Pattaya boat operators called on carpet following 2 near-disasters

[Rimmer]

Pattaya boat operators called on carpet following 2 near-disasters

Marine Department Region 6 Director Pimuk Prayoonphrom talks to reporters after the meeting.

PATTAYA:--After two serious ferry accidents in two days, area official and marine regulators summoned Pattaya boat operators to remind them of the need for proper maintenance and compliance with regulations.

Banglamung District Chief Chakorn Kanjawattana, Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and officials from the city and regional marine departments met with operators June 3, a day after an engine fire aboard a Koh Larn-Pattaya boat forced the rescue of 100 Chinese tourists and two days after a Koh Larn ferry sank, forcing the rescue of 82 passengers.

Chakorn said that both accidents appear to be the result of poor maintenance.

In the case of the Petchara 7, carrying a group of passengers from the Buriram Court, the boat took on water and sank May 31 due to failure of wood in the vessel’s hull. Boats that undergo proper maintenance have weak wood replaced once a year during drydock overhauls.

The boat was operated by Petchara Boat Co., the newly renamed firm whose Koh Larn ferry that sank in 2013, killing seven tourists and subsequently had its license revoked and contract with the city canceled. This time all passengers were offloaded to other boats before the ferry submerged.

In the second case, the privately operated Rungorawan 2 suffered an engine fire. 82 Thais visiting from the Buriram Court were taken off on speedboats. Chakorn said an inspection points to worn and degraded engine parts as the cause of the blaze.

Marine Department officials gave boat operators a refresher course on requirements for public boat operations, including maintenance of boats and engines, required safety equipment, and emergency notification procedures. They also were given another overview on laws and regulations.

Marine Department Region 6 Director Pimuk Prayoonphrom said staffers would step up inspections at Bali Hai Pier before any tourist boat leaves port while the city Marine Department will provide training on knowledge of boat use and rescue procedures.

- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/pattaya-boat-operators-called-on-carpet-following-2-near-disasters-47877#sthash.0Z7KfUYq.dpuf

-- Pattaya Mail 2015-06-12

[Manbing]

God no,, not the carpet....please god not the carpet.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Manbing

[NanLaew]

Absolutely NOTHING wrong with Pattaya's island ferry boats. It was those Buriram court people on a junket that caused the failure of the wood in the vessel's hull and the worn degraded engine parts.

[inzman]

Crackdown! The most overused word in Thailand.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Crackdown! The most overused word in Thailand.

Yes, we are in the hub of crackdowns.

[Ulic]

Any fine for the poor maintenance? The lecture was water off a ducks back for the boat owners I am sure.

[Pattaya28]

Laughable

There's been deaths in recent months, authorities promising to deal with safety.

But ...... they do not know how to achieve this.

The ferry operators run their operation on bare minimal safety, at best.

The authorities have no idea, as if they even care, how safe or unsafe these ferries are.

I just wonder if anything at all goes through the heads of the safety authorities, and what their idea of safety actually is.

[BigBadGeordie]

God no,, not the carpet....please god not the carpet.

And what makes it even worse, it's shag pile ;-)

[WitawatWatawit]

QUOTE: The boat was operated by Petchara Boat Co., the newly renamed firm whose Koh Larn ferry that sank in 2013, killing seven tourists and subsequently had its license revoked and contract with the city canceled.

I think I'm wasting my time asking for an explanation.

[shaurene]

Aall passenger boats should be inspected by navy engineers when they are out of water. To check the wood/rot prop shaft, propeller. And when back in the water do a fierce test run with the engines. Then give a certificate ith the names of the inspectors.

I had to go through tests like this with Spanish navel people in Spain when I had my charter licence. They tested so many things.

[petermik]

QUOTE: The boat was operated by Petchara Boat Co., the newly renamed firm whose Koh Larn ferry that sank in 2013, killing seven tourists and subsequently had its license revoked and contract with the city canceled.

I think I'm wasting my time asking for an explanation.

Water off a ducks back seems appropiate with these operators

[PETERTHEEATER]

Just relax......everything will be in order to meet the start of the new Pattaya to Hua Hin ferry service......

[masuk]

Aall passenger boats should be inspected by navy engineers when they are out of water. To check the wood/rot prop shaft, propeller. And when back in the water do a fierce test run with the engines. Then give a certificate ith the names of the inspectors.

I had to go through tests like this with Spanish navel people in Spain when I had my charter licence. They tested so many things.

I wonder if they have such people as Marine Surveyors?

They check a boat/launch/ferry - anything that floats, before it can be licenced. Do they even have training courses for these folk to become qualified.

As shaurene says, these guys check everything, but maybe near enough is good enough, judging by safety standards on land.

If a certified vessel has problems, it can always be checked back to the Marine Surveyor - this discourages brown envelopes.

[northernphil]

Crackdown! The most overused word in Thailand.

Have to disagree , Rushed ....... now there is a word used every day if only concerning plod.

[Basil B]

Once again a meeting with boat owners...

And the conclusion???

...the next meeting will be a day or so after the next accident, let just hope pray no one gets hurt.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Basil B

[falangjim]

Here's how it usually works when a Thai is "called on the carpet" or in less cliched language, reprimanded by a superior. It usually takes several deaths (or screw ups) for anyone to take notice that there may be a problem. Then the bosses hem and haw, wondering if the reprimand will cause the subordinate (he probably needs to be more than reprimanded, but fired) any loss of face. So bosses tip toe around this issue hoping for the best despite the inevitable screw ups. Then tragedy strikes and more die. Then in soft language the subordinate is asked if they can perform their job. I've never seen anyone fired in Thailand. It just doesn't happen. What I have seen is a supervisor publicly ask a subordinate if they can do their job. The subordinate then has the choice of quitting on their own terms. Thainess.

[Pattaya28]

Aall passenger boats should be inspected by navy engineers when they are out of water. To check the wood/rot prop shaft, propeller. And when back in the water do a fierce test run with the engines. Then give a certificate ith the names of the inspectors.

I had to go through tests like this with Spanish navel people in Spain when I had my charter licence. They tested so many things.

Why. Because that's the "real world". Where "life" matters.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Gee, if all these boat mishaps are being admittedly caused by poorly maintained boats, did anyone think to ask just how it is that they are apparently still being certified by the Thai marine authorities as being able to operate, and/or passing whatever inspections are done whenever they are done???

Rhetorical question, of course.

[BlackJack]

not sure but all these boats should have PI Insurance

no insurance

no license

no renaming company

nothing

each passenger should be covered for accidents and death

not for 10K

but a million or so baht

this may force the operators to maintain their tugs a bit better

and the insurance companies to inspect the boats

[Basil B]

Firstly no insurance company in their right mind will insure these boats unless they comply to certain conditions, and almost certainly that would include an annual inspection, I recall as a youngster my farther serviced Launderettes, those that had big boilers had to have a boiler inspection and pressure test by the insurance companies appointed inspector every year.

Once again we only have action only after an incident which amounts to boat owners being invited to a meeting.

Has anyone ever witnessed, Harbour Master, Police, Navy, or other government officials inspecting boats, counting number of passengers, counting and inspecting life vests. etc?

IMHO, Boat should clearly display.

• Maximum numbers of passengers adults and children
• Maximum cargo
• Minimum crew requirements, ie 3 + 1 for every 20 passengers
• Certificate of public liability
• Certificate of annual inspection
• Copy of Duty captain/boat drivers licences
• Details of the owner operator

Edited June 13, 2015 by Basil B