Phoenix
- Events
Four year anniversary of Phuket’s sinking of the ‘Phoenix’ – 46 people drowned
This week commemorated the fourth anniversary of the rescue of the 13 members of the Wild Boar football team from the Tham Luang Caves in Chiang Rai, a story that gripped international audiences. That story had a happy ending. But the ongoing drama in northern Thailand masked a much sadder story, that of the sinking of the tour boat, the…
- Opinion
Phuket’s killer boat Phoenix ripped apart for scrap metal
OPINION A very sorry sight today as an infamous relic of Thailand’s worst maritime disaster ends up being ripped apart and sold for scrap. Thai authorities will be glad to see the ghosts of ‘Phoenix’ gone once and for all. On July 5, 2018, two tour boats capsized off the south west coast of Phuket, during a sudden storm. 46 people…
- Opinion
Two years ago – remembering Phuket’s Phoenix boat tragedy
“There were 13 children that died in this disaster. Many were later found dead, floating face down, not far from their deceased parents.” On an otherwise ordinary afternoon, two tour boats, Phoenix and Serenata, were heading back to Phuket after a half day tour of snorkelling near Koh Racha. The weather forecast was for seasonal monsoonal SW winds and waves,…
- Tourism
Thailand’s tourism industry ponders drop of Chinese tourists
Thailand’s tourism authorities are getting jittery as the Kingdom continues to bleed Chinese tourists in the wake of a surging baht. They fear Thailand is losing its reputation as one of the most affordable destinations in south east Asia for Chinese tourists. Thailand’s most popular resorts, Pattaya and Phuket, have been particularly suffering from the discernible drop in Chinese visitors. Chinese tourists have…
- Phuket
Phoenix still up for grabs in Phuket – AMLO still seeking a buyer
The Thai Anti Money Laundering Office is still trying to auction off the Phoenix, the 30 metre tour boat that sank in July 2018, causing the drowning of 47 Chinese tourists off Phuket’s south east coast. A meeting was held by AMLO officials at the Phuket Provincial Hall this morning to discuss the auction of the boat. Starting bid is 900,000…
- Crime
‘Phoenix’ fails to attract any bidders at auction. Sits rotting in Phuket boatyard.
Last month’s auction to sell Phoenix, the tour boat that capsized causing the drowning of 47 Chinese tourists on July 5 last year, has failed to secure a buyer. Meanwhile the cursed vessel sits gathering dust and accumulating storage fees of 100,000 baht per month at the Rassada boat yard in Phuket. The boat went up for auction last month…
- Opinion
OPINION: The Phoenix shouldn’t be auctioned off today
The Phoenix is going up for auction today. The auction is being held by Thailand’s AMLO (Anti Money Laundering Office) as the investigation is now complete and the vessel is no longer needed for evidence. Interested bidders have been able to inspect the vessel as it sits at the Rattanachai Shipyard in Phuket. The Phoenix is the boat that sank…
- Phuket
Phoenix goes up for auction, starting price 900,000 baht
The notorious and ill-fated tour boat Phoenix, which sank off Phuket last July killing 47 Chinese tourists, is among 48 items that the Anti-Money Laundering Office will auction off this Wednesday at its head office. At the time, many of the dead were retrieved from the boat, though its crew and captain escaped unharmed via life rafts, leaving many passengers…
- Phuket
Chinese tourists flock back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019
Chinese tourists are flocking back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019 after a six month hiatus following last year’s Phoenix boat tragedy. 47 Chinese tourists drowned in the incident, including many children, after the boat capsized on July 5 in a late afternoon storm as the tour boat was returning to Phuket. In the following months hotels received thousands…
- Phuket
AMLO seizes ‘Phoenix’, plans to sell by auction
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has seized the ‘Phoenix’ which will now be sold by auction. The Thai Immigration Bureau Chief, Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, has already confirmed that many aspects of the ‘Phoenix’ design and operation were substandard. The issues which made Phoenix illegal and substandard are mostly fixable, including proper marine-grade glass, marine-grade propulsion, proper bulkhead doors, ballasting and approved…
- Phuket
‘Phoenix’ substandard – more officials face legal action
The Thai Immigration Bureau Chief, Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, yesterday has confirmed that many aspects of the ‘Phoenix’ design and operation were substandard. And more officials are now facing legal action as the investigation uncovers the multiple failures of the design, operations on the day and behaviour of the Captain and crew during the sinking incident. Lt Gen Surachate says, “An…
- Phuket
‘Phoenix’ investigation to wrap up within seven days
Officials say it will take up to seven days to understand the full cause of the Phoenix sinking while evidence continues to be collected. Yesterday the Royal Thai Police Deputy Commander Gen Rungroj Saengkram, acting chief of Immigration, Maj Gen Surachete Hakparn and the Deputy Chinese Consul-General in Songkhla and Director of the China Consulate-General in Phuket Li Chun Foo…
- Phuket
Phoenix design failures – Forensic probe begins
Now that Phoenix has been hoisted, successfully, from 45 metres below the surface of the Andaman Sea, the next phase begins as forensic experts, engineers and naval architect pour over the wreckage to find clues and prepare reports for the forthcoming court cases. The Tourism and Sports Minister, who has been in Phuket all weekend overseeing the operations, along with…
- Phuket
The Phoenix rises to the surface
PHOTOS: Facebook/สุรเชษฐ์ หักพาล The yacht sank late afternoon on July 5 in a short, sudden storm. Most boats would have quite capable of withstanding the wind squal and waves on the day. But Phoenix capsized and sank, taking with her 47 Chinese tourists. The full reasons are stilll being investigated. Today, the actual yacht rose from the depths of the…
- Phuket
Boats being banned in Phoenix salvage zone
The Phuket Marine office is warning boats to be careful when navigating around the area where the Phoenix salvage operations are underway of Koh Her, south-west of Phuket. “The Phoenix salvage operations are underway until at least November 15 south off Koh Hei at 7º42’14.6″ North, 98º23’06.9″ East.” The announcement states that, for the best chances of boat recovery and safety,…
- Phuket
Singapore barge and crane arrive for the rising of Phoenix
Phuket’s Governor Pakkapong Tawipat says that the barge which has been making its way from Singapore with a 1,200 tons crane this week, has arrived at ready to help with the recovery of ‘Phoenix’. The Governor is expecting that, if the weather holds, the boat will be brought to the surface before Thursday. Equipment in four containers was also being…
- Phuket
More ‘wind and waves’ – Phoenix still at the bottom of the Andaman Sea
The Phoenix, the boat that sank on July 5 off Phuket’s south west coast, causing the drowning of 47 Chinese tourists, remains 45 metres underwater as the new salvage team have little more success than the original salvage team who threw in the towel a week ago. A Marine Police diver on site, Pol Lt Passakorn Sirichuchote, is quoted in…
- Phuket
“Phoenix to be raised in five days” – says Surachate Hakparn
For now, the Phoenix sits 45 meters underwater in the Andaman Sea, south west of Phuket, off Koh Racha After the contracted salvage team threw in the towel trying to recover the Phoenix, the Marine Office says the police have taken over the project to bring the sunken vessel back to the surface. The police say it’s a necessary piece…
- Phuket
Phoenix salvage team walks away from contract – police to take over
A private sector company has walked away from the contract to salvage the ‘Phoenix’ and bring it back to the surface after numerous failed attempts and two months of excuses why they were unable to resurface the vessel. The company continually complained about weather and strong currents despite many calm days during their fruitless two months of operations. They have…
- Phuket
One dead in Phoenix boat salvage operations
The salvage operations for the ‘Phoenix’ have become mired in poor arrangements and unsuitable weather since operations began several months ago. Now, one person has died during the operations. On September 29, around noon, 37 year old Nipat ‘Jos’ Gladnak died during the salvage operation. It’s reported that Khun Nipat fainted whilst standing at the back of the salvage boat.…
