Marine Department reassures public that 'river taxi' travel is safe
The Marine Department is enforcing safety measures for boat passengers on waterways across the country, its acting director-general Sorapong Paithoonpong assured the public on Saturday.
The department’s officials in Bangkok and its regional offices have been instructed to check the readiness of passenger boats, crew, and safety gear – including life jackets – as well as piers to ensure maximum safety, Sorapong said.
Boat pilots have been advised to closely follow weather forecasts, he said.
The department operates patrol boats on the Chao Phraya River and Saen Sap Canal, Bangkok’s major water-transport routes, to ensure safety. Department officials have dispatched to piers along both waterways to ensure the safety of boat passengers.
The director-general encouraged members of the public to report any marine transport safety issues through its hotline (1199).
Data from the department on Friday showed that the Chao Phraya Express river taxis carried a total of 13,054 passengers on 114 trips, while MINE Smart Ferry electric boats carried 2,148 passengers on 44 trips.
Ferries on the Chao Phraya operated 886 trips on Friday, carrying 19,313 passengers, while restaurant boats served 5,694 customers on 25 cruises.
Canal boats operating on Saen Sap Canal carried 28,379 passengers on 168 trips on Friday.
In the provinces, passenger boats carried a total of 148,993 passengers on 3,079 trips on Friday.
