Locations Served

Thailand is located at the center of the Indochinese peninsula and is bordered by the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The two largest ports in Thailand include the ports of Laem Chabang and Bangkok. The Port Authority of Thailand, which is a state corporation, operates the ports in conjunction with several public companies, including PSA International and Hutchinson Ports Thailand. Thailand has been heavily investing in the development of its ports in recent years and a multi-million-dollar expansion is planned for Phuket Port.

The heavy investment in Thai ports has prompted an increase in cruises both departing from and visiting Thailand. Currently, approximately 26 cruise lines travel to Thailand and the ports of Thailand welcome approximately 75 different cruise ships. Few of the ships are permanently based in Asia. Cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Holland America, however, are increasing visits to Thailand and Thailand is investing heavily in promotion to build up its cruise industry.

As the industry grows, there will be more passengers on cruise ships in and around Thailand, which means there will be a greater potential for something to go wrong and someone to get hurt while on a cruise. If an injury does happen, a maritime lawyer should be consulted to determine options for pursuing a claim for compensation.

Maritime Injuries in Thailand

As cruise traffic in Thailand expands in response to efforts to promote cruising in the area, Thai ports will need to be able to accommodate ships that are larger in scale. Ports with better facilities will become necessary to ensure that the ships can port safely. Crew members and passengers, unfortunately, could be injured if problems occur when a ship is docking.

Both crew members and passengers face other risks while on cruises that are visiting Thailand or have departed from Thailand and are in nearby waters. From the dangers of sexual assaults aboard cruises to the risks of injuries due to overboard incidents, many passengers and even crew members are unaware of how dangerous cruising can be sometimes.

Cruise ships have been reluctant in the past to provide statistics and sufficient information on sexual assaults and other incidents aboard vessels which have caused harm. As the cruise market expands in Thailand and new ships come into the area, passengers may not have the information they need to choose which new ships are safe for them and which cruise lines have a track record of failing to fulfill a basic duty to take reasonable precautions to keep passengers safe from harm.

What to Do If a Maritime Injury is Sustained

If a cruise ship accident, sexual assault or other incident occurs on a cruise ship in or around Thailand, it can be difficult to know exactly how to proceed. You may be uncertain of whether to make a complaint to local authorities if you’re offshore or you may not know how to report the incident if you are on the vessel at the time something goes wrong. Conducting an investigation and preserving evidence is also difficult, especially when on a foreign ship.

After your injury or after any incident that causes harm, your best options are to try to document and report what happened and reach out to a skilled attorney as soon as possible. You need a legal professional who serves different areas globally, including Thailand. Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. provides representation worldwide and we are ready to help. Call 877-233-1238 today to schedule a consultation or contact us online to learn more.