Passengers rescued after cruise ship hits rocks south of famous Phi-Phi islands, Thailand
- 4 years ago
More than 100 tourists had to be rescued on Monday (November 25) after a cruise ship crashed near a Thai island.
The French vessel La Belle Des Oceans was sailing from Koh Lanta to Phuket when it ran aground in the early hours of Monday.
Thai navy ship HTMS Sriracha sailed out to the cruise ship which was stuck on rocks near the Koh Phi Phi island with a damaged hull and taking onboard water.
A fisherman who was first to arrive at the stricken vessel said that none of the passengers were injured.
He said: "I had just left the shore when I saw the cruise ship stuck on rocks, it was in the route to my area of fishing.
"I asked to help them but they told me that they had already contacted the navy so I checked with them that all the passengers were fine. Then I left because there was nothing more I could do."
The navy ship arrived and dragged the cruise ship off the rocks and escorted the vessel to the nearest pier.
Officers said that there was damage to the ship's body which the captain will be asked to explain.
Vice Admiral Choenghai Choengchompat said: "The passengers are all safe and we will question the cruise ship captain about the crash again later."
La Belle Des Oceans has seven decks, is 103 meters long and carries 120 passengers. It was built in 1989 and was recently bought by French cruise operator CroisiEurope.
The ship had left Singapore last month, visiting Malaysia and Thailand and was due to sail to to India and Greece by March.
The French vessel La Belle Des Oceans was sailing from Koh Lanta to Phuket when it ran aground in the early hours of Monday.
Thai navy ship HTMS Sriracha sailed out to the cruise ship which was stuck on rocks near the Koh Phi Phi island with a damaged hull and taking onboard water.
A fisherman who was first to arrive at the stricken vessel said that none of the passengers were injured.
He said: "I had just left the shore when I saw the cruise ship stuck on rocks, it was in the route to my area of fishing.
"I asked to help them but they told me that they had already contacted the navy so I checked with them that all the passengers were fine. Then I left because there was nothing more I could do."
The navy ship arrived and dragged the cruise ship off the rocks and escorted the vessel to the nearest pier.
Officers said that there was damage to the ship's body which the captain will be asked to explain.
Vice Admiral Choenghai Choengchompat said: "The passengers are all safe and we will question the cruise ship captain about the crash again later."
La Belle Des Oceans has seven decks, is 103 meters long and carries 120 passengers. It was built in 1989 and was recently bought by French cruise operator CroisiEurope.
The ship had left Singapore last month, visiting Malaysia and Thailand and was due to sail to to India and Greece by March.