Not open yet, but Phuket's Chalong Marina already needs repairs
Phuket Gazette


All tourists and boat operators using the incomplete Chalong Bay Marina are urged to exercise caution while repairs are made to the facility. Photos: Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The chief of the Phuket Marine Office has appealed to all boat operators to exercise caution while using the still incomplete Chalong Bay Marina to allow passengers – mostly tourists – to board and disembark vessels.

The news comes after a Phuket Gazette reader sent in photos of tourists cautiously avoiding a gaping hole in the gangway that joins the marina superstructure to the main marina office.

“I will send officers to inspect the marina and we will have it fixed for everyone’s safety,” Phuket Marine Chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut said.

“Technically, people are not allowed to use the marina yet because it is still under construction. However, we are trying to be as flexible as possible when it comes to the locals’ reliance on it.

“I urge all people to be very careful when using the marina. The facility is not complete and therefore safety measures may not be up to standard. But in the meantime we will try our best to fix the situation,” Mr Phuriphat said.

Only last week Phuket provincial authorities were told the facility would not be ready to open to the public until 2015 (story here) despite an original launch date of 2012.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Not-open-yet-but-Phuket-s-Chalong-Marina-already-needs-repairs-21027.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-13

Safety measures? ?

Surely if it is incomplete, it's not actually repairs that are needed, but completion.

Maybe the boat operators shouldn't be using it until it's complete,

The locals use it but the FARANG broke it! Just wait its coming..............

News Update: a group of boat operators at Chalong Bay, Phuket have rallied at the new pier to complain about foreigners taking their jobs and breaking the as yet uncompleted pier. The operators were concerned that foreigners had caused the damage to harm the reputation of boat operators on Phuket, Phuket and Thailand in General and all Thais. They wanted all foreigners to be deported and if tourists want to come to Phuket for holiday the boat operators suggested that all holiday makers send $5,000 each to their bank accounts and then go to Bali instead to avoid any further damage to Thailand's reputation or harm to the pier. The Deputy Governor of Stupid Ideas felt this was worth exploring and would convene a committee to discuss further including the tuk tuk drivers, taxi operators, and other key elements of the Phuket tourism infrastructure.

Nothing new here. In London, there is an underground station with dangerous holes between the train and the platform. All they do there is to play a warning on the PA system: "Mind the gap!"

They ALL want the money the marina can generate - but NO ONE wants to pay for it.

Much like the infastructure on Phuket.

The photo from the other thread started by BM huuwi.

They ALL want the money the marina can generate - but NO ONE wants to pay for it.

Much like the infastructure on Phuket.

Oh, I believe there are people out there who want to spend the money, chalong marina could be a money machine, but I dont think they will let anyone come in and make them lose face when building a proper marina.

Much like any government or municipal funded project. Good enough budget to pay for a quality project, but once the coffee money has been taken out then we are lucky if a poor quality facility is even completed.

It's impressive how phuket marine office and Khun Phuripat are making a fool of themselves every single time their appear in the media.

Chalong new marina FAIL

Chalong bay new buoys project FAIL

Protecting the mangrove FAIL

Protecting the corals FAIL

Fighting against beach encroachment FAIL

Improving speedboat passengers and swimmers safety FAIL

Jet skis FAIL

Yachts one stop project FAIL

Handling taxi blockade on deep see port FAIL

That's just incredible. I don't think it is humanly possible to do a worse job, even voluntarily. Is the marine office chief's post given for life or something?

.

Yachts one stop project FAIL

.

It's no longer there at the pier then?

I don't know about the latest developments but it seemed it was not properly working

http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-%E2%80%98not-ready%E2%80%99-to-open-one-stop-shop-for-yachts-39224.php

It's impressive how phuket marine office and Khun Phuripat are making a fool of themselves every single time their appear in the media.

Chalong new marina FAIL

Chalong bay new buoys project FAIL

Protecting the mangrove FAIL

Protecting the corals FAIL

Fighting against beach encroachment FAIL

Improving speedboat passengers and swimmers safety FAIL

Jet skis FAIL

Yachts one stop project FAIL

Handling taxi blockade on deep see port FAIL

That's just incredible. I don't think it is humanly possible to do a worse job, even voluntarily. Is the marine office chief's post given for life or something?

Corruption - PASS

Give me a piece of plywood , i`ll fix it

Is anybody liable for accidents happening there? I think not. Liability insurance...??? As long as I have been in Thailand I haven't even seen barriers near huge holes, mostly unsafe to walk anywhere without being on guard for hazards that can maim or kill. Complaining doesn't seem to raise a red flag here. It's pretty much use at your own risk. I think taking tips from the locals will make it easier. They know the tricks.

Much like any government or municipal funded project. Good enough budget to pay for a quality project, but once the coffee money has been taken out then we are lucky if a poor quality facility is even completed.

Not wrong there! They started building a road out here 8 years ago, it is only about 5KM, they keep putting tarmac on top of sand and mud, the road has craters on it like the moon, it had holes in it even before they opened it. Do the same people that build these projects get awarded the maintenance contracts?- it seems like a job for life.

The same genius is asking 180 million THB for his useless sea taxi project. http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/No-reason-for-tuk-tuks-to-block-sea-taxi-project-Phuket-Marine-Chief-20904.html

Considering his great track record, he should get the funding quite easily.

Give me a piece of plywood , i`ll fix it

They would arrest you for not having a work permit. LOL

There is something inherent about Thai projects, building & operating standards and the sea that seem to produce the Perfect Cluster Duck every time.

oops my keyboard is playing up again

Phuket, Phuket...it seems no good news ever comes from there.

don't those ships have the typical old tyres on the sides to help soften the boarding to the dock ?

don't those ships have the typical old tyres on the sides to help soften the boarding to the dock ?

Those "old tyres" are actually Thai life bouys. :)

And the spiel goes on , World Class Destination .

When you look at the photo and see the rusty handrail they have fitted and then look around when you are out and about the good quality stainless steel railings etc you see it's a disgrace that they get away with such shoddy work, if you had small children and see the gaps in the safety rail you would be carrying them on to Terra firma.

I bet the big chiefs have stainless steel railings and gates at there Hovel.

Some wave coming in. Oh men it want take my little movie, scarry out there right now, the big piler on the outside pontoons brake.

I've never seen a swell like this in the bay except during the tsunami. Waves must be huge at the beaches today.

I've never seen a swell like this in the bay except during the tsunami. Waves must be huge at the beaches today.

Surprisingly not very big at Bang Tao Beach but looking offshore there is a very jagged horizon, so big waves out there. I guess the weather is being driven from the South so the beaches are relatively sheltered.