Ayutthaya ferry accident: What went wrong?

 

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-09-21

Thais love to learn from direct experience rather than being taught by history and examples of developed nations...

 

It was said that " in youth we learn, in age, we understand "

but not the Thai people, they NEVER learn or understand from many previous

boats accidents with many lives lost,

how many more boast's tragedies and how many more lost live will it take

for the authorities to start taking safety seriously? and that safe boating, and

knowing the ins and out of how to helm and navigate a boat/ship it's a profession

and not something you do in between  rice harvests......

Same as it always does. Everyone from the very top to the bottom said "Not my responsibility".

What went wrong? Same as every other serious accident here !! No thought given to safety.

Was the captain fully qualified? Was the boats safety equipment functional?

Were the passengers told about safety? Were the passengers given safety advise?

Answer to all the above NO NO NO.

 

As previously stated Thais never learn from past accidents, it wont happen to me is the usual thought.

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

What went wrong? Same as every other serious accident here !! No thought given to safety.

Was the captain fully qualified? Was the boats safety equipment functional?

Were the passengers told about safety? Were the passengers given safety advise?

Answer to all the above NO NO NO.

 

As previously stated Thais never learn from past accidents, it wont happen to me is the usual thought.

Well, definitely as long as i am wearing my lucky amulet.  Unless of course, it was the fated day for all these people to die anyway, in which case, nothing could have prevented it.  

The heading was "What went wrong"   -- answer,  the boat sunk.

Who knows why

who really cares

who will address the ongoing problems

as usual it will be nobody.

Im trying to work out if I less safe on the roads or up the river or at home... no wait - I have a balcony at home 

Elsewhere I read already: the incident was unavoidable...

The logic behind this is clear: hence, identifying those responsible is impossible.

Fact is simple.. the boat had 150 people instead of 50. Owners should be prosecuted and the skipper.. but also those responsible (Government officials) for keeping things like this in check. I doubt they ever really look for stuff like this.. overloading.. and if they do a bribe might help. 

If they were wearing life jackets they all would have survived.

 

More information on today's news (ThaiPBS, Wednesday, "Search for Missing Passengers...")
  

-The boat had about 200 passengers  
(My comment: nearly four times the allowable passenger load)
 

-The boat hit an underwater pillar which was part of the dike structure.  
(My comments:  presumably this opened up a huge gash somewhere below the waterline, possibly the underside, contributing to it sinking so quickly.  The speed at which you see the boat traveling in yesterday's video, would have contributed to significant damage when hitting something stationary like an underwater abutment).  

Edited September 21, 20169 yr by Fookhaht

8 minutes ago, joeyg said:

If they were wearing life jackets they all would have survived.

 

If anyone on the lower deck had a life jacket on, it would have hindered their escape. I think there would have been more trapped people and more deaths.

Just now, whaleboneman said:

If anyone on the lower deck had a life jacket on, it would have hindered their escape. I think there would have been more trapped people and more deaths.

Hummmm key word "think."  Well we have to agree to disagree on this one.  On sinking boats life jackets save more lives than kill people.  Maybe we should start a poll?

1 minute ago, whaleboneman said:

If anyone on the lower deck had a life jacket on, it would have hindered their escape. I think there would have been more trapped people and more deaths.

I would agree.  By the looks of the sinking video, that water level rose quickly to the inside roof of the lower deck within seconds--trapping scores of victims with no air.  Life jackets would have forced them up against the lower deck ceiling, further hindering their escape, making it significantly difficult to swim out.    Very sad and tragic.  

5 minutes ago, Fookhaht said:

I would agree.  By the looks of the sinking video, that water level rose quickly to the inside roof of the lower deck within seconds--trapping scores of victims with no air.  Life jackets would have forced them up against the lower deck ceiling, further hindering their escape, making it significantly difficult to swim out.    Very sad and tragic.  

Key word "looks."  OK that's 2 for life jackets kill more, rather than save lives...  Next...

19 minutes ago, joeyg said:

If they were wearing life jackets they all would have survived.

 

I bet there was enough life jackets for everyone on board just like the adequate lifeboat places provided on the Titanic

But of course over one hundred years has passed since the Titanic disaster some people / countries learn from past mistakes some dont

16 minutes ago, joeyg said:

Key word "looks."  OK that's 2 for life jackets kill more, rather than save lives...  Next...

Cut the drama, Mr. Extrapolator. 

I would still always don a lifejacket on a boat--especially in Thailand.  The point we were making was that in this unusually speedy sinking,  and given the crowded conditions,  it would have probably worked against the passengers on the lower deck.     

Ever been on a plane that flew over the water?   Listen carefully to the flight attendant who tells you WHEN to inflate the jacket.  Why?  Or have you ever thought about it (if you paid attention)?  It can impede your exit, as it probably would have done in this particular boating accident. 

Edited September 21, 20169 yr by Fookhaht

17 minutes ago, joeyg said:

Hummmm key word "think."  Well we have to agree to disagree on this one.  On sinking boats life jackets save more lives than kill people.  Maybe we should start a poll?

 

 

You know little of marine matters.  For those below deck lifebelts would actually impede their escape and give them less chance of survival...fact.

A number of off-topic and troll posts have been removed from this thread.

1 hour ago, joeyg said:

If they were wearing life jackets they all would have survived.

 

No they would not. It sank so quickly lifejackets would have made no difference for most of them and could well have pinned them to the lower deck ceiling (deckhead). It may have saved some but how you can say 'all of them' is plainly just wrong.

8 minutes ago, katatonic said:

No they would not. It sank so quickly lifejackets would have made no difference for most of them and could well have pinned them to the lower deck ceiling (deckhead). It may have saved some but how you can say 'all of them' is plainly just wrong.

Ok, ok.  Life jacket bad.  No lifejacket good!

1 minute ago, joeyg said:

Ok, ok.  Life jacket bad.  No lifejacket good!

At last you see reason. Life jackets can save lives in most cases. In this incident, they may well have caused more problems than saved lives due to the speed of events from striking the hull to sinking.. 

33 minutes ago, joeyg said:

Ok, ok.  Life jacket bad.  No lifejacket good!

Sorry but that is not what others have said.

 

Life jackets in general are essential for passenger safety however on the lower deck they would probably be a hindrance considering the speed it sank. 

 

I would never wear a life jacket in that situation, however I would ensure I had easy access to one. 

...even if they know...which they probably do...it will never see the light of day....

 

...they way here is...blame no one.....

 

...unless there are foreigners involved in the slightest way....

4 hours ago, Artisi said:

The heading was "What went wrong"   -- answer,  the boat sunk.

Who knows why

who really cares

who will address the ongoing problems

as usual it will be nobody.

Addressing safety here costs money end of story. Just another sacrifice on the alter of cheapness and stupidity. This is not the first example and sadly will not be the last. The reigning Caesar here will throw someone to the lions the crowds will cheer and go home satiated till the next time the forum and lions are required. Its a modern day take on an old problem solving solution. 

I never drive at night because I know you have a 200% greater chance to get killed on a Thai Highway due to stupidity! Same as

on the rivers. Thai's think Safety, your Nuts if you think Yes! 300% more passengers on board, not enough life jackets even though

very few wore the ones on board, driver no license, speeding trying to pass another boat, and you have a Recipe for Disaster!

RIP!

9 hours ago, trogers said:

Thais love to learn from direct experience rather than being taught by history and examples of developed nations...

 

Therein lays the problem - no desire to learn. Sad really.

Bad Luck

Blame cannot be appointed.....there must always be another reason......and sadly, events such as this will be repeated many times until a thorough system of regulation is installed.....across the entire national transport system.......it took Singapore a decade to introduce mandatory regulations....with wide condemnation across the island....Japan similar.....

Thailand needs strong, determined leadership to accomplish the so many needed reforms.....unfortunately, there is none.....and there are just none of these types on the horizon.......