Canal ferry pier stops '30 seconds of danger'

Canal ferry pier stops '30 seconds of danger'

Commuters rush to get off a Khlong Saen Saep ferry during its brief stop. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Commuters rush to get off a Khlong Saen Saep ferry during its brief stop. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Commuter boats along Khlong Saen Saep canal spend only 30 seconds at piers, posing a danger to passengers getting on and off the boats, according to Deputy Transport Minister Omsin Cheevapruek.

The deputy minister voiced his concern for the safety of passengers after trying out the boat service, to get  first-hand experience, on Friday.

Most commuter boats stop too briefly at piers along the canal, Mr Ormsin said.

“However, residents living along the piers said no passengers had fallen from the boats recently, so it is possible the passengers adjust quickly.

"But in the past there have been several accidents [passengers falling into the canal], particularly when City Hall discharged water from the canal, making the water level abnormally low,’’ said the deputy minister.

Mr Ormsin said he had instructed Marine Department chief Sorasak Saensombat to call a meeting with the operator of the boat service to discuss safety protocols, particularly how long the boats should stop at each pier.

Mr Sorask said he had invited a representative of Family Transport (2002) Co, operator of the boat services, to discuss the matter and would issue firm guidelines for maximum safety of passengers in line with the deputy minister's directions.

He had asked the firm for cooperation, and to instruct boat drivers and staff to improve safety measures for commuters getting on and off the ferries. Boats must stop and wait until passengers get properly on or off the vessels before leaving the pier, he said.

There are 28 piers along the 18-kilometre boat service on the canal, which runs east-west in Bangkok -- from Wat Si Boonruang in Bang Kapi district to Saphan Phan Fah in Pomprap Sattruphai district.

A commuter boat in Khlong Saen Saep (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

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