Sorry, IMO we once again have smoke blown up our asses for one reason or another.
I have nothing concrete from this side, but it's a week away from high season and no news whatsoever, not a peep.
There is a boat(s) but they've either found big problems with sea trials, or the 'fees' to get the required licenses and permits have proven insurmountable...i.e., some politician wants to keep his options open in case he wants to start a service within the next 100 years.
I hope I'm proven wrong and eat my words. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
prcscct wrote:Sorry, IMO we once again have smoke blown up our asses for one reason or another.
I have nothing concrete from this side, but it's a week away from high season and no news whatsoever, not a peep.
There is a boat(s) but they've either found big problems with sea trials, or the 'fees' to get the required licenses and permits have proven insurmountable...i.e., some politician wants to keep his options open in case he wants to start a service within the next 100 years.
I hope I'm proven wrong and eat my words. Pete
Thanks for the Good information from the Pattaya side of the rim.
I have a hunch that some politicians don't want to open their own business they just want a cut something in range 10 to 15 in the worst case 20% of the Total earnings.
Thai politicians don't like to invest their own money into a Project but what they like to reap the benefits or as you mentioned precisely throw as many obstacle in the way as they can ie. Red Tape @ insurmountable procedures in registration licenses etc, to fend off any entrepreneur start ups especially those who have foreign backing in this case swedish who where planning this Project for two years, As one Associate of the politician can take over the Project.
Now I would would pass the ball over to our Man in Pranburi side of the rim our Man Barry S from Mermaid Cruises if he had heard anything new from the gentleguys of the Hua Hin to Pattaya Jetboat service. If there's anything please let us know Please.
As i had told this service to my aunt she was excited about it, and can;t wait to try it out
Your's The understudy
In Love with Hua Hin since 19naughty9 and it ain't fading!!!
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
I have been told by someone who has seen the boat, but not someone that I know so this may not be correct, that after the last sea trial the boat was being dragged ashore and got dropped off the apparatus onto concrete, and that this has caused some serious damage (stress fractures) which will require some serious repair work. I was also told that the Thai boat builder took it upon himself to add a few feet at the back of the boat which then caused some problems during the trials as he didn't also move the engine to balance the boat. The person that told me this hinted that the cost of fixing this may be too much for the service ever to start up, and that the Swedish backers were expecting the boat builder to pay for the problems, as both the damage and design faults were his, but that this was pretty unlikely to happen. I again stress that this is a story related to me by someone I just met so may not be correct but he did seem to know a lot about it. If there is anyone who knows maybe they can confirm, correct or deny the situation?
Wanderlust wrote:I have been told by someone who has seen the boat, but not someone that I know so this may not be correct, that after the last sea trial the boat was being dragged ashore and got dropped off the apparatus onto concrete, and that this has caused some serious damage (stress fractures) which will require some serious repair work. I was also told that the Thai boat builder took it upon himself to add a few feet at the back of the boat which then caused some problems during the trials as he didn't also move the engine to balance the boat. The person that told me this hinted that the cost of fixing this may be too much for the service ever to start up, and that the Swedish backers were expecting the boat builder to pay for the problems, as both the damage and design faults were his, but that this was pretty unlikely to happen. I again stress that this is a story related to me by someone I just met so may not be correct but he did seem to know a lot about it. If there is anyone who knows maybe they can confirm, correct or deny the situation?
I can neither confirm or deny the above, but feel that's very sad if in fact that is how it ends. I'm visiting in January & was hoping to take the boat to Pattaya.
So the choices are now bus or taxi I guess. Any others?
First of all, it isn't a problem with licenses or permits.
I have a boat operating licence here, my own marina, no Thai partners, and my big boat is authorized to travel the Gulf to Pattaya and back.
No money paid for this, simply an inspection of the boat's seaworthiness, safety features, it's suitability for the intended sea area(s) and the appropriate insurance.
The operating licence can also be up-/downgraded at any time according to the operator's justified wishes (e.g. following modifications) or the shipping authority's inspection findings. It has to be renewed annually after inspection.
The ferry service is not a viable option for me, though, because my boat isn't fast enough - cruising speed of 9-10 knots and it would interfere with our day cruise programme anyway.
Secondly, any tour boat (Thai or farang-owned) can dock free at Bali Hai pier in Pattaya at present.
The municipality is trying to introduce fees but is meeting with fierce resistance from Thai boat owners, especially, like those ferrying tourists to and from Ko Larn for 20 baht each way!
Docking this side isn't a problem either, only requiring permission from the owner of the mooring space.
Now for the ACTUAL situation in Pattaya:
I was in Pattaya a couple of weeks ago where I spoke to one of the Swedish consortium and also met their Australian consultant marine surveyor, a man with a lot of knowledge and over 30 years' experience in seamanship and boatbuilding.
I've also just spoken to both of them again on the phone while writing this and am authorised to give the following ACCURATE and UP-TO-DATE information free of any speculation.
The operating licence for the ferry service has already been granted - some time ago in fact!!
The Swedish company will NOT start operating the service until they are 100% happy with the vessel.
They have invested over THB 15 million in the project so far.
They are insisting on having the hulls modified by the boatbuilder to comply with the appropriate specs based on highly professional advice - and the boatbuilding company is unfortunately dragging its heels.
This is leading to inevitable delays and at the moment it is unfortunately not possible to say when the work will be completed.
I would like to reiterate that this is a very serious project and the fault does not lie with the owners.
With an investment of this size, they quite obviously want to start operations as quickly as possible.
According to the original timeframe, the service should already be running.
Nonetheless, they are also very aware of their responsibility and liability vis-à-vis their future passengers and are, to their credit, not prepared to take any risks with regard to the safety and comfort of the public.
If only other operators in different areas in this country and elsewhere would think the same rather than solely in terms of quick profit and return on investment .......!!!
The company apologises for the delay and I will post more information here as it becomes available.
barry,
That is good to hear and I wish them every bit of good luck. I apologise to them for my post as it appears now that the information given to me was an embellishment/chinese whisper on the actual situation.
I now eat my words , but glad to be the catalyst starting this round of updated info. Once they do get going it will be interesting to see if high/low season really makes a difference concerning passenger load. I have a feeling it's going to be used heavily by expats and well off Thais rather than tourists. We'll see. Thanks Barry. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
STEVE G wrote:
Any idea where would that be Barry, Hua Hin, Pak Nampran or elsewhere?
HH Fishing Pier.
Does BaaBaa know something that I don't ....???
That's what SJ said one page back on 24 Sep.
Super Joe wrote:Quick update:
Sent an email recently to operators asking about progress, wasn't really expecting a reply but just got one. Very nice email, apologizing for the delay to scheduled start, but they are still waiting for boat builders to complete the modifications. I'm assuming these are as a result from the recent sea trials, re-assuring to know they won't put it in service until it's good and ready.
Anyway, it's all still going ahead as soon as they can, no revised start date given just yet and the docking piers will be Bali Hai in Pattaya and the Fishing Pier in Hua Hin. Nice .
looking forward to this used to live over the darkside and went back a couple of weeks ago,we really enjoyed it,but dont think i could live there, its nice to come back here
Living out there now. Would be good to see a ferry service. It'll mean that bit less traffic having to take up road space and cut out the living traffic jam that's bangkok
I knew it was a good split second decision to pass the ball over to Barry and he converted it immediatly into a Score with his Update on this project.
Thank you very very much for this update and letz Hope the Thai shipbuilders finally put their Heaads out of their rear ends and buld the boat to the New Spec. provided by the 30 year expirienced Australian shipnuiliding expert.
Your's The understudy!!!
In Love with Hua Hin since 19naughty9 and it ain't fading!!!
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
it will never happen it only takes 3 hours by car now plus if you go by boat where does it stop in pattaya .if away from town then you have to get a taxi also where in hua hin will it dock waste of time they have been talking about this service for 10 years
to get the required licenses and permits have proven insurmountable...i.e., some politician wants to keep his options open in case he wants to start a service within the next 100 years. 
, but glad to be the catalyst starting this round of updated info. Once they do get going it will be interesting to see if high/low season really makes a difference concerning passenger load. I have a feeling it's going to be used heavily by expats and well off Thais rather than tourists. We'll see. Thanks Barry. Pete 
