New car ferry service connecting Chonburi with Prachuap to operate 180km south of Hua Hin - Thai Visa

 New car ferry service connecting Chonburi with Prachuap to operate 180km south of Hua Hin

 

Image: JustFerries. Photo of the MV The Blue Dolphin ferry when it operated in Hokkaido, Japan.

 

More details have been released regarding the proposed new ferry service that is expected to link Sattahip, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Songkhla. 

 

A post on the page of the Hua Hin Municipality suggested that a car ferry service operated by the Seahorse Ferry Co Ltd would be run between Sattahip and the Prachuap Khiri Khan port, which is located in Bang Saphan, which is at least two hours south of Hua Hin. 

 

The start date was earmarked for later this month.

 

The ferry to be used is the MV The Blue Dolphin - announced in earlier Thaivisa reports as the vessel that would operate daily between Sattahip (Juk Samet port) and Songkhla in the south.

 

The post suggested that the ferry will be in port at 10pm and leave at 2 am the next day. Service would be daily.

No foot passengers, only vehicles would be allowed initially.

 

The ferry has capacity in a 916 meter area for 100 10 wheel trucks. It can carry 586 passengers and has cabins and eateries. 

 

It had initially been thought that the new car ferry service would be an almost de-facto replacement for the passenger service which had operated between Hua Hin and Pattaya until March last year.

 

Earlier this week, Thaivisa reported how the service, which had been operated by the Royal Passenger Co. Ltd., has been scrapped, with the company ceasing trading.

 

However, rather than connecting Hua Hin and Pattaya as was the case with the previous service, it would appear the aim of the new car ferry service is to more specifically connect Chonburi with the south of Thailand.

 

It is also worth noting that the waters around Hua  Hin, or specifically in Khao Takiab, which is the location of the pier where the Royal Passenger Co. Ltd. service operated, are not deep enough for a large car ferry. 

 

A proposed new port in the Pak Nam Pran area, some 15 minutes south of Hua Hin, is yet to be built. 

 

This port was originally touted as the location for a car ferry service back in 2018, and was said to be a key part of the proposed "Thailand Riviera" project, the Thai government's ambitious plan to develop 528km of coastline including in the provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Ranong.
 

Distribution deal signed for vaccines - Bangkok Post

Distribution deal signed for vaccines

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) is teaming up with local logistics firm DKSH to deliver Covid-19 vaccines that are due to arrive next week.

GPO and DKSH, one of the country's largest distribution and logistics companies for medical products, on Friday signed an agreement on the storage, repacking and distribution of the Sinovac vaccine from China.

The first shipment of 200,000 doses is expected to arrive on Wednesday, followed by 800,000 in March and a million in April.

The first batch will be used across 10 provinces -- Samut Sakhon, Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Rayong, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Trat and Tak. Each person needs two doses, two weeks apart.

"The delivery will be done as soon as the Department of Medical Sciences has completed quality checks that might take around one week," said the GPO's managing director, Dr Withoon Danwiboon.

"The GPO will provide the company with a list of places to send the vaccine and all deliveries will be made, even if they are in remote areas."

He said the GPO chose DKSH because it offered free delivery for two million shots to all state hospitals countrywide.

The first 200,000 shots will be stored at the company's warehouse in Bangkok's Bang Na district.

Custom officials, officials from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and GPO officials will work together to clear vaccine shipments arriving at Suvanabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province.

The process is expected to take about 30 minutes and vaccine packages will then be moved to DKSH's warehouse 20 kilometres away.

The vaccines will be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius to preserve its efficacy.

The Ministry of Public Health is aiming to vaccinate five million people with two doses each month and that would be an unprecedented challenge, said Dr Sopon Mekthon, assistant to the public health minister.

Re: A Look Inside Thailand’s Airbus A330 Coffee Shop - Simply Flying

Perfect place for 11 a Clock coffe for you?👍👏

Skickat från min iPhone

19 feb. 2021 kl. 13:47 skrev Ola Jansved <olajnsvd@gmail.com>:



 Cirka en timmes bilkörning från Bangsaen

In Pictures: A Look Inside Thailand's Airbus A330 Coffee Shop

Chris Loh

About 160 kilometers or 100 miles south-southeast of central Bangkok (Thailand), you'll find an old Airbus A330 that's been converted into a coffee shop. Home of "331 Station Coffee War," the old Airbus widebody, located in Sattahip, was so popular last year that it was even ordered to close after going viral on social media. Let's look at the aircraft-turned-coffee shop in a series of photos.

The coffee shop-aircraft is located in Sattahip, which is a district in the south of Chon Buri province. Photo: Getty Images

Pattaya News notes that a Mr. Damri Sangtang, a former Royal Thai Navy officer, is the owner of the business. Sangtang's history as a member of the military may offer a clue as to part of the business' "Coffee War" name. The 331 portion of the name appears to come from the fact that it's located on Road No 331.

Stay informed: Sign up for our daily aviation news digest.

The coffee shop A330 is about a two-hours-drive from central Bangkok. Photo: Google Maps

The $333,000 Airbus A330

According to The Thaiger, the decommissioned Airbus A330 cost 10 million Thai baht – which roughly converts to just over $333,000. Stripped of its engines, most of its passenger seating (and likely much more), the aircraft sounds like a deal considering the $240 million list price for a new jet (even if that figure is typically overinflated).

Of course, the fact that the plane doesn't do what it's mean to do (fly) is probably the reason behind the steal of a deal. We're guessing that the previous owner simply wanted to be rid of it, not wanting to pay for the scrapping fees.

Whatever the circumstances might have been that led to the aircraft purchase- it looks like it turned out to be a worthwhile purchase, given how popular the shop has become.

With many unable to travel due to travel restrictions caused by the global health crisis, setting foot on an airplane – functioning or not – might be appealing. Photo: Getty Images

In fact, at the end of June last year, the coffee shop was ordered temporarily shut down after it became too popular. Apparently, the aircraft cafe went viral on social media and thus was drawing thousands of customers a day.

While it's not a crime for a business to be 'too popular,' it is a concern during a worldwide health crisis, where close human interaction in confined spaces can lead to the spread of disease. Thus, public health officials had to ask the coffee shop to close for a week, hoping that the pause would help to cool down enthusiasm and hype around the old jet.

Inside 331 Station-Coffee War

With coffee at the cafe costing as little as 60 baht ($2.00), the next-to-nothing cost of entry seems like a great deal. It's no wonder why it's become so popular.

In order to ensure the health and safety of customers, the cafe reportedly conducts temperature checks, requires the wearing of masks, and regularly disinfects surfaces. Only 60 customers are permitted "on board" at any one time, for a maximum of 40 minutes.

Much of the A330's regular passenger seating has been removed- mostly replaced by small coffee tables and wooden chairs. Photo: Getty Images

Of course, a few old aircraft seats were retained. Photo: Getty Images

Some economy class seats were even kept onboard. At least they were rearranged to provide more legroom. Photo: Getty Images

The aircraft once flew with Thai Airways. Photo: Getty Images

Before it was a coffee shop

The Airbus A330-300 once flew with Thai flag carrier, Thai Airways, registered as HS-TEA. The jet was delivered new to the airline in 1995 and was configured to seat 42 in business and 263 in economy class.

A look at HS-TEA when it was still flying. Photo: Aero Icarus via Wikimedia Commons

The jet was withdrawn from use in March of 2015 and then stored at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP) airport in May of that year. UTP is a common storage airport for Thai's unused jets. Interested in other aircraft re-purposing stories like this? Check out the 727-turned-event-space, and the 737 converted into a cabin.

If you were in Thailand, would you go out of your way to see this coffee shop? Let us know in the comments.

A Look Inside Thailand’s Airbus A330 Coffee Shop - Simply Flying

 Cirka en timmes bilkörning från Bangsaen

In Pictures: A Look Inside Thailand's Airbus A330 Coffee Shop

Chris Loh

About 160 kilometers or 100 miles south-southeast of central Bangkok (Thailand), you'll find an old Airbus A330 that's been converted into a coffee shop. Home of "331 Station Coffee War," the old Airbus widebody, located in Sattahip, was so popular last year that it was even ordered to close after going viral on social media. Let's look at the aircraft-turned-coffee shop in a series of photos.

The coffee shop-aircraft is located in Sattahip, which is a district in the south of Chon Buri province. Photo: Getty Images

Pattaya News notes that a Mr. Damri Sangtang, a former Royal Thai Navy officer, is the owner of the business. Sangtang's history as a member of the military may offer a clue as to part of the business' "Coffee War" name. The 331 portion of the name appears to come from the fact that it's located on Road No 331.

Stay informed: Sign up for our daily aviation news digest.

The coffee shop A330 is about a two-hours-drive from central Bangkok. Photo: Google Maps

The $333,000 Airbus A330

According to The Thaiger, the decommissioned Airbus A330 cost 10 million Thai baht – which roughly converts to just over $333,000. Stripped of its engines, most of its passenger seating (and likely much more), the aircraft sounds like a deal considering the $240 million list price for a new jet (even if that figure is typically overinflated).

Of course, the fact that the plane doesn't do what it's mean to do (fly) is probably the reason behind the steal of a deal. We're guessing that the previous owner simply wanted to be rid of it, not wanting to pay for the scrapping fees.

Whatever the circumstances might have been that led to the aircraft purchase- it looks like it turned out to be a worthwhile purchase, given how popular the shop has become.

With many unable to travel due to travel restrictions caused by the global health crisis, setting foot on an airplane – functioning or not – might be appealing. Photo: Getty Images

In fact, at the end of June last year, the coffee shop was ordered temporarily shut down after it became too popular. Apparently, the aircraft cafe went viral on social media and thus was drawing thousands of customers a day.

While it's not a crime for a business to be 'too popular,' it is a concern during a worldwide health crisis, where close human interaction in confined spaces can lead to the spread of disease. Thus, public health officials had to ask the coffee shop to close for a week, hoping that the pause would help to cool down enthusiasm and hype around the old jet.

Inside 331 Station-Coffee War

With coffee at the cafe costing as little as 60 baht ($2.00), the next-to-nothing cost of entry seems like a great deal. It's no wonder why it's become so popular.

In order to ensure the health and safety of customers, the cafe reportedly conducts temperature checks, requires the wearing of masks, and regularly disinfects surfaces. Only 60 customers are permitted "on board" at any one time, for a maximum of 40 minutes.

Much of the A330's regular passenger seating has been removed- mostly replaced by small coffee tables and wooden chairs. Photo: Getty Images

Of course, a few old aircraft seats were retained. Photo: Getty Images

Some economy class seats were even kept onboard. At least they were rearranged to provide more legroom. Photo: Getty Images

The aircraft once flew with Thai Airways. Photo: Getty Images

Before it was a coffee shop

The Airbus A330-300 once flew with Thai flag carrier, Thai Airways, registered as HS-TEA. The jet was delivered new to the airline in 1995 and was configured to seat 42 in business and 263 in economy class.

A look at HS-TEA when it was still flying. Photo: Aero Icarus via Wikimedia Commons

The jet was withdrawn from use in March of 2015 and then stored at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP) airport in May of that year. UTP is a common storage airport for Thai's unused jets. Interested in other aircraft re-purposing stories like this? Check out the 727-turned-event-space, and the 737 converted into a cabin.

If you were in Thailand, would you go out of your way to see this coffee shop? Let us know in the comments.

Thai Airways says cuts about 240 executive positions - Reuters

Posted 42 minutes ago

Thai Airways says cuts about 240 executive positions

 

FILE PHOTO: Workers service a Thai Airways Airbus A380-800 aircraft at Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand September 3, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Airways International Pcl on Friday said it had cut around 240 executive positions at the airline as part of its bankruptcy restructuring process.

 

The announcement comes as the company nears a deadline to submit its restructuring plan to a bankruptcy court for creditor approval and as the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic adds to the woes for an airline that has been struggling since 2012.

 

"The number of executive positions has been reduced from 740 to about 500," the airline said in a statement, adding that the move would increase efficiency by going from eight supervisory levels to five.

 

The court's deadline for the carrier to submit its restructuring plan is March 2, after which the airlines' creditors will consider if restructuring will proceed.

 

Thai Airways, which has around 21,000 employees, said it had introduced a number of voluntary resignation agreements, but did not specify how many staff had applied.

 

"A successful restructuring will require cooperation from all parties, including creditors and employees," the airline's acting president Chansin Treenuchagron said.

 

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Ed Davies)

 

Visiting address:

Palmtree Residence. House A7

42/26 Bangsaen Sai 4. Nua Road

Bangsaen, Chonburi

THAILAND

Postal address:

P.O. Box 5

Bangsaen Post Office

TH-201 30. Chonburi

THAILAND

Mobile:+66848700117

               +46768195222 (if I'm in Europe)

E-mail: ola.jnsvd@gmail.com

Sent from Ola's iPad



Thai Airways staff FAKING THEIR DEATHS for the funeral allowance - Bangkok Jack

Thai Airways staff FAKING THEIR DEATHS for the funeral allowance

Thai Airways employees are faking their deaths in order to take advantage of funeral allowances… but then they keep working at the airline.

February 18, 2021

"The cooperative has found that the number of members filing for funeral allowance has increased suspiciously over several years," said cooperative representative Weerayut Thuankong, who joined 20 other staff members in filing the complaint.

"We checked the evidence they submitted and found that the death certificates appeared to be fake, as the persons declared dead are still working for the company."

'The cooperative has found that the number of members filing for funeral allowance has increased suspiciously over several years. We checked the evidence they submitted and found that the death certificates appeared to be fake, as the persons declared dead are still working for the company.'

Looking at evidence dating back to 2013, it's being alleged that there have been at least 26 fraudulent cases, which have caused an estimated 14 million THB (467,000 USD) in damages to the company. That's an average of 18,000 USD per employee who filed.

Thai Airways is currently in the process of being reorganized, as the airline is in bankruptcy protection.

Corruption has run rampant at the airline for years, and a former Thai Airways chairman was even recently jailed over excess baggage fees. 

19/2 (2)



19/2

 

Fourteen day quarantine for tourists set to end - two plans mulled for April 1st start, sources suggest - Thai Visa

 Fourteen day quarantine for tourists set to end - two plans mulled for April 1st start, sources suggest

 

REUTERS FILE PHOTO for reference only

 

Sources in the Thai business media have suggested that plans are taking shape for an end to the 14 day quarantine for foreign tourists. 

 

Behind the scenes the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Tourism Ministry, the Tourism Council, ATTA (the Association of Thai Travel Agents and the THA (Thai hoteliers' Association) have been pressing for an end to the two week quarantine that many see as a huge hurdle to the reintroduction of foreign tourism. 

 

They want to see those who have been vaccinated being allowed to come under two plans that are about to be proposed. 

 

The first is called "Quarantine At Home". Under this idea the tourist will be required to quarantine at their home where they are about to begin their journey before setting foot in Thailand. 

 

Once in the kingdom they will have a Covid check but still have to be quarantined for two nights, three days.

 

The second plan is called Mobile Quarantine. This idea involves the health department and the TAT acting as chaperones for tour groups. 

 

They may decide to allow a DMC (Thaivisa understands this to be a Destination Management Company) to fulfil this chaperone-cum-monitoring role. 

 

So what is the timeline?

 

According to sources the final details are being ironed out over the coming week and will be presented to the TAT board for discussion among all relevant parties towards the end of February. 

 

Then it will go to the cabinet where PM Prayuth Chan-ocha will be apprised of the plan and make the final decision. 

 

If given the go ahead the sources suggest the plans - possibly both of them - will get the nod from April 1st. 

 

Thaivisa notes that there appeared to have been a cooling of the "vaccination passport" idea but with these extra caveats in place there may be a way forward to opening up the country for those who have received Covid vaccinations abroad. 

 

 

 

Visiting address:

Palmtree Residence. House A7

42/26 Bangsaen Sai 4. Nua Road

A: Muang. T:Saensuk

Chonburi. Thailand 

Postal address:

P.O. Box 5

Bangsaen Post Office

TH-201 30 Chonburi 

Thailand 

Phone:

+66848700117 

Sent from Ola's iPhone