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The afternoon of July 5, two tourist boats capsized off the coast of Phuket, Thailand. One boat had 41 passengers (Serendita) and the other 105 passengers (Phoenix).
The weather forecast for this date was for rough seas and warnings were issued by Thai maritime authorities. The passengers, all on vacation, were at a decided disadvantage in determining whether the conditions were safe, if at the time of boarding the vessels the seas appeared less choppy than the 5 meters forecasted.
Checking the local marine weather before embarking on a journey that takes one out of the weather protected areas and into the “open sea” is also prudent.
The companies who operated the tourist boats apparently chose revenue over prudence and gambled with the lives of their passengers and crew. The seas were 5 meters (~ 16 feet), far too large for safe passage for a tourist jaunt to the nearby islands.
The Phuket News reports: Vice Admiral Somnuk Preampramot, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, announced the news at a press briefing today, as Phuket Governor Norraphat confirmed that the search continues for 14 people still missing, with 49 of the 105 people on the Phoenix rescued and the number of dead now confirmed at 42.
Their reporting continues with commentary from Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat, “He noted that investigations were underway, including into the business involved in operating the Phoenix and the business involved in operating the Serendita, which sank off Koh Mai Thon in the same storm on Thursday, but with all 41 people on board rescued.”
In January 2018, the government conducted a survey and inspection of boats which were transporting tourists from Phuket to nearby islands following the explosion of the King Poseidon 959 which had departed Sea Angel pier in Rassada and inexplicably exploded, injuring a number of tourists.
Following the capsized boats' accident in #Phuket caused by heavy rains and strong winds on 5 July 2018, the MFA of #Thailand wishes to reaffirm that the Royal Thai Government and relevant agencies will do our utmost to help the disaster victims and locate the missing persons
— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ | MFA of Thailand (@MFAThai) July 6, 2018
Though the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged their assistance to the victims and their families. The Thai Navy and those responsible for maritime safety perhaps should institute no-sail policies when weather is too dangerous as was the case in this instance. The Thai police have arrested the skipper of the Phoenix charging him with reckless operation.
Centre at #Phuket airport coordinates help for boat victims and families #Thailand
@nationnews https://t.co/LOtuUh91JS— Global News Thailand 🇹🇭 (@GlobalNewsTH) July 8, 2018
