There are more than 1,000
speedboats operating in the Pattaya area, as well as almost 500 jet
skis. A top Transport Ministry official ordered an immediate
reorganization of the Marine Department and retraining of rescue workers
in the wake of the April boat accident that injured 18 South Korean
tourists, along with a Korean and Thai guide.
Warunya Thongrod
A top Transport Ministry official ordered an immediate
reorganization of the Marine Department and retraining of rescue workers
in the wake of the April boat accident that injured 18 South Korean
tourists, along with a Korean and Thai guide.
Deputy Transport Minister
Prasert Jantharawongthong has ordered a shakeup of the Marine
Department.
In an April 23 meeting at Pattaya City Hall, Deputy
Minister Prasert Jantharawongthong promised a review of marine-transport
regulations and integration of services, vowing to return later this
month to check progress.
Appearing with Sornsak Saensombat, director-general of the Marine
Department, Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and Chonburi Permanent
Secretary Chawalit Saeng-Uthai, Prasert told boat operators from
Pattaya, Jomtien and Koh Larn beaches that, within 15 days,
registrations for all boats would have to be updated and licenses for
captains checked.
Licenses were not the problem in the April 21 collision of two
speedboats off Koh Larn’s Tawaen Beach: Both Amnuay Kladkhemthong and
Rung-arun Homlamduan held valid paperwork.
The minister also said training would be enhanced for boat drivers and
he encouraged the city to build a Marine Safety Center to serve as
headquarters for marine police and sea-rescue squads, which have been
criticized for their slow response to the accident that cost one tourist
part of his left leg and seriously injured another seven.
In the interim, Prasert said he’s asking the Tourism
Authority of Thailand to assure foreign offices and governments that
water transport and sports are safe in Thailand so the country’s tourism
industry isn’t damaged.
“The accident, apart from having caused loss of (limbs) and assets, has
greatly affected tourism because the accident occurred from the
recklessness of the personnel operating the boat,” Prasert said. “Since
the measures by Pattaya and its relevant agencies have been well
planned, the problems may be with the equipment and personnel
controlling or supervising the sector. The situation had revealed that
Pattaya has more boat operators than the Marine Department and Marine
Police can administer.”
There are more than 1,000 speedboats operating in the Pattaya area, as
well as almost 500 jet skis.
