Speedboat hits floating timber at sea with 63 tourists on board

PHUKET: -- A speedboat with 63 foreign tourists on board hit a floating timber while it was returning from Similan Island to shore, cracking its bottom and slowly sinking.

But a nearby fishing boat P. Duangthawiporn managed to approach the sinking boat and rescued all the tourists on board safely.

The incident happened at about 5 pm when the speedboat which belongs to Rak Thalae Co Ltd was about 20 nautical miles off Sumilan Island on its way back to Phang Nga shore with 63 foreign tourists, both adults and children.

The speedboat struck a floating timber cracking its bottom.

The crash sent all the tourists in board to panic and the boat was taking in water.

However the nearest fishing boat saw the incident and rushed to help.

All the passengers were plugged from the sinking boat and from the water safely.

Nobody was drowned or injured as all tourists had worn their life jackets while on board the boat.

According to the Similan Island national park chief Nat Kongkesorn, the boat is new and is powered by four engines with a capacity to load up to 70 passengers.

It was fortunate as the captain of the boat had strictly abided by the safety rules imposed by authorities in requiring all passengers to have life jackets worn while on board the boat, he added.

All the tourists were later picked up by two boats from the fishing boat back to the piers of Met Sai Tour and Sea Star companies.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/150489

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-- Thai PBS 2016-02-11

And this after a headline in today's BP saying a spike in tourist deaths of 54% 'causes concern'. Idiot country.

And I'll be you for all the tea in China that the speedboat wasn't licensed to carry that many people

onboard.....but this is Thailand, people will continue to die just because they don't give a damn

for rules and regulations......

Seems like not a day goes by now without some sort of accident or death on the water around Phuket. And many times its chinese tourists,does anyone think maybe this will reduce chinese tourism?

And I'll be you for all the tea in China that the speedboat wasn't licensed to carry that many people

onboard.....but this is Thailand, people will continue to die just because they don't give a damn

for rules and regulations......

Since all boats are checked every day, and fined if they are overloaded, I'll bet you it was allowed to take 70 guests.

And unlike you I know what I'm talking about here.

Seems like not a day goes by now without some sort of accident or death on the water around Phuket. And many times its chinese tourists,does anyone think maybe this will reduce chinese tourism?

One can only hope.

Seems like not a day goes by now without some sort of accident or death on the water around Phuket. And many times its chinese tourists,does anyone think maybe this will reduce chinese tourism?

I think most recent incidents have happened in Krabi waters. Maya Bay where the Russian divers were injured and a Chinese tourist drowning from a long boat are examples.

This particular incident occurred in Pang Nga waters, well north of Phuket.

Geography not your strong point?

Seems like not a day goes by now without some sort of accident or death on the water around Phuket. And many times its chinese tourists,does anyone think maybe this will reduce chinese tourism?

I think most recent incidents have happened in Krabi waters. Maya Bay where the Russian divers were injured and a Chinese tourist drowning from a long boat are examples.

This particular incident occurred in Pang Nga waters, well north of Phuket.

Geography not your strong point?

Also TVF seems to have problems with their geography.

Seems like not a day goes by now without some sort of accident or death on the water around Phuket. And many times its chinese tourists,does anyone think maybe this will reduce chinese tourism?

I think most recent incidents have happened in Krabi waters. Maya Bay where the Russian divers were injured and a Chinese tourist drowning from a long boat are examples.

This particular incident occurred in Pang Nga waters, well north of Phuket.

Geography not your strong point?

Also TVF seems to have problems with their geography.

The problem seems to be that several news outlets on Phuket report on these incidents even when they occur elsewhere.

Some on the forum have trouble understanding that not every story is Phuket related.

Damn timber.

Speedboat had an accident and started to sink. The speedboat was within it's capacity. All customers were using life jackets.

For me this sounds like safety at the sea is improving. At least in this case and with this company.

Just to take a stab here, plywood hull with a light fiberglass coating, the boat made as cheaply as possible for maximum profit, safety not really a concern. Good thing there was a boat near by to assist!

Just to take a stab here, plywood hull with a light fiberglass coating, the boat made as cheaply as possible for maximum profit, safety not really a concern. Good thing there was a boat near by to assist!

It's just the way these small/medium size speedboats are made here in Thailand. For me it's about how safe these boats are operated - I consider very unsafe ...

If now all other operators could follow the same safety rules and use the same design of boats it might finally end the number of death at sea in Thailand.

"All the passengers were plugged from the sinking boat"

So they shot them?

And I'll be you for all the tea in China that the speedboat wasn't licensed to carry that many people

onboard.....but this is Thailand, people will continue to die just because they don't give a damn

for rules and regulations......

Lucky the captain abided by the rules and made them ware life jackets (praise the lord) however he did not mention the two log heads, one driveing flat out and the other supposed to be on watch, or I think the driver should have had clear visibility as well as a watcman.

What a load of c rap the tourist boat industry is, a poorly regulated recipe for ongoing slaughter.

None of the speedboats I have seen should be rated for 70 passengers....too many...especially considering the lightweight construction of the boats here....probably overpowered too

With all the speedboats in the water these days, and 15 million tourists a year coming here, I think it is inevitable that accidents are going to happen.

Restrict the number of boats perhaps.
Not always easy to see a timber in the water, especially in high seas, and I doubt the traffic coming from the Similans is too crowded.

Glad to hear they are all safe.

this happens with wooden boats and distracted so called "Captains". What would have happened if there were no fisher boat next???

More than 5 dozen tourists saved after speedboat sinks
Kritsada Mueanhawong



PHANG NGA: -- More than five dozen tourists were safely rescued after their overloaded speedboat sank near the Similan Islands yesterday evening, reported officials.

The 50-passenger boat, owned by the Rak Talay tour company, was carrying 63 tourists at the time of the incident, said Phang Nga Marine Police Chief Jakkree Mekumphonsuit.

“According to the captain, they were headed back to Phang Nga from the Similans when he felt the boat drive over something,” said Lt Col Jakkree. “The boat started to take on water, but luckily the captain was able to radio in for help before it sank.”

Full Story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/More-5-dozen-tourists-saved-speedboat-sinks/63117?desktopversion#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2016-02-11

"All the passengers were plugged from the sinking boat"

So they shot them?

I'm hoping that they meant "plucked"

No divers to hit that day!

63 in one of those tubs? I thought the limit would be 12 or something.

And I'll be you for all the tea in China that the speedboat wasn't licensed to carry that many people

onboard.....but this is Thailand, people will continue to die just because they don't give a damn

for rules and regulations......

Hang on, hang on, It states that it is registered for maximum of 70 passengers and the skipper complied with ALL the regulations and ALL passengers were wearing life jackets, what more do you want ??

No lives lost, well done skipper.

Seems like not a day goes by now without some sort of accident or death on the water around Phuket. And many times its chinese tourists,does anyone think maybe this will reduce chinese tourism?

One can only hope.

well said stevenl

"I swear officer the tree hasn't been here yesterday!"

The hard truth is that people are on their own on these speed boat trips, especially if it involves diving. Personally seen inexperienced divers get cut open left and right on coral reefs, getting no assistance from the crew who didn't even bring a minimum band aid on board.

Let's hope they at least get the 1000 baht fine for ignoring the boats capacity. The Marine Park chief of the district is doing a great job instilling safety first under his watch! Just check the news headlines for boat accidents, drownings, maimings etc.

Let's hope they at least get the 1000 baht fine for ignoring the boats capacity. The Marine Park chief of the district is doing a great job instilling safety first under his watch! Just check the news headlines for boat accidents, drownings, maimings etc.

Where did you read the boat's capacity was ignored? Unless you mean it was not fully loaded to capacity?

Let's hope they at least get the 1000 baht fine for ignoring the boats capacity. The Marine Park chief of the district is doing a great job instilling safety first under his watch! Just check the news headlines for boat accidents, drownings, maimings etc.

Where did you read the boat's capacity was ignored? Unless you mean it was not fully loaded to capacity?

In the second article"The 50-passenger boat, owned by the Rak Talay tour company, was carrying 63 tourists at the time of the incident, said Phang Nga Marine Police Chief Jakkree Mekumphonsuit."