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Thailand Must End False Excuses
By Alan Morison, Phuketwan Opinion Monday, October 20, 2014
PHUKET: There is no such thing as an ''accident'' involving a high-speed collision between a speedboat and a fishing vessel.
Someone is to blame for every crash at sea, especially one in which lives are lost and passengers are injured.
Thailand's government must make every effort to determine what caused the collision at sea between Phi Phi and Phuket yesterday, with two Korean holidaymakers missing, feared drowned.
Thailand's government must also speedily remove any local official on Phuket who claims that this tragic event was ''an accident.''
At least one official on Phuket believes that some crashes that put the safety of people at risk are ''natural'' and cannot be avoided.
That's just not true. Crashes are not natural, nor are they accidents.
They are caused by people who accept second-best and who find excuses for negligence.
Making tourists safe in Thailand is not about ensuring that they wear ID wristbands, but about ensuring that they wear safety helmets and life vests when appropriate.
Making tourists safe in Thailand is also about appointing to positions of authority involving tourists people who understand their responsibilities, people who do not tolerate lax behavior by speedboat ''captains'' or crews.
The reputation of many speedboat helmsmen on Phuket remains appalling. The reputation of many speedboat crews on Phuket remains equally appalling.
Earlier this month, two Indian tourists drowned near Phuket, allegedly because a longtail boatman failed to ensure their safety.
Now, it seems likely, two more tourists may have died because of negligence.
Drownings and motorcycle crashes needlessly kill far more tourists and expats in Thailand than crimes.
To make sure that justice is done and that these kinds of needless deaths and injuries cease to happen on the Andaman coast, Phuketwan calls on the Thai government to independently investigate this collision, to review boating safety standards and motorcycle safety standards on Phuket, and to implement whatever measures are necessary to restore Thailand's reputation for hospitality and safety.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Why must it? Thailand has no reason at all to act in a first world manner- tourists will flock, no matter what.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
October 20, 2014 11:07
Editor Comment:
''Why must it?'' Because only an irresponsible government tolerates needless loss of lives. Stop thinking just about money. Try principle.
Tripadvisor is full of reviews of the Seastar saying that say
- no life vests provided;
- no security briefing;
- almost no briefing in English , mostly in Thai;
- captain driven like a crazy - passenger complained to a guide - no reaction
etc..
In terms of quality of service too many people on the boat , feeling like a sardines (BTW is that number of people on the board yesterday was within allowed capacity?), leaving a dock with significant delay as a result part of part of route is cut out of the program ; food finished; snorkeling gear rent extra charge not announced before; only water is in the price, coke etc. bear extra pricetag; they don't land in neither location except some beach obviously close to Ton Sai in the beginning for too long time , explaining that Monkey Bay -Maya etc. are unsafe; food is often running out etc.
And they charge ca.3,500THB for that anti-experience .
Posted by
Sue
on
October 20, 2014 11:34
Hi Ed, every time I walk into a hospital here in Phuket, I'd swear that they love the motorbike rental agents. Without motorbike rentals, the hospitals would have probably 75% fewer customers. Anyone that has sat in the emergency department for a few hours would agree. Hell, it's not even safe crossing the street anywhere in Thailand. There are no crosswalk lights. Even at intersections, it's not safe to cross. Pedestrians have no right-of-way. Totally unlike most developed countries. It's amazing that we don't hear of more people killed just crossing the street here. There are no safety measures for even the most basic activities, walking, let alone boating, swimming, jet skiing, snorkeling etc.
Posted by
Tim
on
October 20, 2014 12:46
In Phuket and other provinces along the Andaman Sea, book stores don't sell Thai educational books to learn sea navigation with charts and marine regulations to drive a boat safely either private or transport boats.
Also the Thai administration should help technical schools and private sector to have training courses at affordable prices open late at night in order to give time to Thai crews to come after work to learn safety, regulations, and all skills to be a true boat captain.
Boat operators in Thailand along the Andaman Sea would be happy to have a marine training center to get better skilled boat crews.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
October 20, 2014 13:17
Probably thai government officials don't care about International SOLAS!
Perhaps they don't know? If you not know what you don't know, your 'knowledge luggage bag' is very light. Everything what has to do with thai tourist sailing is sub-standard. Weekly we see what happens to tourists.. Chalong marina? that is sub standard marina with all these unmarked concrete blocks at anchor area. Chalong Marina is a big maritime joke, managed by a administrative person, that is sub standard! A Harbour Master should have been previously a ships captain. As long as people in charge of all this tourist sailing not know more about water than that you brush your teeth with it, ships disasters will continue. it is here to much a matter of: as long as the papers are ok, everything is ok. Paper is patient.
Posted by
Kurt
on
October 20, 2014 13:47
Whistle Blower
Totally agree with you, deep sea port may be a good area plenty of space. I know how easy it is to get a Master license here
Posted by
Michael
on
October 20, 2014 13:48
yetskis motorboats all same !!!again again problems and accidents for 2 weeks cyclone 3 meter high waves and 89% rain the boats go go when there are stupid tourist they go also when snow , because the counter desk tours get high commission and they not wanted too give money back !!!!!! so the government must make the rules and say weather too bad !!!!!! and let the captains or boat owners make the decision they only think about dollars
Posted by
d
on
October 20, 2014 15:49
Kurt
Thailand is a signatory to SOLAS regulations, but as with all other countries it only affect international bound vessels, most countries adopt the Solas rules for domestic use but that is the right of the individual country, lots also change it to be more applicable for there area and culture. As the Author mentioned Thailand does not really have a safety culture and one desperately needs to be introduced.
Even the life vests provided are normally only rated for 60-70 kgs, thats not the average wight of a European tourist.
Good Article ED
Posted by
Michael
on
October 20, 2014 15:56
BP called it a "mishap".
Posted by
larry
on
October 20, 2014 16:00
Editor Comment:
More accurate than ''accident.''
WB "In Phuket and other provinces along the Andaman Sea, book stores don't sell Thai educational books to learn sea navigation with charts and marine regulations to drive a boat safely either private or transport boats."
Well,they used to, although Thai mariners didn't seem much interested in them. I have some excellent English-language yachting manuals (albeit out of date from the now defunct ArtAsia catalogue) in my library.
But these were published when the nowadays Thai 'captains' were in nappies.
Posted by
Sam Wilko
on
October 20, 2014 17:23
@Sam Wilko
I have too, but they are useless for Thai crews.
Even, we can get them on Internet but in English only not in Thai.
Merchant Marine Training Centre in Samut Prakan has all navigational and training marine books in Thai but are not available if you are not studying with them.
I asked to Phuket harbour Department in ao Makham but they said they do not have them in Phuket, only Bankok.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
October 20, 2014 18:34
Michael, I totally agree with you. It is correct what you wrote. Most countries signatory to SOLAS indeed adopt for domestic use as well. which is good, and weekly thai disasters are showing that Thailand should be more pro-active and start also to use for domestic. As you mention, yes, even the life vests are sub standard, when you are above, lets say, 80kg, a normal weight for a American, Australian, European man, you really need to swim yourself, ( with life jacket). Thailand has to scratch herself and start to act first world mannered towards the first world tourists. Thailand doesn't need to find out the wheel, if Thailand just adopt SOLAS for domestic boats, it would be a great and trustful improvement.
Posted by
Kurt
on
October 20, 2014 19:12
May be someone knows what are formal qualifications requirements for captain and the rest of the crew and how well they are enforced for similar boats , say, in Malaysia and Vietnam?
Posted by
Sue
on
October 20, 2014 20:35
I agree with every word in your well written article.
When it comes to maritime safety, there should be no dispensation for so called third world countries.
Thailand's near neighbor Bangladesh & ASEAN partner, the Philippines, also have disgraceful track records in maritime safety & even S.Korea has suffered that most appalling ferry disaster.
It is time the region is brought into line with maritime safety standards, not just allowed to pay lip service as signatories.
I have never read about so many marine accidents as has occurred in & around Phuket these past 2-3 years, with collisions, dive boats sinking, jet ski accidents, etc.
As your article so clearly states, action needs to be taken by the highest authorities in Bangkok to restore tourist confidence & more importantly, ensure their safety.
Posted by
Logic
on
October 20, 2014 21:16
"..tourists will flock, no matter what.."
When tourist numbers are down, "suddenly" safety will become an issue. I wonder why people get cynical?
Posted by
farang888
on
October 20, 2014 21:38
Surprisingly, in just published by FT chart, road accidents are not among TOP5 causes of death, only cirrosis etc.; road accidents among TOP 5 in Indinesia, "self-harm" in Russia, and not surprisingly diarrhea in India:
http://on.ft.com/1FrOr9B
Posted by
Sue
on
October 21, 2014 01:36
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Why must it? Thailand has no reason at all to act in a first world manner- tourists will flock, no matter what.
Posted by The Night Mare on October 20, 2014 11:07
Editor Comment:
''Why must it?'' Because only an irresponsible government tolerates needless loss of lives. Stop thinking just about money. Try principle.