The Ministry of Science and Technology will work with Sakun C Innovation, a local manufacturer of steel for use in boat-building, to make water transport safer.
Sakun C has international certification recognising the high standard of its manufacturing quality and uses state-of-the-art foam technology which can be injected into the lower part of the hull to make a vessel "unsinkable", the company claims.
In the event that a boat is completely flooded, the foam technology can keep it afloat, a company representative said, adding the technology works for anything from 5-meter-long speedboats to 19m ships that carry 80-100 people.
The ministry want to work in tandem to promote the use of this technology in local boats, especially those used in the tourism sector, it said.
"The tourism industry is one of the leading sources of revenue for the country, and therefore the use of innovation to enhance safety standard will add tremendous value for our lucrative tourism sector," said Vichian Suksoir, a deputy executive director at the National Innovation Agency.
The move comes after two tourist boats sank off Phuket last week in a storm, resulting in the deaths of 42 Chinese and two Russians. Three people are still missing.
