'Phoenix' had serious design flaws, finds initial probe

'Phoenix' had serious design flaws, finds initial probe

Police promise thorough inspection of salvaged wreck

The dive boat Phoenix has been raised and docked in Phuket. Believed to have been designed wrongly from the start, the boat is to be key evidence in the investigation of who was responsible for the deaths of 47 Chinese. (Post Today photo)
The dive boat Phoenix has been raised and docked in Phuket. Believed to have been designed wrongly from the start, the boat is to be key evidence in the investigation of who was responsible for the deaths of 47 Chinese. (Post Today photo)

Phuket: Police investigators and forensic officials are gearing up for the next phase of investigation now that the Phoenix tour boat that sank and killed dozens of Chinese visitors in July has been pulled from the bottom of the sea.

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the probe will focus on the vessel to determine who else should be held responsible for the accident believed to have caused a plunge in the number of Chinese tourist arrivals.

He said the Phoenix, which has just been salvaged four months after it sank, is a key piece of evidence and the wreckage is off-limits to those not involved in the investigation.

The boat was under 45 metres of water, 3.7 kilometres off Koh Hae after it sank during a storm on July 5, killing 47 Chinese passengers. It was carrying 89 tourists and 12 crew on a return trip from a diving expedition.

On the same day, a yacht carrying 39 passengers and two crew also sank but all were rescued.

The Thai-Singaporean salvage team used slings and cranes to lift the boat from the water about 5pm on Saturday.

An initial investigation found the vessel had been built off-standard, using an adapted engine from a 10-wheel truck, which posed a risk, while a water pump was also found to be smaller than the standard required, according to Mr Weerasak.

"So far we've learned that people's recklessness was a factor. Now we'll find out if the boat had any other defects or design flaws. We'll wait for the result," the tourism minister said.

Mr Weerasak was also joined by Chinese representatives led by Li Chunlin, Counsellor and Consul-General at the Chinese Embassy in Thailand.

Mr Li said he believes Chinese tourism will return to normal as soon as the case is resolved, adding that his office is satisfied with the government's efforts to ensure justice for the victims and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.

The embassy will stay in close contact with the Thai side to follow up on the results of the inspection of the wreck, he added.

After the accident, Woralak Ruekchaikal, 26, the owner of TC Blue Dream, the company which operated the Phoenix, and the vessel's chief engineer Onchan Kanhayothi, were arrested on charges of recklessness causing death and injury. The chief of Phuket's marine office was also removed from his post.

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