KRABI, THAILAND – A speedboat carrying 35 tourists began to sink on a trip from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands, but all passengers were safely rescued.
Captain turns back as hull crack floods boat
The incident occurred about ten minutes after departure from Koh Mai Phai on 15 November 2025, when water suddenly started entering the hull through a crack. The boat began to list dangerously with 35 tourists, a captain, two crew members, and a tour guide on board.
“Water unexpectedly entered the hull,”
said eyewitnesses.
The captain, identified as Kapitän S., immediately noticed the leak, abandoned the planned route, and steered back toward the coast of Koh Mai Phai. At the same time, he issued a distress call to the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park administration.
Rapid response and safety concerns for tourism
National park officers under the leadership of Sirivat Saengchawi dispatched two patrol boats to assist the stricken vessel.
“The crack was located on the left rear side of the hull,”
said Sirivat, adding that water had entered rapidly through the breach.
All passengers were transferred safely to a larger boat, which transported them back to Phuket. No injuries were reported, though officials described the event as a serious near-miss. The exact cause of the hull failure remains under investigation, and authorities plan a detailed inspection of the vessel.
“Quick action prevented the situation from developing into a serious shipping accident,”
said an official, emphasizing the importance of routine maintenance and rapid response in emergencies.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of safety in Thailand’s tourism sector, where popular speedboat routes are often heavily used. A renewed review of safety standards for tourist boats in Thailand is now considered likely, after what officials described as a major fright but “luck in misfortune” for the uninjured tourists.