BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand suspended efforts on Thursday (July 12) to salvage a boat that capsized and sank off its resort island of Phuket, officials said, putting the death toll in its worst tourist-related disaster in years at 46.

The Phoenix had 101 on board, including 89 tourists, all but two of them from China, when it went down in rough seas last Thursday during an outing to a small island. Forty-two passengers and the crew of a dozen Thais were rescued.

The salvage operation was suspended because the boat lay deep and currents were rough, Phuket police commander Teerapol Tipcharoen told reporters.

Divers would retrieve a final body from the shipwreck when weather conditions permit, said Rear Admiral Chareonpol Kumrasee, who helped lead the effort.

The monsoon season now under way can bring fierce squalls and high seas in southern Thailand, especially off its west coast, and questions have been raised about why the boat had set out to sea despite warnings of bad weather.

The captain of the Phoenix has been charged with negligence causing death, police said. He has denied the charges.

Religious rites for the dead were held throughout the week after families arrived in Phuket from China to identify relatives and take charge of survivors.

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The accident has led to a drop off in hotel bookings.

"We found that 10 to 15 per cent of advance hotel bookings in Phuket were canceled," said Thai tourism official Pongpanu Svetarundra.

Thailand's tourism sector, which accounts for 12 per cent of southeast Asia's second largest economy, has proved resilient to accidents, political turmoil and even bomb attacks over the past decade.

Chinese tourists made up nearly a third of last year's record arrivals of 35 million and more are expected this year, the tourism ministry says.

Two other boats capsized in the same vicinity as the Phoenix last week but their passengers were brought safely to shore.</s>The ceremony, which began at 8am, was held to bring peace to the souls of the departed.

Present to lead the ceremony were Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and Chen Xiongfeng, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The mass prayer this morning followed the first cremations of five of the victims at Phuket temples yesterday.

The funeral services began at Wat Kosit Wihan in Sapam, north of Phuket Town, where Governor Norraphat led a mass prayer ceremony starting at 7:30pm.

The mass was organised by the Ministry of Culture Phuket office in accordance with family’s wishes, reported the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department.

Present were Mr Chen of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Zhou Haicheng, who as the Chinese Consul-General in Songkhla is also the leading Chinese official to be represented in Phuket.

Resenting Thailand were Army Region 4 Deputy Commander Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat and Rear Admiral Jaroenphon Khumrasee, Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Naval Third Area Command, based at Cape Panwa on Phuket’s east coast, and a host of other high-ranking officials.

It was reported that the ceremony was held as family and relatives of some of the victims wanted to bring the epic tragedy to a close quickly, in Phuket.

Meanwhile, the bodies of 34 victims of the Phoenix tour boat disaster are being kept in freezer units on temple grounds nearby.

The Ministry of Culture Phuket office reported that it has made “emergency” reservations for cremation ceremonies for the bodies of the disaster victims at nine temples on the island: Wat Cherng Talay, Wat Thepwanaram (in Baan Manik), Wat Srisoonthorn, Wat Ladthiwanaram (“Wat Tai” in Chalong), Wat Mongkolwanaram (in Nai Yang), Wat Chaithararam (Wat Chalong), Wat Phra Thong (in Thalang), Wat Phra Nang Sang (in Thalang), and Wat Kosit Wihan.

Five bodies were cremated in Phuket yesterday: three at Wat Thepwanaram (in Baan Manik) and two at Wat Phra Nang Sang (in Thalang).

The mass service at Wat Kosit saw many translators provided by Thai government agencies on hand to assist officials and temple administrators communicate with the bereaved.

The Chinese Consulate-General and private companies in Phuket donated food and drinks for the merit making required at a Buddhist funeral service.</s>A BODY which may be the last missing passenger on board the capsized tourist boat Phoenix in Thailand’s Phuket was found yesterday, Phuket Provincial Governor Norraphat Plodthong said.

Thai and Chinese rescuers found Chinese yuan and sea sickness pills on the body, and the person was wearing the same life jacket as other passengers on board Phoenix. Based on this, the body was assumed to be the last missing passenger in Phuket boat accident, Norraphat said.

As of 5pm, 47 were confirmed dead in the boat accident, including a body still trapped by the boat’s wreckage underwater, the governor said.

Ram Union rescue team from China, together with a Thai-Chinese rescue team called Blue Sea, told Chinese media that they found the body yesterday afternoon. So far, 43 bodies have been confirmed to be Chinese tourists, while Thai authorities are identifying the rest, Norraphat said.

He also said Phuket will improve boat safety measures in the near future to assure there is no repeat of such tragedy.

Thai and Chinese rescue teams dived to check the Phoenix yesterday, but their work was hampered by bad weather, said Rear Admiral Charoenphol Koomrasee, deputy commander of the Third Fleet of the Royal Thai Navy.

“We will resume to retrieve the body pressed by the boat to the seabed tomorrow if the weather let us to do so,” Charoenphol added.

Two tourist boats, Phoenix and Serenata, were overturned in rough seas on July 5. All the passengers on board Serenata were rescued, and all the victims were from Phoenix. There were 89 tourists on board Phoenix.</s>If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in jail and a fine.

The Phuket Provincial Court yesterday approved arrest warrants for Woralak Rerkchaikan, 26, and the boat’s mechanic, Ornjan Kanhayotee, 56, who is already in custody.

The boat’s captain was arrested immediately after the accident on July 5.

Woralak and Ornjan have been charged with recklessly causing deaths and injuries to others.

The Phoenix, which is operated by TC Blue Dream, allegedly ventured into the sea despite warnings of rough weather conditions.

Although some tourists on board were rescued safely, 47 others drowned.

Woralak, who is married to a Chinese man, owns more than 90 per cent of shares in the firm.

Authorities are examining the company’s business transactions to determine if the firm has used a Thai nominee to operate on Thai soil.

TC Blue Dream has offered Bt100,000 to the family of each deceased victim. They are also entitled to Bt1 million compensation from the Thai government and Bt1 million from insurance firms.

“The alleged use of nominees will have to be investigated because it means a business is using Thailand’s resources without generating real income for Thailand,” Tourist Police deputy commander Pol Maj-General Surachate Hakparn said.

Surachate plans to go to Phuket today to visit three injured victims who are still being treated in hospital, and to discuss the case with China’s consular office in Phuket.

He also planned to hold a meeting with the representatives of tour operators in Phuket and the nearby provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi.

According to Surachate, there are about 400 tour boats in Thailand’s Andaman Sea and the Marine Department, in collaboration with tourist police, will examine all the boats.

“If any boat is found to be substandard, it must be upgraded,” Surachate said.

The chief of the Third Naval Area Command, Vice Admiral Somnuk Prempramote, said his agency would work with the Marine Department and marine police in checking boats of more than 60 gross tonnage at Phuket’s four major piers: Chalong Pier, Rassada, Ao Po Grand Marina and Visit Panwa.

“We will examine boat conditions and the readiness of boat captains. We will also do head counts,” he said.

He added that officials would also make sure that diving tours had one diving master per four tourists for maximum safety. Agencies would also conduct boat patrols to issue early warnings and provide timely help if anything happens, he said.</s>Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra in Phuket yesterday (July 12) revealed that that Chinese tourist advance bookings in Phuket have been slammed with 10-15% cancellations.

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong as Chief of the Disaster Command Centre set up at Chalong Pier explained at a press briefing yesterday that efforts by divers to recover the body from under the Phoenix were called off because of strong wind and waves.

Vice Admiral Somnuk Preampramot, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, based at Cape Panwa, said that he expected, “We would have good news (today) because of nice weather which will allow us to recover the body.”

V/Adm Somnuk noted that the recovery team comprised Royal Thai Navy divers, 10 divers from the Chinese firm Guangzhou Salvage as well as involvement by the Thai Fisheries Department, Marine Department, Marine Police, as well as the “private sector and people”.

Governor Norraphat noted that officials are confident that the body is that of the last missing tourist sought from the disaster after receiving details provided by relatives.

Meanwhile, the body found at Phi Phi Island on Wednesday (July 11, see story here) has been taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in the hope of confirming that person’s identity, Gov Norraphat added.

At the press briefing yesterday Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Mr Pongpanu expressed his condolences to the victims for disaster, and noted the deep impact such an incident can have on Thailand’s – and Phuket’s – tourism industry.

“Chinese tourists are the most important market in Thailand. This incident has had a huge impact, including physically, mentally and economically,” he said.

“Each year, 10 million Chinese tourists come to Thailand and spend more than B500 billion. From this number, about 3mn visit Phuket and spend about B150 billion,” Mr Pngpanu explained.

“Currently, it is unclear whether the number of tourist arrivals will decrease, through there has already been about 10-15% in cancellations of advance bookings,” he added.

“We believe that from the measures that Thailand has rushed to introduce right now will restore confidence quickly,” he said.

Mr Pongpanu explained that the government has also set up a fund to expedite compensation to the survivors and families of the victims.

“The total fund amount in B64mn, to pay B1mn for each death, cover medical expenses of up to B500,000 for each person, and B20,000 to each person for the mental harm done. Up To B20,000 per person will be paid for any extra travel expenses incurred,” he said.

Under the mandatory insurance for tourism businesses, “each person” will recive B1mn compensation, and the Marine Department under its regulations to pay a further B100,000 “per person”, he added.

Families of six bodies recovered had already received the compensation, Mr Pongpanu confirmed.

According to officials, the Phoenix disaster claimed 47 lives, with 42 people surviving the ordeal.

All 46 of the bodies recovered have been identified, officials reported this morning.

In accordance with relatives’ wishes, 20 of the bodies have been cremated at ceremonies in Phuket, and seven bodies have been taken “back to their home country” for funeral services there.

As of yesterday, officials reported that only one survivor remained in hospital care.</s>Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra in Phuket yesterday revealed that Chinese tourist advance bookings in Phuket have been slammed with 10-15% cancellations. (See story here.)

In response, Kongsak Koopongsakorn, Vice President of the Thai Hotels Association, told The Phuket News today (July 13), “Ten to 15% is a rough estimate. It is likely to be more than this, but still have to wait for the exact figures.

“We are currently asking for information from the association members who have hotels in Phuket,” he added.

Mr Kongsak, who is also concurrently the President of the Thai Hotels Association Southern Thailand chapter, attributed the main cause of the cancellations to online reports in China and attacks on social media blaming Thailand – and Chinese tour companies – for not taking care of tourists.

“News reports showing disrespectful images of the victims bodies being posted online has not helped, with family members angry over seeing their own family members’ bodies in pictures on the internet,” he added.

“It has turned sadness into anger, and many Chinese have cancelled their travel to the Phuket area,” Mr Kongsak said.

“We hope that is a short-term problem,” he added.

The Thai Hotels Association is working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to counter the dive in bookings, Mr Kongsak explained.

“We will soon publish a story that shows in a positive way how Thailand has been sincere in facilitating everything we can for those injured and the families of those killed in the disaster,” he said.

“I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with the people directly affected and the families of those who died, as members from the THA Southern Thailand, especially members in Phuket, have helped with providing assistance

“Overall, they were satisfied with the performance of every Thai organisation (involved),” Mr Kongsak said.

“Things will get better after the last body has been recovered and handed back to the family,” he added.</s>The body was found by search teams near Phi Phi Island at about 2pm, and reported as confirmed at the Disaster Command Centre set up at the Phuket Marine Office at Chalong Pier by Rear Admiral Jaroenphon Khumrasee, Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Naval Third Area Command, based at Cape Panwa on Phuket’s east coast, at 5pm.

R/Adm Jaroenphon credited finding the body to the search area determined by the Hydrographics Department of the Royal Thai Navy calculated through their understanding of the prevailing wind, current and wave patterns.

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong, as chief of the Disaster Command Centre, explained that a bag containing Chinese Yuan banknotes was found nearby, as well as a life jacket.

“We believe the body is from the Phoenix, but the identity has yet to be verified,” he said cautiously.

The body discovered today brings the total number of bodies recovered from the disaster area to 46, officials announced today.

With 42 people surviving the calamity and one body confirmed still trapped under the Phoenix lying on the seabed, the find today accounts for all 89 people believed to be have been on board the Phoenix when it sank since officials revised that number on Monday (July 9). (See story here.)

R/Adm Jaroenphon explained that attempts to raise the Phoenix enough to recover the body trapped underneath – today confirmed to be that of a male, dressed in jeans – were suspended due to the weather, which made the operation dangerous.

“We plan to try again tomorrow,” he said.

Present at the press briefing at the Disaster Command Centre earlier today was former Phuket Marine Chief Phuripat Teerakulpisut, now Director of Marine Office 3.

Mr Phuriphat explained that he had been assigned by the Marine Department Director-General to take care of the aspects of the Phoenix disaster relevant to the Marine Department.

With an ongoing investigation launched by Tourist Police deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan into how the Phoenix came to be registered while reportedly not passing safety standards, his role may become pertinent.

Gen Surachet has launched the investigation acting on a direct order from Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to prosecute “people in the private sector and also government officials”. (See story here)

Mr Phuripat has previously served as Phuket Marine Chief for more than 10 years, though under two periods. He left the island only in 2016. (See story here.)

Regardless, Mr Phuripat today explained how the Marine Department was working on a plan to raise the Phoenix.

“This operation needs care as not to damage the boat. It needs skilled people who are good at recovering boats, because the boat is lying at a depth of 45 metres, the recovering boat needs to use a 400-ton crane to lift the Phoenix straight and pump water out,” he said.

“This operation does not allow for anyone except officials and skilled staff. The equipment needed to recover the boat has not yet arrived. It might take 10 to 15 days to recover the boat, depending on the weather,” he added.

Governor Norraphat earlier today also confirmed that of the 42 survivors, 10 have returned home while one remains in care at Phuket Provincial Hospital in Rassada and another remains in care at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

Of the 46 bodies, 43 have been identified. Two are waiting for DNA test confirmation, he added.

Following a mass Buddhist prayer at Chalong Pier this morning to bring peace to the souls of the departed (see story here), five of the victims were cremated in Phuket yesterday with another 11 cremated today. More were expected to follow.

Meanwhile, religious ceremonies are being held at nine temples across the island for the relatives of victims for seven days.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teerapong Thipjareon explained yesterday (July 10) that his officers co-operating in the investigation into the two tour companies that operated tours on the Phoenix and on the Serenata, which sank off Koh Mai Thon in the same storm last Thursday. All 41 people on board the Serenata were later safely rescued.

“We need to find evidence to find the truth about whether the companies are legal and their services are standard or not. All the documents will be sent to Forensic Police, and police will then report to inspectors to use documents as evidence in legal proceedings,” he said.

“The witness investigation has been ongoing, which is the desire of the Thai and Chinese governments to find the real cause of incident,” he added.

Governor Nopparat today noted that all the rescue and recovery operations since the disaster occurred last Thursday saw private and government sectors join together to help.

He thanked fishermen and other boats from local organisations, including the local fishing fleet and the local dive industry.

He also thanked to Pichai Fishing Pier and the Pibul Fishing Pier for allowing rescue workers to use their facilities for transporting victims to hospital.

“I would also like to thank all the volunteer divers and boat companies that came to help us with search” he said.

“Phuket will recognise your deeds with a shield of commendation as a ‘thank you’. In addition, Thai officials thank the Chinese Government, the China Consul and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand for providing rescue divers,” he concluded.</s>Thailand has suspended efforts to salvage a boat that capsized and sank off its resort island of Phuket, with officials putting the death toll in its worst tourist-related disaster in years at 46.

The Phoenix had 101 on board, including 89 tourists, all but two of them from China, when it went down in rough seas last Thursday during an outing to a small island.

Forty-two passengers and the crew of a dozen Thais were rescued.

The salvage operation was suspended because the boat lay deep and currents were rough, Phuket police commander Teerapol Tipcharoen told reporters.

Divers would retrieve a final body from the shipwreck when weather conditions permit, said Rear Admiral Chareonpol Kumrasee, who helped lead the effort.

The monsoon season now under way can bring fierce squalls and high seas in southern Thailand, especially off its west coast, and questions have been raised about why the boat had set out to sea despite bad weather.

The captain has been charged with negligence causing death but has denied the charges.

Religious rites for the dead were held throughout the week after families arrived in Phuket from China to identify relatives and take charge of survivors.</s>Since then Pickleball has grown quickly in Phuket but the PPA say there is still room for many new pickleballers at the Phuket Sports and Tennis Club in Rawai.

The PPA is inviting all interested to join for two hours of FREE court time with all equipment also provided for FREE.

All you need to do is show up at the Phuket Sports and Tennis Club in Rawai (Google it) any Tuesday and/or Thursday from 4pm to 6pm and on Sunday morning from 9am to 11am. Just wear a pair of sport shoes, shorts and a shirt.

Members of the PPA will be on-hand to teach you the basic rules, give you a FREE lesson and get you into games.

A play as you learn approach is taken.

Just as a recap, Pickleball can be played by all ages from teens through your golden years both by male and female.

In a recent interview with The Phuket News PPA founder Gene Van Lyuk explained that at his Pickleball club in Hawaii, a 92-year-old is playing a very decent game against people half his age.

“It’s a very healthy sport. It requires simple eye to hand coordination, and there is a lot less movement or strength required than tennis. And most importantly, the only thing you really need to play well is a good attitude and a little practice.

“It can be played indoors and outdoors. Plus, it’s great fun,” Van Lyuk told The Phuket News.

Van Lyuk also said that not only are the USA and Canada having a revival of this sport, which originally started over 30 years ago, but it has geometrically progressed into the newest sport phenomenon of the last five years throughout the world.

“Thailand is no exception with groups now set up in Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Bangkok and now for three months here in Rawai, Phuket,” he said.

Not getting ahead of himself, and realising that many expats, retirees, locals and visitors to Phuket are not familiar with Pickleball, Van Lyuk wanted to explain a little about the game.

“The game is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It’s played with a paddle about twice the size of a ping-pong paddle, but much sturdier, a tennis type net and a court size similar to a badminton court. Balls used are similar to a US size baseball but made of plastic with a number of holes in it, similar to a Whiffle Ball.

Anyone interested in Pickle Ball should check out the PPA’s website: phuketpickleball.com, email pickleballgene@yahoo.com or text/phone 065-8098565 (from Thailand) or 66 658098565 from abroad for more information. Or you can just stop by the Phuket Sports and Tennis Club in Rawai any Tuesday and/or Thursday from 4pm to 6pm and on Sunday morning from 9am to 11am.

If you know how to play, have a group, and want to play on any day other than the Tuesday and Thursday, you can book a court by calling or texting Pat the owner/manager of the Phuket Sports and Tennis Club at 081 6072805 while in Thailand or 66 816072805 from abroad.

Rackets and balls are available for rent at a nominal charge.</s>At 6:42pm yesterday (July 11) at Wat Kosit Wihan, a group from the Thailand Buddhist Association and a group from the Bangkok-based Buddhism group Pong Lai Kiw Koh 9 performed a ceremony to bring the souls of the Phoenix boat disaster victims to heaven according to beliefs held by Chinese people.

Then at 7:20pm, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Pongpanu Svetarund and Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong presided over a funeral ceremony to make merit for 24 of the boat disaster victims being kept at Wat Kosit Wihan.

Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chen Xiongfeng, Director General of the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports Anan Wongbenjarat, Deputy Director of the Tourism Department Santi Pawai, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Noppadol Pakprot and various representatives from related government agencies and relatives of the deceased.

Mr Pongpanu gave a speech in which he encouraged relatives and support staff affected by the boat disaster which took place last Thursday evening (July 5).

The speech was followed by a religious ceremony and rituals according to the beliefs of the Chinese relatives performed by the Ministry of Culture Phuket office and the Phuket Cultural Office.

The Phuket Buddhism Office is arranging funerals for relatives of the deceased who would like them performed in Phuket rather than repatriating the bodies home to China at 11 Phuket temples; Wat Cherng Talay, Wat Thepwanaram (in Baan Manik), Wat Srisoonthorn, Wat Ladthiwanaram (“Wat Tai” in Chalong), Wat Mongkolwanaram (in Nai Yang), Wat Chaithararam (Wat Chalong), Wat Phra Thong (in Thalang), Wat Phra Nang Sang (in Thalang), Wat Kosit Wihan, Wat Muang Mai, and Wat Thep Krasattri.

To date, relatives for 19 of the 45 boat disaster victims bodies have requested cremations take place in Phuket with 16 having already been cremated and five bodies already sent to home.

There are now 24 bodies being kept at in Wat Kosit Wihan. However, later today there will be funeral ceremonies for three further victims at Wat Muang Mai while a further six bodies will be repatriated back to China.
The death toll from a tourist boat accident off the coast of Thailand's Phuket Island climbs to 46.