Deputy Mayor Ronakit
Ekasingh heads the latest water safety meeting at city hall.
Warunya Thongrod
Pattaya’s main tourist-assistance center, first proposed last summer
after a string of deadly marine accidents, won’t be complete for at
least another six months.
Speaking at a Feb. 26 meeting of 10 agencies working on improving
Pattaya’s marine-safety record, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh said the
city has received 3.5 million baht to build a permanent center at the
old pier site in South Pattaya to integrate services that respond to
water-related accidents. The center should open in about 180 days, he
said.
“When the new center is completed, tourists will have
more confidence that their trip to Pattaya city will be safe,” Ronakit
said.
Region 2 police, Tourist Police and City Hall officials have been
operating since June out of temporary quarters at the existing Tourist
Information Center.
The calls for an integrated marine-response center began last spring
after 18 South Korean tourists and two guides were hurt in a speedboat
collision off Koh Larn. Even as government officials scrambled to raise
funds and personnel, the accidents continued.
Seven foreign tourists were killed when an extremely overloaded ferry
capsized and sank off Koh Larn Nov. 3. The month previous, an Indian
woman was killed by the propeller of the speedboat pulling her parasail.
On Aug. 28, two Chinese tourists died and eight were injured when their
speedboat crashed into an anchored longtail boat off Bali Hai Pier. And
a Thai taxi driver swimming in Najomtien had his throat cut by a boat
prop in May.
The proposed center would help prepare equipment in
advance of any marine accidents, respond quickly when an accident occurs
and provide assistance and counseling to victims after an accident. The
facility would be able to call on the Chonburi Police Station, Tourist
Police, Marine Police, Highway Police, Chonburi Immigration Police, four
area hospitals and the Sawang Boriboon and Thamma Rassamee foundations’
medics.
Ronakit said the city hasn’t stood idle in the past eight months. Since
the center was proposed, officials have implemented marine regulations
for banana boats, parasailing, restaurant boats, fishing boats and
parking area. Officers have drafted specific routes for ships with buoys
to limit speed. Passengers will have to wear life-vests and inspections
of ships & captains licenses will be conducted while operators must
realize the importance of safety, he said.
In addition, three “integration centers” were opened in South Pattaya,
Jomtien Beach and Soi Chaiyapruek, he said.
