Deputy Prime Minister Yukol
Limamthong addresses a gathering of police officials and expats before
beginning his inspections of local watercraft.
Teerarak Suthathiwong
Deputy Prime Minister Yukol Limamthong joined city officials and
police in a snap inspection of Koh Larn marine operators aimed at ending
Pattaya’s string of deadly boat accidents.
Yukol was joined by Chonburi Deputy Gov. Kwan Sukul, Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh and Royal Thai Police advisor Gen. Wuthi Liptapanlop on
the Nov. 28 tour, which reviewed ferry operators, drug tested boat
captains, checked passenger loads and confirmed that adequate numbers of
safety equipment were aboard.
The high-profile inspection stood in stark contrast to how Pattaya boat
operators worked before this month when an overloaded ferry capsized
Nov. 3 killing seven and injuring dozens more. In that case, the boat
captain was high on methamphetamines and the ferry carried too few life
vests.
The deputy prime minister also presided over the ceremony to initiate
new signage for water craft accessing Bali Hai Pier.
“Pattaya receives more than 9 million tourists a year. We don’t want to
spoil its reputation, so the increase of safety inspections to prevent
the lost of life and belongings are important,” Yukol said. He added
that the safety crackdown will focus on strict enforcement, increasing
accident prevention and enlisting the cooperation of beach vendors and
boat operators.
Wuthi said the formal investigation into the Nov. 3 accident is
continuing and that more than 100 people have been interviewed. The
witnesses confirmed that the boat was severely overcrowded, he said. He
added that staff schedules for the new Marine Security Center also have
been drafted.
