Safety overhaul promised following commuter boat blast

SUNDAY, March 06, 2016

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT plans to require the owners of commuter boats to check the engine and fuel system of vessels twice a year in the wake of the explosion on a commuter boat on Bangkok’s Saen Saeb Canal on Saturday that left dozens of people injured.

Previously boat owners were required to do the check once a year.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion, which left 71 people injured. Of them, 19 remained hospitalised yesterday including four people in intensive care.

Police have not pressed charges against anyone yet.

Marine Department deputy director-general Nat Chubchai vowed to step up measures for commuter boat safety.

In addition to increasing the frequency of the safety checks, he said fuel specialists should be stationed at every pier.

“Although the exact cause [of the explosion] is still not known, it is very likely the blast occurred because of LNG [liquefied natural gas],” he said.

Following the explosion, the Marine Department ordered the suspension of all 25 LNG-powered commuter boats operating on Saen Saeb Canal.

“The LNG tanks must be removed,” Nat said, as he inspected the pier in front of Wat Sriboonruang.

He believed the suspension would not affect commuters along the canal greatly, given the high number of boats operating on it.

“With the suspension, the fleet on the canal will still have 47 boats in service,” Nat said.

It is believed the number of people using the boats yesterday was lower than normal, although many boats were full.

Narayu Pittayapreechanon, of the Marine Department’s boat-standard unit, said all 45 boats at the Wat Sriboonruang pier were safe for ferrying commuters after being examined yesterday.

“As for minor flaws, we have already instructed the boat owners to make corrections,” he said.

The canal fleet belongs to Family Transport Co Ltd. The firm’s owner, Chavalit Methayaprapat, said he would not use LNG on the boats anymore.

“This blast affects people, not just me or my firm,” he said, “My firm started using LNG about eight or nine years ago because the government promoted alternative energy.”

Chavalit promised to take care of all victims injured by the blast. “We will compensate them in line with proper guidelines,” he said.

Hua Mak Police Station superintendent Colonel Sarayut Junnawat said police were interviewing witnesses and were awaiting the Office of Forensic Science’s examination results on the blast boat.