Reaffirming their commitment to safety on the new Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry, Chonburi marine authorities staged a fire drill aboard one of the catamarans to simulate a real-life emergency.
The Marine Safety Control Center, Chonburi Marine Traffic Control Center and Bali Hai Pier Marine Rescue Center organized the drill aboard the Royal Passenger Liner 3 June 28.
The exercise’s mission was to simulate the rescue of 104 people aboard. The passengers were soldiers from the 14th Military Circle in Chonburi.
The simulated fire broke out in the engine room out three nautical miles off Koh Larn after the boat left Pattaya for its cross-gulf voyage. The captain put out a distress call to the marine traffic control centers at the Bali Hai and in Sriracha that the fire could not be contained.
The Marine Safety Control Center deployed 20 rescue boats, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation sent two speedboats and the White Shark Boat Club send one boat.
Passengers were pulled from both the boat and from the sea where they were bobbing in life jackets and rings. Medical teams were dispatched from Banglamung Hospital, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Pattaya Memorial Hospital and Pattaya International Hospital along with five ambulances and four rescue vehicles from Sawang Boriboon.
Additional support was supplied by an EC645 T2 helicopter from the Army Region 1. All victims were transported to shore by speedboat, with a total of 99 people saved.
In the simulation, five people were declared missing, while three suffered severe injuries, seven with moderate injuries and 90 with bumps and bruises.
Officials called the exercise a success. The drills will be organized annually.
