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Recklessness and weather to blame for fatal Phuket boat collision
The Phuket News


Police question tourists who were on board one of the boats involved in the fatal accident. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Police say and combination of boat captain recklessness and bad weather conditions were to blame for the fatal boat collision off Phuket yesterday (June 8).

Region 8 Police Commander Maj Gen Tesa Siriwato held a meeting with police and officials at 8:20pm yesterday to provide an update on the investigation into the fatal collision between two speedboats that claimed the lives of two Chinese tourists and left many others injured, some seriously.

Maj Gen Tesa gave thanks to all those who helped directly following with the accident and said that officials were able to provide fast assistance because all departments were provided with clear and basic information about the incident such as the name of the boats, location, number of passengers and injury victims.

However, he added that from now on, tour boats will now face more in depth inspections before they are allowed to leave the piers because accidents like this happen too often and it is not good for the countries tourism image.

“I want Tourist Police to assist with providing information on rules, regulations and procedures to tourists to help us assure them that we will do whatever it takes to never let this happen again,” he said.

He added, “At this meeting we hope to find ways of preventing these boat accidents from happening. All departments have been ordered to strictly enforce the rules and regulations, especially when it comes to boats operators, tour boats inspections, enforcing the rule that all passengers and crew wear life jacket, and that operators communicate with the meteorology department to get up to date weather reports.

“However, i can confirm that in this case both speedboat operators will be charged with reckless operation of their boats and that the captains are being tested for drug,” he added.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/recklessness-and-weather-to-blame-for-fatal-phuket-boat-collision-57787.php


-- Phuket News 2016-06-09

[Brer Fox]

And about time this story appeared in the Thai Visa News. It happened at about midday yesterday and was in the papers of most countries around the world early this morning.

This is the report in the Daily Mail.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3630982/Two-tourists-killed-20-injured-two-speedboats-collide-Thailand-near-popular-island-Phuket.html

In another report I read the Naval Police Commander Prasert Srikulert blamed the rain (as usual) saying it caused big waves. Probably also made the seas slippery and dangerous. No enquiry needed. Mother nature to blame for bringing the boats in contact with each other.

Bangkok - Two tourists died and 20 more were injured in Thailand on Wednesday after two speedboats collided, an official said.

The two boats had been ferrying passengers between the tourist resort islands of Phuket and Phi Phi when the accident occurred.

"The incident occurred around noon local time. Two Chinese tourists were killed immediately," said Naval Police Commander Prasert Srikulert.

"Twenty people were injured and they have been sent to hospital where three of them remain in critical condition."

Prasert said police were not yet prepared to comment on the cause of the accident but noted that it had been raining earlier on Wednesday which caused big waves to form."We are reaching monsoon season so speedboat captains must be aware of the conditions at this time of year," he said.

Rough seas and speeding were blamed in another speedboat accident in late May which killed four tourists.

[Psimbo]

Yep- the fault of that darned weather again! Nothing to do with 'adapting to the prevailing conditions'.

[steelepulse]

>>“However, i can confirm that in this case both speedboat operators will be charged with reckless operation of their boats and that the captains are being tested for drug,” he added.

Are there no negligence/incompetence causing death charges here?

[clockman]

Again, the statement.it is not good for the countries tourism image! Just money, lives mean nothing to Thai people!

[o2eZy]

never seen these tourist boats ...so how long are they ????? and just looking at the thaivisa news pic they look very narrow just like the longtail river boats

rule of thumb is beam is 1/3rd the boat length for stability in a choppy to rough seas

[DrDave]

"...tour boats will now face more in depth inspections before they are allowed to leave the piers because accidents like this happen too often and it is not good for the countries tourism image."

Yup, it's always about protecting Thailand's tourism image, and never about protecting innocent people from serious injury and death.

[trogers]

It's okay to be reckless in fine weather?

[IamNoone88]

“I want Tourist Police to assist with providing information on rules, regulations and procedures to tourists to help us assure them that we will do whatever it takes to never let this happen again,” he said.

I wonder if that would that be the same volunteer tourist police who have have rightly refused to return to their unpaid work because, as reported in Thai Visa, their demands to investigate drug dealing activities behind the Bangla Road police box have been ignored by the local force?

[Emster23]

"tour boats will now face more in depth inspections" and "enforce the rules and regulations, especially when it comes to boats operators, tour boats inspections, enforcing the rule that all passengers and crew wear life jacket, and that operators communicate with the meteorology department to get up to date weather reports." all well and good.

HOWEVER I see nothing about ensuring pilots have training, licenses, drug testing, schedules of work and expectations of getting to pier regardless of weather, etc etc.

[amykat]

"...tour boats will now face more in depth inspections before they are allowed to leave the piers because accidents like this happen too often and it is not good for the countries tourism image."

Yup, it's always about protecting Thailand's tourism image, and never about protecting innocent people from serious injury and death.

And that will do NOTHING to address the risky and ridiculous driving habits of the so-called "captains" !!!

[worgeordie]

You have no chance in slippery seas.

regards worgeordie

[djlest]

I love how they threw in the AND WEATHER!

no mate recklessness full stop!

bad weather means drive slower

[fxe1200]

I love how they threw in the AND WEATHER!

no mate recklessness full stop!

bad weather means drive slower

...besides there are rules even on water, which vessel has the right of way, as well as safety distances to maintain. I bet my butt, that these captains never heard of the rules, besides never made a yacht operating license.

[Doc46]

Who cares what they are trying to blame,,,,,We all Know it's the incompetent ones that Drive the vessel are the Guilty ones,,,

[farcanell]

Again?

Again!

Unbelievable... Unconscionable... Unecceptable... Unnecessary... Etc

Brer fox... Love your work... Quick question... Did you actually read that the rain made the water slippery and dangerous, or was that a tongue in cheek observation?

Unfortunate as this is... This is why a lot of farang live here (sorry... No pluralization used... Intentionally)... I.E... To exploit the lack of government levied regulation.... This would be less likely to happen "back home" where ever that is ( ferry rollover disasters aside), because of rigid regulations implemented to prevent Darwinism succeeding.... Coupled with huge fines and prosecutions, off course.

[snoop1130]

Boat captains drug tested, face charges

PHUKET: -- Two boat captains will face reckless driving charges, after a boat collision that killed two tourists and wounded 20 more, officials confirmed today.

Phuket police said they are drug testing both captains, and will wait to press charges until they receive the results. Both boat operators blamed heavy rain for the incident.

Police identified the dead tourists as Liang Guanfu, 62, and Xu Tingting, 29, both Chinese nationals. Seven of the wounded tourists are still in Vachira Phuket Hospital, while the rest have been discharged.

Full Story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Boat-captains-drug-tested-face-charges/64037?desktopversion

-- Phuket Gazette 2016-06-09

[Shot]

Heavy rain, my ass. Incompetence and pure stupidity is more like it.

[Mitker]

"... and it is not good for the countries tourism image"

NO!

it is not good because people die

will they ever, ever get it??

[iReason]

^^^

"will they ever, ever get it??"

No.

They don't care.

It's only about the Baht.

[tuanku]

Focusing on lifejackets is like focusing on car seatbelts and ignoring driving habits.

These boats should be inspected, rated for engine size (most of them are stupidly overpowered) and carrying capacity, and possibly for weather conditions with the more fragile ones not allowed out in unfavourable monsoon season, and most importantly the skippers should be tested and licensed with a copy of their license and their picture displayed for the passengers to inspect. (like taxi drivers)

If they don't know or don't understand or don't agree with the rules for preventing collisions at sea, then ..........................

[Redline]

because accidents like this happen too often and it is not good for the countries tourism image.

There we go again. Only worried about image. Yea, you tell them to not have accidents! There, no more accidents! There should be an independent "slappper"that is allowed to slap officals that talk from their arse

[lvr181]

"tour boats will now face more in depth inspections" and "enforce the rules and regulations, especially when it comes to boats operators, tour boats inspections, enforcing the rule that all passengers and crew wear life jacket, and that operators communicate with the meteorology department to get up to date weather reports." all well and good.

HOWEVER I see nothing about ensuring pilots have training, licenses, drug testing, schedules of work and expectations of getting to pier regardless of weather, etc etc.

"In depth inspections" suggests that it will take place on boats at the bottom of the sea?

I do not see any other way that a meaningful inspection is going to happen!

[smedly]

Heavy rain, my ass. Incompetence and pure stupidity is more like it.

if it was raining hard causing visibility difficulties then any idiot would know to slow down until conditions improve, it is no excuse, the police have it exactly right - at the very minimum reckless, the resposibility is in the hands of the poeple operating the boat, they alone made very poor choices that ended in more needless deaths, there is a very clear message that needs to be sent here to all boat operators - they are and will be held responsible with severe penalties for stupidity

[Psimbo]

“I want Tourist Police to assist with providing information on rules, regulations and procedures to tourists to help us assure them that we will do whatever it takes to never let this happen again,” he said.

I wonder if that would that be the same volunteer tourist police who have have rightly refused to return to their unpaid work because, as reported in Thai Visa, their demands to investigate drug dealing activities behind the Bangla Road police box have been ignored by the local force?

Errr- no. The vast majority of the Tourist Police are in fact Thai.

The TPVs are in dispute with the Patong Police at Kathu Police Station, part of Police Provincial Division 8- nothing to do with the Tourist Police, who are a separate department of the RTP.

[NamKangMan]

^^^

"will they ever, ever get it??"

No.

They don't care.

It's only about the Baht.

"They don't care." - correct. The same way they didn't care about the western tourist market, and most of that has gone now.

The Chinese is pretty much the last market for Phuket. Lose that market, and where to from there????

[stevenl]

^^^

"will they ever, ever get it??"

No.

They don't care.

It's only about the Baht.

They don't care, but not because of the money. They don't care, because what happens was supossed to happen and out of their hands.

[kingalfred]

Inspections? Enforced regulations? It,s all image and nothing changes, These boat owners will go out to sea whatever the weather for money, and no one's gonna stop them. Punters should steer well clear of ANY of these trips in the south of Thailand

[Deli]

If one of these "Captains" would ever be charged for murder and sentenced accordingly, maybe his colleagues would start to wonder ?

But we know that this won't happen here, too many envelopes moving

[Ulic]

People have to understand, there are no brakes, its wet, the best viable excuse is the

weather. Certainly not driver incompetence. As for drugs in the system, they can tell

instantly when they want carrying out roadside/bar piss tests. Why is the same not

done here.