Fireboats ‘needed’ to meet threat of cruise ship fires

Phuket, Phangnga, and Krabi need to have fireboats capable of dealing with potential cruise ship blazes, according to a former deputy commander of the Third Naval Area Command.
Rear Adm Amornchote Sujirat said there is a lack of firefighting boats in these three areas even though these provinces welcome hundreds of cruise ships annually.
Blazes aboard ships are common, especially while docked, and they often result in vessels sinking because fires cannot be extinguished in time, he said.
Rear Adm Amornchote suggested that the government procure high-pressure fireboats, particularly speedboats, to handle emergencies more effectively.
He also emphasised the critical role of fire prevention measures on board vessels, including trained crew and proper equipment, in managing fires quickly.
Rear Adm Amornchote’s comments follow a fire on the Flamingo Lady 2 catamaran on Thursday due to an engine malfunction that caused an explosion, which resulted in the vessel sinking off Phuket.
While no lives were lost in the incident, he urged local authorities to address the lack of firefighting vessels to improve safety at busy ports.
The catamaran’s captain, Jaroon Ruengsamut, sustained minor injuries. He was sent to Thalang Hospital in Phuket for treatment.
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the incident.
Ms Manaporn also suspended the catamaran’s operating licence and ordered that its licensing status be checked. She said legal action would be taken if the licence was found to have expired and had not received an extension.
She said strict safety measures must be enforced on all passenger boats, and operators must follow all legal safety requirements to prevent accidents.