There has been an increase in hits on this site over the last twenty four hours as people search for information following the sinking of a Koh Larn ferry yesterday with six people killed, an unconfirmed number still missing, and many injured.
The reason Pattaya Days was visited was because I had previously reported on an incident where two such vessels collided, leading to death and injury. Local news reported “Pattaya is coming to terms with a boating accident which will undoubtedly lead to a major overhaul of safety procedures for pleasure boats and speed boats and possible criminal charges against the boat operators involved in the accident.”
The major overhaul never happened and soon I was reporting on another incident where again two boats collided, resulting in serious injuries including an amputation. Cue another round of empty promises which a local paper was brave enough to confirm never led to any action.
And here we go again. A badly maintained boat (the water pumps didn’t work), carrying more passengers (209) than it was registered to carry (150), with insufficient life jackets; sinks on the way back from Koh Larn. People die and are injured. The captain of the boat runs away, is eventually captured and banned for six months. The owners of the boats are ordered to pay compensation (which I am sure will be forthcoming promptly); and the regional governor has “demanded the Marine Department and Pattaya City boost water-transport safety and put security guards on duty on Koh Lan around the clock.”
It’s all becoming depressingly familiar.
- Nothing is done to enforce regulations.
- There is an incident and people die.
- The most junior person involved in the incident is blamed and receives a token punishment.
- Strong words are spoken about enforcing regulations.
- Go to 1.
Update: Kudos to The Pattaya Mail Newspaper for telling it straight:
Comments 🔗
2013-11-04| Ivo saysUnfortunatly this is Thailand all the way. You and me have the luxury option of leaving, most Thai are set for life.
2013-11-04| Spike says“luxury option of leaving” - no thank you!! I love it here. Much rather live amongst the chaos than some nanny state back in Europe.
2013-11-04| genuinej saysNow the ferrying capacity has been reduced by this sad occurrence, is it probable that those still operating will be even more overcrowded? A case of “caveat visitor” maybe!
2013-11-04| Bob James saysPattaya One, pfft…. The very fine editors at the Pattaya Mail have taken the harshest tone toward City Hall’s ineptitude and empty promises. Stores are done by this very fine American editor who inflects nearly the same amount of sarcasm as used to be seen in that ghost-themed Pattaya blog.
Recent stories included the following:
Despite its grandiose name, the “marine safety zone” offers no new protections or regulations for ocean-going travelers. The laws are already on the books. They simply aren’t being enforced. At the public meeting, the minister urged local authorities to do their jobs more prudently and check boat seaworthiness, the availability of safety gear, and increase punishments for violations.
As always, of course, actual enforcement of the rules will be the responsibility of the government, district chiefs, mayors and marine police. And that, Phong implied, has been the problem.
or another story
Since April, local official have held numerous press conferences to announce new marine-protection centers and regulations, but little has come of it. Nine days before the latest accident Thailand’s deputy transport minister declared the Pattaya and Chonburi coast as “safety zone” to prod local officials to better execute their responsibilities to keep tourists safe.
Rumor has it the PM is amping up the vitriol for the next issue.
2013-11-05| Bob James saysFresh off (my) editor’s desk, a snippet from the story to appear Thursday. (Assuming my more even-tempered bosses permit it, which I think they will.)
“That revelation points yet another bloody finger at Pattaya, Chonburi and national politicians, Marine Department, police and regulatory officials who repeatedly have promised to crack down on obvious and well-documented safety lapses that now have lead to nine deaths, leg amputations, slit throats and dozens of other injuries in boat-related accidents in Pattaya Bay.
With each headline-searing accident – and the bad press for the city is now circling the entire world – hand-wringing men in suits profess regrets and swear that the myriad of marine-safety laws that already exist will, for once, be enforced and that sorely needed new ones will be enacted.
But since April, when two South Koreans were maimed and 18 others hurt in a speedboat crash, the only things to result from the talk are more accidents and more death.”
2013-11-05| Spike saysAh yes, The Pattaya Mail. Used to be a fine publication when some guy called Spike wrote a couple of columns for them. Collectors’ editions now I understand.
2013-11-05| Spike saysI have updated the post to link to your excellent article, well done Khun Boonlua….