289
February 2005

Dinner Cruise Boats on The Chao Phrya, River of Kings

The vessels make two dinner cruises on the Chao Phrya River each evening.

The most important design aspect of a work boat is the correlation between form and function. The boat must move comfortably in the waters for which it is designed while carrying out the tasks for which it has been built. In this context one might think of a big ocean going salvage tug, but the demands of form of a vessel to serve its function are equally important for a dinner cruise vessel.

Galley preparations underway.

The latest addition to Bangkok, Thailand-based Tristar Floating Restaurant fleet is the result of the company’s learning curve since their inception in 1990. At that time they served dinner to 150 people at a time onboard a 27x10-meter barge-like vessel. Their latest boat, to be delivered in the early 2005, will serve 400 people a sit-down buffet dinner on two decks. The 53x11-meter vessel has lines, from the fine rake of her bow aft, more in keeping with a modern cruise ship than a barge. But it is also in the overall lines of the boat that the designer’s greatest challenge can be seen. The Bangkok-based naval architect firm Navis Consultants had to make a boat that could cook and serve up to 400 people on a schedule that includes two dinner cruises each evening. This all had to be fitted into a boat that had an air-draft of only five meters and a water draft of only 1.4-meters when loaded. Even this fine balance between water and air draft is restrictive on occasion when rainy season high waters combine with the 2.5-meters of sea-tide that can push the waters backward on the Chao Phrya at Bangkok some 50 kilometers up from the sea.

The large upper dinning area offers excellent river views.

Two of the fleets existing Cummins-powered vessels at the home dock.

Because it will serve tourists on the Chao Phrya River, home to many classically beautiful boats like the sleek “long-tail” water taxis, the boat must also have reasonably attractive lines. The designer’s success in meeting these requirements, both inside and out, is really quite remarkable. On the main deck right aft is a full service galley capable of preparing all the complex dishes required in a good Thai meal. Side doors lead from the galley to outside stairs giving the servers access to the upper deck. Just ahead of the galley port and starboard engine rooms are separated by the passageway from the galley to the public areas forward. Each engine room contains a 640 HP Cummins KTA19 M3 main engine set down on the 45-cm. framing of the shallow hull. With the hull’s molded depth of only 2.1 meters the top of the 1.9-meter tall engine is above the main deck level, but the engine rooms extend up to the top deck allowing easy access as well as ample space for a 410 HP Cummins 855 engine driving a 284 Kw generator in each engine room. The main engines turn 1.3x1.05 meter 4-blade manganese bronze propellers through marine gears with 5:1 ratios.

Adjacent to the engine rooms are located elegantly finished men’s and women’s heads. Forward of that the entrance foyer stretching across the boat’s beam, features fine woodwork and a grand staircase leading up to the upper deck with seating for 250 in an open-sided sheltered area that extends right aft. The lower deck seats 150 people in an air-conditioned area. The small pilot house is located on the top deck just ahead of a small stage and dance floor area.

The ornate entrance foyer and grand staircase in classic Thai style.

On delivery the Chao Phrya Princess III will join the company’s three other 300-passenger Cummins powered vessels. Two of the existing boats are 48 and 50 meters with 10-meter beams. A third boat is currently being extensively rebuilt with a new bow and extended transom being added to bring it to the same general specs as the others. In addition to the 1.25 and 2-hour dinner cruises per evening, these boats can be chartered at 70,000 baht (aprox. $1750.00 USD) and 15,000 baht per additional hour. A variety of meals can be added ranging from 450 to 650 baht per person.

Managing Director Khun Vichai Tanasopananont.

For further information:
(Owner)
Khun Vichai Tanasopananont
Managing Director
Tristar Floating Restaurant Co. Ltd.
723 Supakarn Bldg. G Floor
No. G-18Chareonnakorn Road
Phone: (66)2 860 3700
Fax: (66)2 860 1025
Mobile: (66)1 810 8805
e-mail: tristar_chaophraya@hotmail.com
web: www.thaicruise.com

(Builder)
Khun Boonyasak Samatsoraboot
Shipyard BSP Relationships Co. Ltd.
527 Mu.2 Tumbol Taiban,Amphur Muang
Samut Prakarn province10280
Thailand
Phone: 662 389 4961

(Designer)
Navis Consultants Ltd.
98443 Sukuamvit 71 Klongton
Wattana Bangkok 10110

(Engine supply)
Sathit Suwanprasert
Senior Engineer, Marketing Dept.
Diethelm & Co.Ltd.
Engineering Division
1696 New Petchburi Road
Bangkapi Huaykwang
Bangkok 10320
Thailand

Phone: 662 254 4900 x 218
Fax: 662 254 4913
Mobile: 662 (01) 913-6599
E-mail: sumonta@eng.diethelm.co.th

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