety for commuters generally and also to offer a better service to the disabled.

According to the Director General Chula Sukhamanop, all public boat piers on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok and its vicinity will be upgraded into boat stops with new facilities that are designed for safety and the convenience of all types of commuters, including those who are handicapped.

Currently, the department is responsible for 84 piers on the Chao Phraya River and in the canals. Pinklao, Sathorn and Nontaburi piers will be reconstructed first because they are the busiest piers. The department plans to complete the reconstruction of 17 piers within a budget of 70 million baht.

-- NNT 2015-03-09

You mean they are going to do away with the man using a traffic cone and as loud speaker ?

Good, about time. Makes things much easier even if you lose some of the 'charm' of the old way

Much of this article strikes me as no more than wishful thinking. I will, however, be the first to rejoice if it comes to pass!

....and while they are at it...some "attitude adjustment" and "maintenance" is required...as per my wish list.......

1. Some repeat some of the onboard ticket collectors are surly and downright impolite to both foreigners and thais alike. Okay it is not the easisest of jobs...but...!!!

2. Do some regular maintenance on the diesel engines......instead of us all being covered in a mixture of a fine spray of water/exhaust diesel...

This happens whether you are already onboard or standing pier-side waiting to board....

.

I was always told that if a diesel engine is maintained and is operating correctly there should be no smoke from the exhaust.

3. Get rid of the goons screaming and shouting down megaphones telling everybody how to get off/on the boat.....

a. We know where we are going...and we know how to get off and on the boat (even with the unsafe conditions at piers)

b. We know which boat (colour) takes us to our destination .

4. There are insufficient life jackets to cater for the number of passengers on board...??? (and one of the Marine Depts mottos is "Safety First")

5. The boats are regularly overloaded....far in excess of what they are supposed to carry (Marine Dept motto....Safety First..but call our number if you see a boat overloaded......there is no reply to the number,,!!!)

6. Introduce a "concession" priced ticket system....10trip...15trip...20trip......for the regular folk travelling to/from work everyday.

7. Give these boats priority berthing at all piers.....often we are sitting away from the pier 5 to 10 minutes waiting for the long tail boats to unload tourists,

(These are after all Chao Phraya Express boats carrying 100"s of people simply wanting to get to/from work...emphasise on Express)

8. Get tough on your captains playing "dodgems" at boat piers....

I have witnessed (and have been onboard) many instances of 1 boat already berthed and unloading headed downstream....another boat arrives heading upstream...attempts to berth "back to back" with the downstream boat but instead...slams into the side of the downstream boat as it's passengers are unloading/loading.

Somebody is going to be seriously hurt if this practice doesn't stop.

Yes I am a regular daily traveller on the river boats.....great system...breathtaking early morning sunrises......meeting all sorts of people from all over the world

It just needs a wee tidy up in some areas and some fine tuning...the revamping of the piers is a good start

if i was in a wheelchair, the last place i wanted to be was on the water, specially with thainess style driving, safety, etc...

Would be nice if there were parkings near the piers and the boats would operate untill midnight.

Also they should learn how to speak english, buy plenty lifevests and don't overload the boats.

....and while they are at it...some "attitude adjustment" and "maintenance" is required...as per my wish list.......

1. Some repeat some of the onboard ticket collectors are surly and downright impolite to both foreigners and thais alike. Okay it is not the easisest of jobs...but...!!!

2. Do some regular maintenance on the diesel engines......instead of us all being covered in a mixture of a fine spray of water/exhaust diesel...

This happens whether you are already onboard or standing pier-side waiting to board....

.

I was always told that if a diesel engine is maintained and is operating correctly there should be no smoke from the exhaust.

3. Get rid of the goons screaming and shouting down megaphones telling everybody how to get off/on the boat.....

a. We know where we are going...and we know how to get off and on the boat (even with the unsafe conditions at piers)

b. We know which boat (colour) takes us to our destination .

4. There are insufficient life jackets to cater for the number of passengers on board...??? (and one of the Marine Depts mottos is "Safety First")

5. The boats are regularly overloaded....far in excess of what they are supposed to carry (Marine Dept motto....Safety First..but call our number if you see a boat overloaded......there is no reply to the number,,!!!)

6. Introduce a "concession" priced ticket system....10trip...15trip...20trip......for the regular folk travelling to/from work everyday.

7. Give these boats priority berthing at all piers.....often we are sitting away from the pier 5 to 10 minutes waiting for the long tail boats to unload tourists,

(These are after all Chao Phraya Express boats carrying 100"s of people simply wanting to get to/from work...emphasise on Express)

8. Get tough on your captains playing "dodgems" at boat piers....

I have witnessed (and have been onboard) many instances of 1 boat already berthed and unloading headed downstream....another boat arrives heading upstream...attempts to berth "back to back" with the downstream boat but instead...slams into the side of the downstream boat as it's passengers are unloading/loading.

Somebody is going to be seriously hurt if this practice doesn't stop.

Yes I am a regular daily traveller on the river boats.....great system...breathtaking early morning sunrises......meeting all sorts of people from all over the world

It just needs a wee tidy up in some areas and some fine tuning...the revamping of the piers is a good start

You have a very high opinion of yourself, you want cheaper fares for yourself over others and you consider that you should have priority over tourists. How do you justify your importance?

Concessions? It's harly expensive

Be good if you could use the BTS card thingy though and beep in for your fare, mind

Not all tourists know where they're going though. They will regularly ask 'is this the pier for x temple' etc