Regular readers may recall the collision between two boats earlier this month which resulted in two deaths.
As predicted, the overhaul of safety procedures and prosecution of the owners of the boats never happened; but the unwitting drivers of the boats were promptly arrested because it was their fault they were employed without being properly licenced…..
There has now been some more “action”. A meeting was held yesterday morning at Pattaya City Hall, attended by a cast of thousands where, according to Pattaya Daily News, it was stated “that the city needs co-operation from all of the boat owners to strictly control their staff in following the rules. Police officers and rescue teams, including Harbour Department officers must be on patrol and arrest any illegal boat or boats that break any rules. Boats must be fully checked before leaving the pier and life jackets must be provided for everyone.”
Given that the owners have happily ignored the rules for years, and government officials have let them (and yes genuinej, I suspect some symbiosis going on); it is unlikely that a gang of officials sitting round a table making grand pronouncements is going to make the slightest bit of difference.
And in other news: Yesterday a boat carrying tourists sank and seventeen people were injured. The boat had had a second storey added, and when most of the passengers went onto the top deck, the boat became top heavy and was capsized by a “large wave” (I was out sailing yesterday, there were no large waves). Opinions have been expressed that the boat did not have the certification for the modification; hardly surprising because few of the boats have certification for anything.
Good to see that the city hall pronouncements are having the expected effect (i.e. none at all).