Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry to begin on New Year's Day

New ferry will cut travel time to 1.5-2 hours from 5-6 hours. Car ferry coming soon.

TRANSPORTATION & TOURISM

Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry to begin on New Year's Day

13/11/2016
Online Reporters

A privately-run ferry service from Pattaya to Hua Hin is expected to start operations on the first day of the year, Jan 1.

The service will be initially limited to a daily round-trip and will cater only to passengers, not vehicles.

The ferry service is the first phase of the government’s new East-West Ferry Project to connect the resort towns of Pattaya in Chon Buri province and Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

This is according to the Marine Department's director-general Sorasak Sansombat. 

QUICK SELECTION & APPROVAL

The new service will be operated by Royal Passenger Liner Co.

The company was the only firm to apply for a licence to operate the Pattaya-Sattahip-Cha-am-Hua Hin ferry.

Applications opened on Aug 9 and the firm passed the selection process on Sept 30.

A ferry committee was inspecting the firm’s documents and readiness for the service, upgrading arrival and departure ports for safety, and finding the appropriate fares. 

The panel was expected to reach its conclusions on Dec 15.

The service would start on Jan 1 as a New Year gift for the public.

WILL SHORTEN TRAVEL TIME BY TWO-THIRDS: 1.5-2 HOURS 

To drive between the resort towns currently takes five to six hours, but the ferry will shorten travel time by about two-thirds.

The firm’s ferry would cruise at 27 knots on the 113-km journey across the Gulf of Thailand with a maximum passenger capacity of 150 for each trip.

A bigger ferry carrying up to 260 people would be added to the service later.

CAR FERRY PROJECT PROGRESSING QUICKLY

A feasibility study on a car service and suitable routes was expected to be completed this month.

Work on an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report would be conducted later.

DEEP-SEA PORT IN PRACHUAP KIRI KHAN

The East-West Ferry Project also includes construction of a deep-sea port in Prachuap Khiri Khan to cater for cargo shipments.

Full services for both passengers and vehicular ferries along with the new port are expected to be  in 2020. 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1134396/pattaya-hua-hin-ferry-to-begin-on-new-years-day

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