There was yet another close call for day tripping tourists in the waters around Phuket.
A speed boat carrying 10 Chinese tourists collided with a small barge loaded with oil.
It badly damaged the hull of the Sai Nam speedboat but it did not sink.
The tourists were rescued and transferred to a passing tour boat.
They were taken to hospital but all injuries were minor.
Local police cited ‘some sort of engine or control malfunction’ for the collision.
Marine safety and boating accidents have been getting much more scrutiny following a tour boat disaster last July off Phuket which resulted in the deaths of 47 Chinese tourists.
That led to a backlash in the China market with thousands of bookings cancelled.
The market has only just rebounded since then.
Just a day earlier, a speed boat carrying 23 Chinese tourists hit a reef and sank near Koh Samet Island.
All occupants were rescued and transferred to another boat with two reporting minor injuries.
