reader Posted April 4 Posted April 4 From Thai PBS World \ Photo by ᴍᴏɴsᴏᴏɴɢᴀʀʙᴀɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɪʟᴀɴᴅ The Marine Department has ordered an urgent investigation into the blaze which broke out this morning on a passenger boat floating near Koh Tao Island, off the coast of Surat Thani province. An initial investigation has revealed that the fire started in the engine room, but its cause is still being investigated, said the department’s Director General, Kritphet Chaihuay, today. The boat, carrying 90 passengers and eight crew, left Surat Thani at about 9:30pm last night, heading to Tao Island, he said, adding that authorities were alerted about the accident at approximately 6:40am this morning. The passengers and the crew jumped into the sea and rescue teams rushed to assist them. Other tour boats operating nearby also took part in the rescue effort. There were no injuries reported and the fire was extinguished by about 8:20am. vinapu and tm_nyc 2 Quote
Keithambrose Posted April 4 Posted April 4 Excellent advertising for the safety of Thai ferries! Glad there were no casualties. vinapu 1 Quote
reader Posted April 5 Author Posted April 5 13 hours ago, Keithambrose said: Excellent advertising for the safety of Thai ferries! Glad there were no casualties. Unfortunately, you're right. In the video below, what's so troubling is that passengers are still on board the vessel as the fire continues to burn unchecked. That they had to jump to save themselves suggests that the ferry had no evacuation plan and possibly no rafts. Fortunately, most seem to be wearing flotation vests. That no fatalities were reported can be credited to the response of other ferries and privater boaters who came to their assistance. Relatively warm and calm seas were another factor. Meanwhile, Thailand continues to pursue plans to acquire two new destroyers for its navy after legislators decided against a submarine purchase from China. In reality, what Thailand needs is a more robust coast guard to police ferry operations. It was just last December that a ferry to Koh Tao sank Seventy passengers and crew were rescued. khaolakguy and vinapu 2 Quote
vinapu Posted April 5 Posted April 5 6 hours ago, reader said: Meanwhile, Thailand continues to pursue plans to acquire two new destroyers for its navy not doubt in anticipation of marine invasion from Laos reader and splinter1949 2 Quote
Keithambrose Posted April 5 Posted April 5 1 hour ago, vinapu said: not doubt in anticipation of marine invasion from Laos Or Nepal! vinapu and splinter1949 2 Quote
vinapu Posted April 6 Posted April 6 1 hour ago, thaiophilus said: More likely Uzbekistan or Liechtenstein 😁. Both of them only two very rare species, double landlocked countries i.e landlocked and bordering only other landlocked countries Quote
Keithambrose Posted April 7 Posted April 7 17 hours ago, vinapu said: Both of them only two very rare species, double landlocked countries i.e landlocked and bordering only other landlocked countries Hungary? Quote
vinapu Posted April 7 Posted April 7 8 hours ago, Keithambrose said: Hungary? no, not double landlocked, borders 4 countries with access to the sea- Slovenia, Croatia , Ukraine and Romania Quote
Keithambrose Posted April 8 Posted April 8 17 hours ago, vinapu said: no, not double landlocked, borders 4 countries with access to the sea- Slovenia, Croatia , Ukraine and Romania Sorry! Quote
Keithambrose Posted April 8 Posted April 8 Just now, Keithambrose said: Sorry! Plenty of former soviet union countries, I think? Ta 2 minutes ago, Keithambrose said: Sorry! Uzbekistan? Quote
thaiophilus Posted April 8 Posted April 8 1 hour ago, Keithambrose said: Plenty of former soviet union countries, I think? Ta Uzbekistan? Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the world's only doubly landlocked countries. That's why I mentioned them 🙂. Of the other former Soviet states, Russia has a huge northern coastline, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are on the Baltic, Georgia and Ukraine are on the Black Sea. As for the singly landlocked states, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan border Iran, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan border China, Belarus borders Lithuania, Moldova borders Romania (and there are other borders with coastal states too.) E&OE. Quote
Keithambrose Posted April 8 Posted April 8 9 hours ago, thaiophilus said: Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the world's only doubly landlocked countries. That's why I mentioned them 🙂. Of the other former Soviet states, Russia has a huge northern coastline, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are on the Baltic, Georgia and Ukraine are on the Black Sea. As for the singly landlocked states, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan border Iran, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan border China, Belarus borders Lithuania, Moldova borders Romania (and there are other borders with coastal states too.) E&OE. Fair enough! Quote
