Thai ferry disaster: Skipper ‘on drugs’
The captain of a ferry that capsized about 1,500 metres offshore from Pattaya on Sunday evening, leading to the deaths of six tourists, has turned himself in, telling Thai police he was high on drugs.
The Bangkok Post reported that the 42-year-old skipper turned himself into police, hours after his ferry capsized while returning about 200 Thai and foreign tourists from a day trip to Koh Larn.
A police chief said the captain confessed to officers that he took some drugs before going to work, and that he and the crew lost control of the vessel as a result.
He allegedly confessed the ferry wandered off course, and hit rocks.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation confirmed to the Bangkok Post that six people died – three foreigners, including a Russian woman, and three Thais. Another 18 were treated for injuries.
Authorities were still trying to verify the identities of the foreigners.
The Marine Department will investigate the cause of the ferry’s capsizing, but an initial investigation suggested the deaths and injuries stemmed from overloading and insufficient safety equipment.
The double-decker ferry sank shortly after leaving Koh Larn with a full load of passengers heading for Pattaya.
The boat’s water pumps broke down, the vessel was flooded and the engine stopped functioning, he said.
The passengers panicked, claiming there were insufficient life jackets on board the ferry.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026