Two men rescued after cargo boat sinks off Phi Phi

[webfact]

Two men rescued after cargo boat sinks off Phi Phi
Eakkapop Thongtub


Capt Anan Buobthong, 49, and crewman Somporn Jindakorn, 52, survived by holding onto fuel drums. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Two men were rescued after holding onto fuel drums for four hours after their cargo boat loaded with construction materials sank in heavy seas off Phi Phi Island yesterday afternoon (August 20).

Rescue teams from the Royal Thai Navy, Jao Fa rescue and Lanta Noi rescue were dispatched to the scene, seven nautical miles off Phi Phi Island, after Marine Police received a call at 3:30pm reporting that the cargo boat Phonboon PhiPhidon was in distress.

“While officers were looking for the men, we received a report from a squid-fishing boat that they had rescued two men from the sea,” said Marine Police Inspector Lt Anurak Parinyasathirakul.

“Both men were taken to Koh Phai for first aid then to Phi Phi Hospital for treatment to prevent hypothermia.” Lt Anurak explained.

Capt Anan Buobthong, 49, said that the sea was still calm with small waves when he crewman Somporn Jindakorn, 52, left Krabi.

“The boat was slammed by three-metre waves near Koh Phai and sank,” he said. “We were held onto fuel drums and drifted for four hours before the squid-fishing boat found us.”

The cost of the boat lost to the sea and its cargo of 30 bags of cement, sand, concrete blocks and rocks, was estimated at about B700,000, said Lt Anurak.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/two-men-rescued-after-cargo-boat-sinks-off-phi-phi-53744.php


-- Phuket News 2015-08-21

[slapout]

Well if they can not have floation devices on board for a 2 man crew its probably best the boat sank. Maybe the next time they go to sea they will be somewhat better prepared. flare, distress transponder and even inflatable life boats are afforable and requires as part of every ocean going vessel.

Nice to see they are safe, would guess no insurance thus they wont be back at their normal work for a while.

[springheeled jack]

I am not surprised it went down quickly with that sort of tonnage cement sand and rocks ?