New design for vessels to start trial run next month following series of accidents

A new design will allow passengers to board and get off boats only via two entrances and exits. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

After three years of using the Klong Saen Saep commuter boat, Yada Hariraksapitak still doesn't think she could ever get used to jumping on and off the boat if it isn't moored properly.

"I wish the driver would be more considerate about the fact that not all passengers can hop on and off the boat so skillfully as it approaches a stop," said Ms Yada.

She complained that most female passengers are usually clad in office attire, wearing skirts and high heels, which makes it very inconvenient to board the boats.

Ms Yada is among tens of thousands of people who commute by boat on Klong Saen Saep, operated by Krobkrua Khonsong Co, each day.

Like Ms Yada, many imagine themselves not acrobatic enough to be able to commute on Klong Saen Saep and get on and off the boat safely as boats are hardly moored properly to save time.

If you lose your balance, you are likely to fall into the canal. The recent death of Theerapong Silarit, 50, who lost his footing and fell into the canal while trying to jump to the pier as the boat was approaching the Nanachart stop is one example of a tragedy that can come from such a situation.

Following his death on Nov 10, Chaowalit Methayaprapat, who operates the Klong Saen Saep Express Boat Service, said Krobkrua Khonsong Co has a plan to improve safety on its boats.

The improvement plans include transparent plastic protection being installed on both sides of the vessel, replacing the existing curtains, which will be pulled down when it rains.

The new curtain, he said, will not only prevent water from spilling onto passengers, it would also prevent commuters from standing on the edge of the vessel while it is approaching a stop.

Four boat boarding ramps will be also equipped on each boat -- two on each side, one toward the front and one toward the back of the boat, said Mr Chaowalit. "We believe having the boarding ramps fixed to certain parts of the boat can provide a safe transition from the pier to the boat for passengers. It will also allow authorities to take better care of passengers."

The current boats have many rows of seats, with narrow aisles in the middle, making it almost impossible for passengers to move around while on board.

The new design will have aisles on both sides of the boat, allowing passengers to walk around the vessel and facilitating easier boarding, he said.

The hull will be filled with foam to help the vessel float better, Mr Chaowalit said, adding the effort would reduce the risk of drowning if a boat meets with an accident.

The driver and fare collectors were also directed to give more transition time to passengers to move from the pier to the boat.

The operating company also asked the Marine Department to station officials at each pier to help ensure passenger safety. Passengers will still be travelling on the existing boats, but the newly designed boats will be ready around mid-December and put on a one-month trial run.

Mr Chaowalit encouraged passengers to comment on the boat service during the test run of the modified boats.

The Klong Saen Saep Express Boat Service runs between Wat Sri Boonrueng in Bang Kapi district to Phan Fa Lilat Bridge in Phra Nakhon district, spanning a total of 18km.

Since its inception in Oct 1, 1990, the service has gained popularity among city commuters, with around 20,000 commuters using the service at weekends and double that number on weekdays.

What makes the services popular is the fact that they cut travel time by an hour on some days. Boats on Klong Saen Saep run parallel to Ramkhamhaeng Road and Phetchaburi Road where traffic is heavy, especially during rush hours.

The fares for the boats are inexpensive compared to the electric trains. They range from 8-18 baht, depending on the distance. However, these boats have been involved in several accidents, tarnishing the service's reputation.

On May 5, 2012, a Klong Saen Saep commuter boat heading to Phan Fa Lilat Bridge caught fire as it was passing Thong Lor Pier. No injuries were reported.

One year later, a boat with around 100 passengers on board crashed into a floating landing at Wat Thep Leela Pie, causing minor injuries among some passengers.

Another serious incident took place on March, 2016 when leaks in the liquefied natural gas-powered equipment installed on a commuter boat exploded, leaving at least 67 passengers injured. The explosion occurred when the boat, which was carrying around 80 passengers, was docking at Wat Thep Leela Pier.

A regular user of the Klong Saen Saep Express Boat Service will agree that extreme caution and good commuter boat etiquette when boarding should be exercised to reduce risks. Many passengers do not follow the rules on display at Pratunam Pier. They often step over the yellow line while waiting for a boat to approach the station and even turn a deaf ear to officials when asked to step back.

Passengers from Bang Kapi have to make a transfer to a smaller boat at Pratunam Pier if they want to continue to the Phan Fah Lilat Bridge, because the canal is narrower from then on.

It is a common sight to see a man jumping onto a boat leaving a pier without realising it is too risky. And it's common for a fare collector to shout in anger at the passenger.

Somporn Charoensuk, 57, a helmsman for a commuter boat on Klong Saen Saep who has more than 25 years of experience under his belt said reckless passengers and inattentive skippers are to blame for incidents where passengers fall into the canal.

However, he admitted that the few seconds the helmsmen give to passengers to board and disembark may be partially responsible.

Following the latest incident, Mr Somporn said helmsmen and skippers were ordered to ensure passengers leave boats and step onto piers safely.

The company has faced a manpower shortage, he said, urging the Marine Department to send officials to boost safety at piers. Each boat has one helmsman and two fare collectors.

Apart from their main duty of collecting fares, collectors are responsible for mooring the boat and looking after passengers, he added.

Mr Somporn said it is difficult to control passengers' behaviour as many rush to leave a boat. He insisted authorities have warned passengers not to stand on the shipboard along the sides as they risk falling into the canal until the boat is properly moored, but many pay no heed to the warnings.

"We admit it's our fault as we cannot convince passengers to follow our instructions. We hope that tough safety measures will allow us to better take care of passengers," Mr Somporn said.

He encouraged passengers to cooperate with officials after the measures are applied and to follow them strictly.