Last Update : Tuesday 23 January, 2001 0:34 AM
Last Update : Tuesday 23 January, 2001 0:34 AM |
|
Possible Dangers form Marine Tourism Dangers from Travelling
Dangers from Boats
When going to the sea, almost everybody is afraid of sharks. In fact, almost 100% of dangers happening to tourists are from boats. Sometimes, they may be severe to death. The regrettable thing is that those incidents could be avoided if they knew more information in advance and they were not negligent.
On Ports
A lot of ports in Thailand are made of woods. Some are dilapidated. Some are used together with fishery ports with rotten fish remains, water or engine oil. Some tourists walking and talking without being careful may fall down into the wood slit and be injured. Some step on the fish remains and slip down the ports. These incidents have happened before. Therefore, every time you walk on ports, be very careful.
Many times you have to climb up and down the boats. This is the most dangerous moment because if you fall down into the water, the boat may hit you to strike the ports or other boats. If you wear unsuitable shoes such as slippers, high-heel shoes, you should take them off before climbing. Do not carry a whole mess of stuff; try to hand them to your friends on boats first. Do not be hurry or negligent.
On Boats
Ropes and anchor lines: Try to avoid them. Do not definitely come nearby. Sometimes you may stand on an anchor line without noticing. When a boatman drops the anchor, the rope will tie up your feet and pull you dropping into the water. Sometimes the boats have to tie up to the ports. The rope may whip you back down the water, or it may be torn and flick you injured (especially the sling, sometimes it may cut off your arms and legs). Pulleys or capstans may fall off and hook you. We recommend you to try to stay far away from ropes, anchors, capstans, or pulleys. Do not try to help boatmen drop the anchors or catch the ropes except in emergency case.
Gunwales: Many of you like to sit or walk on gunwales. Sometimes, there may be some engine oil, which make you slip and fall down the boat. Somebody likes to hold gunwales, when the boat dock or come alongside other boats; your hands may be pinched to brake. (Especially on long-tail boats, it happens very often.) If it is not necessary, do not stay near gunwales no matter when the boats stop or run.
Exhaust Pipes: A lot of touring boats are adapted from small fishery boats. Some may connect exhaust pipes directly from engines down to the sea or up to the sky. Sometimes you walk nearby without knowing, then the boat lists and you grasp it in order to hold up yourself. These pipes are very hot; you hands are definitely scalded. Moreover, you may be startled and fall down the boat.
Night Travel
- Wear white or bright color clothes. Do not wear dark color clothes. In case you fall down the boat, you can be seen easily.
- Be very careful. Do not step near gunwales or sterns at night.
- Do not drink too much alcohol. It may cause you slip down the boat easily.
- If you have to go near gunwales like to brush your teeth, always tell other persons. If you go too long, they will know.
- Always notice your friends in the group. If somebody disappears unusually, hurry following him up.
- If you see somebody falling down the boat, hurry throwing life-jacket or floating things like sponge cushion into the water, and shout to other people to tell captain. Do not lose your mind by jumping down to follow him up without telling anybody.
In Emergency Case
On travelling, if there is a storm with high waves, but the boat still confront the waves without slowing down the engine, do not worry, but you should stay inside the boat in order not to fall into the sea. If you get so seasick that you feel like vomiting, use a plastic bag. Do not lean out the boat and throw up into the sea. Some people have fallen into the sea because of this kind of incident before.
- If the waves are so big, the boat will fight against the waves with occasionally slowing down the engine. Look for a life jacket and wear it. Keep your small valuable things with you. Find a drinking bottle with some water inside enough for floating and keep it with you. Do not worry about other things.
- In case the boat confronts the waves too long that the engine is broken down, the captain will try to drop the anchor. However, sometimes the anchor does not reach the floor and the boat is thrown and barred the waves, then it probably capsizes. In this case, you should stay near the exit of the boat-roof. Do not stay inside the boat because if the boat capsizes, you may not find the exit and get stuck in the boat.
- If the boat capsizes, swim away from the boat as fast as you can, then find something to support yourself. Do not loss your control being afraid of a shark or other animals harming you. Nowadays, sharks in Thai sea are so diminutive that they are almost extinct. People died by capsized boat are not because of sharks, but rather because of mind losing or because they are so afraid that they drown.
Copyright
© 1999-2001 TalayThai.com All right reserved.
comment to webmaster@talaythai.com
