The group visited both the main Trat ferry piers of Centre Point and Ferry Koh Chang. The deputy-governor said afterwards that Trat’s health and safety officers had established a code of operations for port officers and ferry crews to follow.
He continued by saying that the rules were designed to ensure the safe passage of foot and car passengers while they were on the ferries. He did warn passengers they needed to do their bit and should obey instructions issued by crew members as well as refrain from climbing onto precarious places to take photographs or selfies.
The inspection tour took place at the start of the Sonkran Festival and was designed to instil confidence in the safety of the only means of getting to Koh Chang. Today’s large car-friendly ferries are a far cry from the wooden-hulled fishing trawlers that were used to ferry tourists between Trat and the Gulf of Thailand island until a decade ago.
12GO ASIA offers a no-frills and practical combo-ticket for travel from Bangkok’s Mor Chit Bus Station to Trat and Koh Chang. The ticket price covers both the bus and ferry trips.
Provincial officers run safety inspection on Koh Chang ferries
News in Asia
A delegation led by the deputy-governor of Trat Province has conducted an inspection tour of Koh Chang island ferries. Chansak Tawin and his entourage visited ferry departure terminals on the Trat coast and looked over vessels and checked for their seaworthiness.