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A tragedy which killed 47 Chinese tourists in Phuket, Thailand followed by widespread cancellations of Chinese tour groups served as the impetus for the Government of Thailand to knuckle down and take off the water a number of tourist boats deemed unsafe. Indeed, of 400 boats inspected, fully one half of the boats, 200 were cited for “not meeting safety standards,” and given “warnings” while ten boats were ordered out of the water.
The Phoenix, which was carrying 105 people, sank in heavy seas while returning to Phuket from a popular snorkel location south of Phuket. In our piece, “Disregard for safety in Phuket boat tragedy“, we highlighted the desire to make a buck, over passenger safety by the boats which went to sea that day when it was clear that seas were rough and the Thai maritime weather reports were clear. The Phuket News tells us how the Royal Thai Police have confirmed the owner of the Phoenix tour boat and its captain and engineer have been charged with “recklessness causing death and injury to others.” Furthermore, it has been determined that the owners of the boat, TC Blue Co Ltd are facing charges of operating an “ang-yee” - illegal secret organization - a euphemism for a front company, arranged to bypass Thailand’s foreign ownership laws.
The Bangkok Post shared in a special investigative report how the Thai tourist boat service industry is poorly regulated and is “an accident waiting to happen.” Citing the Royal Thai Police, the finger is pointed at “reckless tour operators acting as proxies for foreign businessmen who know little, or nothing about how to keep their clients safe during trips to the sea.” They continue how 11 of 12 tour companies in Phuket are “ang-yee”. They confirmed the arrest of the boat’s owner, “Police are gathering evidence to act against the suspects. Officers have been granted warrants for the arrest of Phoenix owner Woralak Ruekchaikal, 26, who is married to Chinese national Zhang Wenhao, and the vessel’s chief engineer Onchan Kanhayothi on charges of recklessness causing deaths and injuries.”
The Phoenix has yet to be salvaged from the sea, the delay being weather related at the site of the tragedy. That said, according to investigators the boat wasn’t equipped with a marine engine, rather a modified engine from a 10-wheel truck, outfitted with a water pump smaller than required. Furthermore, the boat was, according to the Bangkok Post, built by an unlicensed company, Thanawat Engineering Phuket.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha orders overhaul of safety measures
In early-August the inspections of boats at the various Phuket piers commenced. More than 400 boats were inspected and 200 were found to not meet safety standards, and ten were ordered out of the water by the Thai Tourist Police.
The Phuket News describes the boat safety campaign ordered by the prime minister as collaborative - “Royal Thai Police, Royal Thai Navy, Ministry of Tourism and Sports and relevant government offices, including the Marine Department.” The effort will focus on three specific areas, with the desired outcome of ongoing inspections and safety checks prior to embarking with tourists, not only in Phuket, but throughout the Thai maritime tourist industry.
- Raise the standard of tourist boats
- Check the boats ad organize tourists before boarding
- Raise the standard of maritime safety
Pain in the wallet
Chinese tourists canceled bookings for more than 7,300 rooms in 19 Phuket hotels following the Phoenix tragedy, and tour operators expect the number of cancellations to only increase. The Thai Tourism and Sports Ministry had expected more than 10 million Chinese tourists this year, but that number will not be reached as six Chinese air carriers have canceled their Phuket-China routes. With the Chinese tourist making up approximately 25 percent of the 35 million visitors in 2017, the rectification of the tour boat safety issue has captured the entire tourism sector’s interest.
