Boat Fire Near Koh Tao Triggers Evacuation by Royal Thai Navy
Tourist Boat Catches Fire During Diving Trip
KOH TAO, Thailand – A boat carrying 28 tourists on a diving trip near Koh Tao caught fire, prompting an urgent evacuation effort led by the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) Marine Department in Surat Thani province.
Incident Details and Evacuation
The fire broke out at 9:25 a.m. on March 16, when RTN Captain Natthaphon Sinphunphon, deputy director of the department, received an alert from Koh Tao’s rescue center about a blaze in the boat’s engine room. The vessel, named Davy Jones’ Locker, is a 23.29-gross-tonnage passenger boat owned by Davy Jones Locker Co., Ltd.
At the time of the incident, the boat was transporting tourists to a diving site approximately 5 to 6 nautical miles from the island. The Marine Department quickly coordinated with local agencies, private boats, and volunteers to ensure the safe evacuation of all tourists and crew members to another vessel.
Fire Damage and Investigation
While a separate team of volunteers managed to contain the fire, it caused damage to the engine room, the captain’s cabin, and the rear bathroom. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, and officials have launched an investigation to determine what led to the incident.
Recent Similar Incident Off Phuket’s Coast
In a related event, a potential disaster was averted when a catamaran carrying 38 foreign tourists capsized off the coast of Phuket. The incident occurred on January 13, when the Emiray 888 catamaran, which had departed from Chalong Pier on a day trip to Racha Island, started taking on water and eventually sank 1.6 nautical miles north of the island.
The regional rescue center coordinated efforts with local officials and patrol boats, while nearby speedboats and tour boats rushed to assist. Fortunately, all 33 Chinese tourists, two tour guides, and three crew members aboard were wearing life jackets and were safely rescued.
In response, the Tourist Police collaborated with the Port Authority and other relevant agencies to provide support to the affected tourists.
