Ferry to connect two vacation spots, Pattaya and Hua Hin

[webfact]

Ferry to connect two vacation spots, Pattaya and Hua Hin

By Coconuts Bangkok 

 

Photo: Philip Roeland/Flickr

 

BANGKOK: -- The East-West Ferry, a proposed government project that will link to link Hua Hin to Pattaya, should be open for rides by 2020.

 

It currently takes about five hours to drive the 345 kilometers between Pattaya and Hua Hin, but the ferry service should take less than two hours since it goes straight across the Gulf of Thailand. The distance of the proposed route is only 105 kilometers.

 

The Marine Department has ordered a feasibility study for the project, which should be done by the end of this year.

 

Full story:  http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/08/23/ferry-connect-two-vacation-spots-pattaya-and-hua-hin

 

-- © Copyright Coconuts Bangkok 2016-08-24

[Rorri]

A Thai ferry travelling at an average of 53 km/h, somehow I find that scary.

[Crossy]

I'm sure there used to be a conventional ferry on that route but it failed financially.

 

Now, if they had a fast ferry, say a Jetfoil :-

 

 

Or maybe even a WIG (Wing in Ground Effect)

 

 

 

 

[TimTang]

 

 

With one of these (used in Singapore) it would take 2 hours to do the trip one-way. It cruises at 28 knots or 53 km/hr. It's hardly scary and is usually a very smooth ride. I've traveled back and forth from Singapore to Batam many times. The problem is, would there be the market to justify the purchase one or more of these.

Edited August 23, 2016 by TimTang

[kannot]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Edited August 23, 2016 by kannot
ferk up

[gk10002000]

financially not profitable, unless the government builds the infrastructure, modernizes the pier, landing etc.  Then the Return on Investment doesn't have to deal with the sunk cost.  Otherwise the price won't be supported by enough people.  There just isn't that much traffic or demand.  But somebody will probably generate a study or report that shows it is feasible, the military government will approve it, the people's money will be spent on it, the contract(s) probably will go to people the military wants it to go to, friends, or family, business associates, etc.  There just isn't any accountability under the current government, and I use the term government loosely.

[Rorri]

1 hour ago, TimTang said:

 

 

With one of these (used in Singapore) it would take 2 hours to do the trip one-way. It cruises at 28 knots or 53 km/hr. It's hardly scary and is usually a very smooth ride. I've traveled back and forth from Singapore to Batam many times. The problem is, would there be the market to justify the purchase one or more of these.

In my comment I specifically said Thai ferries, as per the op photo, not those in Singapore, or anywhere else, at least at this stage, assume any other type of craft, or the capabilities of the crew.

[The stuttering parrot]

Why not use the billion dollar submarines ?

Its not like they will be doing much anyway.

Edited August 23, 2016 by The stuttering parrot

[TimTang]

17 minutes ago, Rorri said:

In my comment I specifically said Thai ferries, as per the op photo, not those in Singapore, or anywhere else, at least at this stage, assume any other type of craft, or the capabilities of the crew.

 

Yes...the one in the photo looks a little dodgy and probably doesn't go that fast anyway. Here's a 'Thai' ferry that goes from Hua Hin to Kho Phangan which is more like the type they would use in Pataya.

 

Edited August 23, 2016 by TimTang

[Rorri]

I think many would fine it better to fly, tnan go by sea, especially in the monsoon season.

[jacko45k]

Is this a case of perhaps 3rd time lucky?

Previous attempts didn't do well,  partly because of the locations the ferry departed from being inconvenient.

[Reigntax]

That will save the next bombers from doing the long road trip.

[Pdaz]

I think many would be surprised to find out just how rough the Gulf of Thailand can get.

Knowing how seasick many locals get I would be a real "vomit-Comet" unless they use a sufficiently large vessel. If just a small cat the weather could impact profits.

I thought the latest feasibility study was for a vehicular ferry ?

If just pedestrians it would be pretty pointless IMHO.

[Crossy]

23 minutes ago, Pdaz said:

I thought the latest feasibility study was for a vehicular ferry ?

 

It is indeed and moves the project into a whole new dimension for both the vessels and the facilities at each end.

[Bsd]

3 hours ago, TimTang said:

 

 

With one of these (used in Singapore) it would take 2 hours to do the trip one-way. It cruises at 28 knots or 53 km/hr. It's hardly scary and is usually a very smooth ride. I've traveled back and forth from Singapore to Batam many times. The problem is, would there be the market to justify the purchase one or more of these.

That is no different to the cats that Lomprayah run between Samui, Phangan, Tao and the mainland.  In fact it looks smaller than some of Lomprayah's boats.

 

As mentioned elsewhere I think the government is looking at a car ferry which to get those speeds would need an Incat or similar.

[waldroj]

Better than Pokemon Go:

 

 

[canopus1969]

28 minutes ago, Pdaz said:

I think many would be surprised to find out just how rough the Gulf of Thailand can get.

Knowing how seasick many locals get I would be a real "vomit-Comet" unless they use a sufficiently large vessel. If just a small cat the weather could impact profits.

I thought the latest feasibility study was for a vehicular ferry ?

If just pedestrians it would be pretty pointless IMHO.

 

A ' vomit-Comet' is an airplane   

[steveyinasia]

10 minutes ago, waldroj said:

Better than Pokemon Go:

 

 

 

 

Certainly looks suitable for the job, maybe only Lamborghini owners could afford it.

[Orac]

Ah to dream that in 3-4 years you will be able to step out of your Waterfront condo, stroll past the mega-yachts moored in the Pattaya Marine and jump on a high speed ferry to Hua Hin for brunch.

[williamgeorgeallen]

this project has about as much chance of success as putting the cable mess underground. a private company has even tried to run this service without success. hard to compete with the 400thb mini vans running the service already. at least they have given us 4 years to forget about it this time. 

Edited August 24, 2016 by williamgeorgeallen

[Pdaz]

9 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

 

A ' vomit-Comet' is an airplane   

 

Yes. Coined from the parabolic flights used to give prospective astronauts the feeling of weightlessness... But you can imaging the carnage would be similar on a bouncing boat filled with Thais...

[CGW]

2 hours ago, The stuttering parrot said:

Why not use the billion dollar submarines ?

Its not like they will be doing much anyway.

Why not use the Aircraft carrier that has been moored in Sattahip since it was bought for billions many moons ago? they never had any aircraft! could use the aircraft parking area for the 60 + cars/lorries they intend to carry

[12DrinkMore]

3 hours ago, kannot said:

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

Time to replace your keyboard.

 

Looks like the "m" key is stuck and you were unable to complete what was clearly going to be an interesting addition to the thread.

 

Bummer!

[themerg]

How about a cheap flight from dock-to-dock on a float plane with 10 to 12 passengers and 4 to 6 person crew. I would gladly pay 500 - 800 baht for one way 

[DrTuner]

This again. The demographics of Pattaya and Hua Hin are different, nobody wants to go in either direction. Fail.

[Yann55]

I live in Jomtien and would love to go to Hua Hin once in a while by boat. But two things for sure :

 

1/ If the ferry in question looks anything like the one on the picture, I won't set a foot on that thing. I do take the Koh Larn ferries regularly, and they look exactly like that, but it's a very short trip and if the boat sinks (yes, it has happened several times before) you have every chance to be rescued as the area is full of other boats. If you're in the middle of the Gulf of Siam, it's a whole different story.

 

2/ If the ferry is OK but the ticket costs an arm, as it did in a similar project not very long ago, I'll wish them the best of luck but will spend my cash elsewhere.

[Lingba]

Dare I ask why this will take at least 5 years to implement?

[Keesters]

A ferry of some description has been proposed, implemented and failed so many times.  Just waiting a bridge proposal to complete the fiasco.

 

 

Edited August 24, 2016 by Keesters

[chainarong]

This is an old idea with a new image , I started an inquiry into ferry services between these two points back in the mid ninety's and was told due to smuggling and drug trafficking  it would be unwise,  I found in Thailand any excuse is good enough not to do anything , so I didn't.....................

[mike324]

3 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

financially not profitable, unless the government builds the infrastructure, modernizes the pier, landing etc.  Then the Return on Investment doesn't have to deal with the sunk cost.  Otherwise the price won't be supported by enough people.  There just isn't that much traffic or demand.  But somebody will probably generate a study or report that shows it is feasible, the military government will approve it, the people's money will be spent on it, the contract(s) probably will go to people the military wants it to go to, friends, or family, business associates, etc.  There just isn't any accountability under the current government, and I use the term government loosely.

 

 with the amount of tourist Thailand has, it would be profitable - that is if the government does not think with its head and tries to rip off tourists. I would say ticket costing not over 1000 baht would be reasonable depending on the class of the seats.