The Bangkok Post and Bangkok Post Student Weekly have long had an ambitious programme to help Thai English teachers use our newspaper as a teaching resource. Over the years, we have developed a close relationship with many outstanding secondary, college and university teachers. This year, in cooperation with Star Cruises, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Angel Air and Singapore Airlines, we were able to organise a unique educational experience for a group of 100 of our long-time supporters. They were given a 5-day Phuket-Singapore cruise on the luxurious Superstar Gemini.

Getting there

Have you ever wondered how a large passenger ship navigates from port to port? It's quite a complex operation and on the Superstar Gemini it involves some of the most sophisticated, high-tech tools available.

According to Captain Kjell, radar is the eye of the ship. It sees everything of consequence above the waterline. Modern radar systems, like the one aboard the Superstar Gemini, are also computers. "They not only see neighbouring ships", said the captain, "but they also calculate their directions and speeds and the time when they will come the closest to our own vessel."

Captain Kjell said it is important to be able to see under the water as well. For that they have an echo-sound system. Ships are also aided by a marine version of an airplane's air traffic control system. Called the Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS), it provides the Superstar Gemini with up-to-the-minute information on passing ships from headquarters in Port Klang, Malaysia and Singapore.

No matter how much outside assistance is available, stressed Captain Kjell, he and his crew are the ones responsible for the passengers' safety. "Maybe I shouldn't say this," he said with a smile, "but that is why we assume that everyone else on the sea is an idiot. We know that some of them may be inexperienced, others may be asleep or even drunk. And some people may be afraid to do anything without first consulting their captian."

Meet the Captain, Learning from the Titantic
Experiences from Phuket-Singapore cruise


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