ANN/THE STAR – High waves yesterday morning resulted in a night ferry heading to Koh Tao, a resort island in the Gulf of Thailand, sinking.
Speedboats safely transported all 70 passengers and crews to the shore safely.
The 114.93-tonne ferry, T Sandee Maneethup 111, had left the pier at Bandon Bay in Surat Thani province at 10pm on Thursday.
It was scheduled to reach Koh Tao, some 110 kilometres (km) offshore in Surat Thani’s Koh Pha Ngan district, at 6am yesterday.
Officials said the ferry was hit by waves of about three metres high, resulting in sea water entering its hull and damaging the water pumps. The vessel stalled in water at around 15 nautical miles (27.78km) from Koh Tao and was slowly sinking.
After the crew alerted officials, rescue speedboats were dispatched to transport the crew and the mainly foreign tourist passengers to the Koh Tao shore. No injuries or missing persons were reported as of press time yesterday.
Officials said that the ship completely sank beneath the waves at around 10.30am yesterday.
