Boat tragedy spurs safety overhaul

Chinese envoy conveys message of thanks

Chinese ambassador Lyu Jian has thanked the Thai government, rescue workers and support teams for their collaborative efforts in rescuing survivors and retrieving the bodies of Chinese victims after two tour boats sank off the coast of Phuket on July 5.

Mr Lyu said China appreciated the hard work of all those who played a role in the operation. He made the remarks after the last body was retrieved on Sunday night.

Forty-seven people — mostly Chinese — died in the tragedy. They were all aboard the tour boat Phoenix. Another boat called the Serenita also sank in the same area of the storm-tossed sea but no casualties were reported.

The 11-day search ended on Sunday evening after the final body, pinned underneath the ill-fated Phoenix, was recovered from the sea bed and taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a postmortem.

The ambassador said both countries should learn from the tragedy to strengthen cooperation in tourism and restore Chinese people’s confidence that they will be safe when travelling in Thailand.

Mr Lyu said Beijing has also sought cooperation from Bangkok to ensure the investigation into the case is conducted transparently.

In a message to those who survived and the bereaved families, Mr Lyu said the Chinese authorities sympathised with their loss and would do their best to provide assistance.

A minute’s silence was observed at the Phuket Deep Sea Port. The event was attended by Thai authorities led by Phuket governor Noraphat Plodthong.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thanked all parties concerned yesterday for their efforts in locating and retrieving the bodies of all 47 victims and providing assistance during the 11-day operation, government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

He said Gen Prayut instructed those involved to take notes and ensure all safety measures were being observed and regulations followed. He urged all tour agencies to take the utmost precautions to boost tourists’ safety and confidence.

“After the [tragedy] occurred we have been focusing on emergency responses so that tourists can feel more assured of their safety. But the premier has stressed that all sectors, be it boats, buses, vans, aircraft or taxis must now double down on their safety checks,” Lt Gen Sansern said.

He reiterated that the government’s tourist fund will pay 500,000 baht to each of the injured victims and 1 million baht to all families of the deceased, on top of insurance firm claims. The claims are believed to be roughly worth the same amount.

“The government’s compensation payment is a gesture of sympathy and compassion. They came here to travel and we offer our help on a humanitarian basis. No money can compensate for the loss of a life,” he said.

Mr Noraphat, the provincial governor, stressed yesterday the need for all relevant agencies to develop safety measures to restore confidence in Phuket’s tourism industry.

He said an emergency response and coordination centre will be set up to handle any future mishaps, should they arise, and work closely with another help centre in Phangnga.

A tourist database must be set up to keep track of tourists taking diving trips. he said. Tour boat operators will also be required to follow certain measures and procedures to ensure tourists are safe, he added.

These include making travellers wear wristbands containing their personal information and installing surveillance cameras at ports.

He said the operation centre in Chalong Bay in Phuket that is responsible for search and rescue operations has been closed, but the coordinating centre will continue to assess and resolve any remaining issues and develop guidelines for future action.

Mr Noraphat said the 11-day operation involved 16 boats, eight helicopters and dozens of divers from Thailand, China, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

The boats and helicopters were dispatched several agencies including from the Royal Thai Navy, the marine police, the Marine Department, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, and private operators.

The governor said 46 bodies have been identified with 39 cremated and seven sent to China. The sunken boats will be raised and inspected, officials said.