New ferry cruise between Pattaya and Samui completes test run

[PeteC]

https://thethaiger.com/news/samui/new-f ... s-test-run (Photo)

Last night, Samui Cruise hosted a launch party in Koh Samui at the completion of its test run for a new cruise ferry route between Koh Samui and Pattaya. The service is expected to launch later in the month though exact departure dates have not been set.

The boat journey takes 0ver 12 hours each direction and is planned depart at 5pm from Pattaya and from Samui, arriving at the destination port by 8am. The number of journeys each week has not yet been announced. The operators of the boat told The Thaiger that they look forward to launching the regular service aboard their Seahorse Ferry boat.

“SPcruise will be ready to service our cruise from Pattaya to Koh Samui roundtrip by late September 2022, all information will be launched via www.SPcruise.com in due time.”

The boat is more like a cruise ship than a ferry boat, boasting seating options ranging from an entry level reclining seat, to a capsule bed, all the way to first class private quarters that look practically like a hotel room. Prices for the different seat, bed, and rooms types but it is believed that rooms will be somewhere around the 3,000 baht mark for the overnight journey.

The ferry boat also does not skimp on facilities, with a restaurant, spa and massage services, and a variety of nightlife entertainment options. Like a cruise, the boat is outfitted with a full bar, karaoke bar, and a disco. Transporting a car or motorbike is easy as well, as the ship boasts two levels of car parking.

The test run departed Pattaya on Friday late afternoon and arrived to fanfare in Koh Samui yesterday, A collection of travel industry professionals were invited to an opening night gala aboard the ferry boat featuring an open bar, impressive food spread and live music to celebrate the launch of the new route.

When regular service is launched, the ferry will run between Chon Buri province from Chuksamed Pier in Sattahip and Nathon Pier, the largest pier in Koh Samui where cruise ships have traditionally landed.

SOURCE: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Samui-Cruise-109621371798282

[Big Boy]

Damn, 2 months earlier, and it could have been part of my cunning plan to and from Samui. A drive to Pattaya is a lot easier than Donsak. 3K for a cabin sounds very reasonable.

[PeteC]

Their website isn't functioning yet and the article doesn't state the price for vehicles. Perhaps the same or a bit more than that for a person passenger?

Is that one of the ferries that used to be on the Hua Hin > Pattaya run? If not, I wonder what country they got them from. I don't recall seeing that type in Hong Kong.

[Nereus]

Is that one of the ferries that used to be on the Hua Hin > Pattaya run? If not, I wonder what country they got them from. I don't recall seeing that type in Hong Kong.

That thing is big enough to put one (or 2) of the previous Hua Hin ferries inside!
Looks more like a european built ship to me.

[PeteC]

Here's a video, all in Thai though.

[PeteC]

Picked this up from a miscellaneous shipping article:

"Passenger ro-ro ship BLUE DOLPHIN, GT 7003, built 1994 Japan, flag Thailand, bought in Japan, operator/owner SEAHORSE FERRIES CO LTD, capacity 586 passengers, 80 trucks and 20 cars."

There seems to be two of them. This Sattahip > Samui route, and Satthip > Songkhla which appears to have been operating for a few months now.

Edit: Piecing together a few things from the video and articles, This "Blue Dolphin" ship I think is the Sattahip > Songkhla vessel as it's already in operation. The vessel to Samui may be smaller and not hold as many vehicles and people. We'll see.

[hhinner]

The Samui Cruise FB page also has the blue dolphin as the operating vessel. Possibly alternating journeys?

[Nereus]

It is confusing, but I think that you wiil find that the ship in question is the following:

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/de ... UE_DOLPHIN

IMO number 9100437

Flag: Thailand [TH]

Year Built: 1994
Home Port: BANGKOK

THE BLUE DOLPHIN (IMO: 9100437) is a Ro-Ro/Passenger Ship that was built in 1994 (28 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Thailand.
It’s carrying capacity is 7003 Gross Tonnage and her current draught is reported to be 5.5 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 136.6 meters and her width is 22.4 meters.
......................................................................................................................

https://www.balticshipping.com/vessel/imo/9773818

BLUE DOLPHIN, IMO 9773818

Flag Japan

Year of build 2016

BLUE DOLPHIN is a RO-RO built in 2016. Currently sailing under the flag of Japan. It's gross tonnage is 8850 tons.
..........................................................................................
edit: add the following:

https://ships.jobmarineman.com/the-blue ... n-9100437/

Engine Builder Semt-Pielstick. Mein Gott! Or SACRÉ BLEU! Some poor sod is in for some nightmares with these engines!!!

Monsieur Pielstick:

[hhinner]

Still confused. The Songkhla ferry and Samui Cruise FB pages both show the same vessel (as far as I can tell) - "The Blue Dolphin".

[Nereus]

More here. There is only 1 ship (in Thailand),regardless of what may be on social media.

26 December2021

https://www.tap-magazine.net/blog-th/int66

'The Seahorse Ferry' Opening up a new dimension to travel across the Gulf of Thailand.

How good can it be? If the journey from east to south is seamlessly interconnected. With boats crossing the Gulf of Thailand, it can transport both people and cars. It's more comfortable to fast than the road...

A new dimension of this form of travel is already emerging with The Blue Dolphin ferry service of The Seahorse Ferry Co., Ltd., Thailand's first RORO-Passenger or ROPAX to sail from Sattahip-Songkhla. Start your first trip On Nov. 15.

Travel across the Gulf of Thailand by person and car From Sattahip to Songkhla, just 20 hours.

Pongthep Yellow Suwan The Seahorse Ferry executive says ROPAX is a long-used form of transport abroad. In Scandinavia, Europe, as well as In China and Japan, there have been no such boats in Thailand in the past. In spite of that, our home landscape looks like an axe.

After visiting China to see the transport model and having the opportunity to try out a boat ride from Dalian city to Yantai, which shortens the journey time of thousands of kilometers to just six hours, I saw an opportunity to use this transport model to link travel between the east and the south, where there is currently only one Phetkasem road down to the south.

Opening ferry routes 'Sattahip-Songkhla' is also in line with the government's policy of linking the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) with the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC), with the port of origin located at Chuk Samet Port or Sattahip Commercial Port. It can arrive at U-Tapao Airport within 10 minutes and is also close to tourist attractions such as Samae San Island. Koh Kham It is also possible to reach Pattaya and Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in 40 minutes, 60 minutes to Laem Chabang Pier and 3 hours 40 minutes to the Aranyaprathet border.

The 20-hour ferry journey from Sattahip to Songkhla saves more time compared to truck transport that takes 3 days, can reduce transportation costs and reduce energy consumption holistically, reduce traffic jams and accidents on the route to the south, reduce PM2.5 pollution, and save the government's road maintenance budget in the long run," said The Seahorse Ferry executive, recalling the benefits of running a new ferry across the Gulf of Thailand that can transport the whole person. Connecting the east with the south, upon reaching the port destination in Songkhla province, you can connect to Hat Yai. Visit songkhla old town, Samila Beach, travel across the Andaman Sea side of Koh Lipe, continue down to 3 southern border provinces, or head back up to Nakhon Si Thammarat. Crossing over to Koh Samui can also be conveniently transported.

Pilot round trip boats once a week

The Blue Dolphin is a ship imported from Japan that formerly served on the Hakodate Inter-City Route. Hokkaido island and Japan's Aomori Prefecture The atmosphere inside the ship retains its Japanese vibe. The hull measures 7,003 gross tons, is 136 meters long and 24 meters wide, can carry 580 passengers, and can accommodate ten wheels. Personal cars and motorcycles Achieve a speed of about 18-20 knots.

Inside the ship, each floor is clearly divided separately. There are 3 parking levels (approximately 900 square meters), while the passenger zone has 2 floors and 1 rooftop, the cabin has a standard seat for 200 people and a VIP reclining seat of 40 seats.

for fares. It is currently also a promotional price. Divided into

One-way ticket THB 1,000 /round trip THB 1,900
4WD car (with driver + 1 passenger) one way 5,000 baht / round trip 9,000 baht
Motorcycle (engine over 500 cc) one way 2,500 baht / round trip 4,500 baht
Motorcycle (engine up to 500 cc) one way 1,500 baht / round trip 2,500 baht
Truck Trailer Length up to 5 meters, one way 3,000 baht / round trip 5,400 baht

Anyone who wants a room can afford an extra. There are 5 types of rooms on board: premier room, 2 persons with ensuite bathroom. There is a Jacuzzi priced at 6,000 baht, a compact capsule room of 1 person for 700 baht for those travelling as a family, parents and children have a comfort room for 4 people to accommodate, complete facilities and hot meals while on board, ensuring safety both the boat standard and covid-19 precautions.

present The Blue Dolphins begin piloting the 'Sattahip-Songkhla' round-trip navigation once a week, departing from the port at Sattahip every Tuesday at 4pm and arriving in Songkhla the next day at noon. The return leg will then depart from the port at Songkhla every Wednesday. At 4 p.m. to Sattahip the next day at noon. The journey takes 20 hours, and the loading and unloading stop is 4 hours.

As for the response after the first boat launch since Nov. 15, The Seahorse Ferry executives said they'd be looking forward to the first flight. He said that there are both tourist customers and cargo trucks who are interested in using the service both on a round trip and a trip continuously.

"The transport sector has both routes, mainly from the south to the east, where raw materials such as timber and container exports are transported to the laem chabang deep-sea port destination, but if transported from east to south, most of them are ready-to-sell and retail goods.

As for the group of tourists who come to use the service, there are families, driving lines, etc. People who enjoy water activities, carry boats. Unloading jet skis to travel to the South, some of them wading around, used to have women traveling alone, driving camping gear to travel to the Northeast. In the south, there are quite a few tourists who want to visit the Northeast. It can be continued to the Northeast via Phanom Sarakham. No need to go through Bangkok. Another interesting group is Malaysians who want to visit Pattaya but can't drive, which despite not having opened their borders yet, has started to attract Malaysians.

For next year's direction, The Seahorse Ferry. The company aims to open two round-trip boat trips a week, midweek and late in the week, to accommodate tourism. It also plans to invest in one additional ferry if passenger volume reaches 60%.

"We see 'The Seahorse Ferry' as a starting point for us to bring together business units in the field of tourism, whether it's a hotel partner, a restaurant, and our intention is to bring growth to the local areas that reach...

The charm of boat travel is that we spend time alone with ourselves and our loved ones, as if time has come to a standstill, relaxing from the rush of life in the midst of the sea with 360-degree views of sunrise and sunset on board. From the old days, anyone who wanted to experience this kind of journey had to go as far as abroad," the Seahorse Ferry executive said.

For those interested in more information about ferry routes. 'Sattahip-Songkhla' can be inquired about or booked via LINE Official: @theseahorseferry and Facebook : The Seahorse Ferry.
....................................................................................................................
Personally, I cannot see how this will be a viable operation.

[Nereus]

And this: 25 Jan 2022

https://thelist.group/realist/blog/%E0% ... %E0%B8%B2/

And this: 19/05/2021

https://www.hatyaitoday.com/seahorse-ferries/

The first test ferry ride, Chonburi-Songkhla, takes just 20 hours to run.

Today, May 19, 2021, The Blue Dolphin ferry of Sea Horse Ferry Co., Ltd. has arrived in Songkhla. Enter the jetty at Prateep Sealand Construction Wharf, Rama Source Road, Songkhla Municipality, where today's trip is the first. Chonburi – Songkhla route