A speedboat bringing diners back to shore hit a fishing boat near Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya at about 11pm on Monday 9 November 2026. Eight or nine people were hurt, depending on the report, and police have not said who was at fault. Explera DMC Thailand sets out what is confirmed and what agents should ask before booking a boat transfer after dark.
Explera handles ground arrangements as a Thailand DMC for travel agents. Its Thai company, Explera DMC Co., Ltd., holds TAT licence 14/05119, the Tourism Business Licence issued by the Department of Tourism, and the group is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and a member of ASTA (900408341). Write to b2b@explera.co.th.
What happened off Bali Hai Pier on 9 November?
Nation Thailand and the Bangkok Post reported on 10 November that Pattaya's marine rescue radio centre took the call at about 11pm. A passenger speedboat with 27 Thai and foreign passengers was returning from a restaurant to the pier when it struck a two-deck fishing boat that had customers on a night-fishing trip. The speedboat was badly damaged on one side and sank, and everyone was brought ashore. Both papers counted nine injured women: six Thai, two Russian and one Ukrainian, most with cuts and shock. Pattaya Mail reported on 11 November that eight people were hurt, five Thai and three Russian, that seven had left hospital and that one was still in care. We cannot reconcile the two counts.
What have officials said about the cause?
Nothing final. The fishing boat's skipper told officials his navigation lights were on and that he slowed down when he saw the speedboat coming fast. The speedboat driver told police he did not see the fishing boat. Those are two accounts, not findings. Police said they would question both crews and review CCTV and the condition of the boats, and Pattaya Mail reported on 11 November that no charges had been filed. We have seen no finding since, so do not tell a client whose fault it was.
What has changed at the pier since?
Pattaya Mail reported on 11 November that maritime authorities raised a red flag at Bali Hai Pier and stopped small boats from leaving. Larger passenger vessels that meet safety requirements kept running to Koh Larn, and officials told passengers to wear life jackets for the whole journey. The report does not say how long the restriction lasts. If your clients have a speedboat booked from Pattaya this month, ask the operator the day before whether it is running, and keep the ferry as the fallback.
What should agents ask before booking a boat after dark?
The standard island day trip, covered in our Koh Larn day-trip guide, runs in daylight. The night risk sits in the extras: dinner boats, floating restaurants, night fishing and sunset trips that come back after dark. For any of these, ask your Thailand DMC or supplier to confirm in writing:
- Hours. The last departure and the latest return, and whether the return is in daylight.
- Boat and skipper. That the vessel is registered to carry passengers, how many it may carry, and that the skipper holds a licence.
- Life jackets. One for every passenger, in children's sizes where needed, and worn for the whole trip.
- Night running. Working navigation lights and the operator's speed rule near the pier.
- Insurance. Passenger cover on the vessel, and whether the client's own travel insurance covers boat excursions.
- Manifest. A passenger list with names, left ashore before departure.
We give no legal wording here because the reports quote none. Our transport team can put these answers on the confirmation.
What should you tell clients who are already booked?
Tell them what is known: one collision late at night, an open investigation, and tighter checks at the pier. Daytime ferries to Koh Larn were still running on 11 November. Ask clients to wear the life jacket they are given and to accept a change of boat or time if the operator makes one. Our Pattaya destination guide and our beach and water safety brief cover the rest of a seaside stay, and a Thailand DMC on the ground can reconfirm each sailing for you.
Next steps
Send us your Pattaya dates, group size and any boat trips already sold through our contact page. The trade desk replies within 24 hours, and the rest of what we do is on our Thailand DMC services page.
Sources
- Nation Thailand: Nine women injured in Pattaya speedboat collision near Bali Hai Pier
- Bangkok Post: Speedboat hits night-fishing boat, 9 tourists injured
- Pattaya Mail: Pattaya restricts boat departures after speedboat collision injures eight
Frequently asked questions
Are speedboats to Koh Larn running after the collision?
Pattaya Mail reported on 11 November that small boats were stopped from leaving Bali Hai Pier while larger passenger vessels kept running to Koh Larn. The report gives no end date, so reconfirm with the operator the day before travel.
How many people were injured in the Pattaya speedboat collision?
Nation Thailand and the Bangkok Post reported nine injured women. Pattaya Mail reported eight injured, with seven discharged from hospital and one still in care on 11 November. No deaths were reported.
Who was at fault in the Bali Hai Pier collision?
Police have not said. The two skippers gave different accounts, and Pattaya Mail reported on 11 November that no charges had been filed. Treat any claim about fault as unconfirmed.
Should clients avoid boat trips in Pattaya after dark?
That is the client's choice, but ask first. Get the return time, the vessel's passenger registration, life jackets, lights and insurance confirmed in writing, and choose a daylight return where the programme allows it.
