It’s actually happening: Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry to begin on Jan 1st

[webfact 78,303]

It’s actually happening: Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry to begin on Jan 1st

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

BANGKOK: -- The proposed ferry service between Pattaya and Hua Hin will begin on January 1st, the Marine Department has announced.

 

The new service will be operated by Royal Passenger Liner Co and will initially only be available to passengers, reports Manager Online.

 

The service will operate a daily round trip between the two destinations.

 

Making the announcement, Marine Department director-general Sorasak Sansombat said Royal Passenger Liner Co had been the only company to apply for license to operate the service.

 

The ferry service is expected to slash journey times between the two popular resorts by almost two thirds, Mr Sorasak said.

 

Initially the ferry will be able to accommodate up to 150 passengers per trip, while a larger ferry with a capacity of 260 passengers will be added to the service at a later date.

 

The ferry will cruise at a speed of around 27 knots during the 113km journey.

 

No further details regarding fares and scheduling are expected to be announced after Dec 15.

 

The Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry service is part of the Thai government's East-West Ferry Project which aims to boost tourism and logistics between Chonburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

Earlier this month a promotional video which was reported in Thai language media gave a first glimpse of what the final ferry service may look like when it is fully operational by 2020.

 

In the video, a state of the art catamaran could be seen transporting both passengers and vehicles.

 

Source: Manager Online

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-11-14

 

[Pdaz 3,128]

Just over 2 hours of watching Thais chunder in abject misery. My missus can get seasick just watching the TV.. God help anyone on a boat with her. The Gulf of Thailand is far from being a mill pond.

[chicowoodduck 1,716]

Well, there goes my excuse for not visiting the town across the bay.....sounds good to me....and the price will be???????

[harrycallahan 1,591]

I don't care how many people they put on it - still gonna be safer than minivans.

[Laza 45 3,109]

9 minutes ago, chicowoodduck said:

Well, there goes my excuse for not visiting the town across the bay.....sounds good to me....and the proce will be???????

Good question.. how much?

[fdbob 103]

Can only be good

[ratcatcher 29,616]

Wake up in Hua Hin, breakfast on the ferry, shopping and a short time in Pattaya and back to the retirement town by Happy Hour.

[sahibji 1,520]

22 minutes ago, Pdaz said:

Just over 2 hours of watching Thais chunder in abject misery. My missus can get seasick just watching the TV.. God help anyone on a boat with her. The Gulf of Thailand is far from being a mill pond.

will depend on the size of the boat they use. naturally the larger boats will be more stable and less likely to cause to cause side effects.

[smedly 34,485]

passengers only ? sounds like a - try it and see

 

This will be a failure because passenger only service is useless.....either go for it or don't

 

This service needs to support vehicles for which there is a huge market IMO - DELETED

[sahibji 1,520]

cutting travel time between the two cities by 2/3  will a between the two cities and auger well for for travellers. what would be the major reasons for this trip.

[Loeilad 372]

Various east-west ferries have been tried - they seem usually to end in a fire or some other mishap. - DELETED

I ferry carrying only passengers may/may not fit the bill - to me I would have though that a vehicle carrying ship would be more useful.....both tourist and traders could make use of this short-cut.

 

but one has to add the proviso, "I'll believe it when I see it".......operating for over a year that is.

[craigt3365 20,412]

Isn't it about a 5 hour drive to HH?  Perhaps a bit less according to my GPS.  Baring getting stuck in some nasty traffic in Bangkok.  27 knots is about 50kph.  That's a bit over 2 hours.  Add in the boarding time, deboarding, getting up to speed, etc, I think their calculations are a bit off?  2/3rds of 5 hours is 1.5 hours.

 

First cup of coffee so my calculations may be off! LOL

[yellowboat 16,075]

4 hours ago, smedly said:

passengers only ? sounds like a - try it and see

 

This will be a failure because passenger only service is useless.....either go for it or don't

 

This service needs to support vehicles for which there is a huge market IMO

Yeah, they need to do freight, people and autos to maximize profits.  Would love to see their forecast ROI .  

[Loeilad 372]

Interesting start date - so in t middle of a holiday season they will begin a new service? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. At least start a month or so early to give yourself some time to iron out teething troubles

[Loeilad 372]

1 minute ago, yellowboat said:

Yeah, they need to do freight, people and autos to maximize profits.  Would love to see their forecast ROI .  

4 hours and 320 km....by road.....so you need to balance that against any savings a vehicle may make in terms or fuel, time saved and wages.......if a ticket e/w is less than this cost then a vehicle ferry might be the answer. Of course a vehicle carying cat is not cheap....there may be a few on the market - Tasmania and EU spring to mind as places using them.