Phuket boat tracking system operational
Phuket Gazette


Pracha Asawateera, Phuket branch manager of SIPA, hopes to make it mandatory for all boats operating within the tourism industry to register. Photo: Supplied

PHUKET: -- A 15-million-baht system that will track the location of the about 3,000 boats visiting Phuket each year finally has wind in its sails.

“Right now, we can use our Automatic Identification System (AIS) to track boats on the north, west and south sides of the island. We are trying to get the budget to cover the east side too," said Pracha Asawateera, Phuket branch manager of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA).

SIPA, part of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, is in the process of extending the range of the system to include the Similan Islands and Phi Phi Island by November.

“We can track boats using radar, but AIS gives us more detailed information about a vessel's location. This is important for safety, and will be useful in emergency cases,” he added.

The installation of the system was one of the requirements set last year by Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada before he would allow the one-stop yacht arrival center in Chalong to open (story here).

“At first, not all boats will be required to log into the system. However, we are pushing for it to be mandatory for all boats operating within the tourism industry to register," Mr Pracha said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-boat-tracking-system-operational-24483.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-02-01

Maybe they should concern themselves with just knowing where the moorings are in Chalong bay first.
Then, once they have that figured out, could expand their location services.

I wonder if it can track them underwater .......

For this to work, all boats have to purchase an AIS system.

If they don't buy one, you may see them on the radar, but, have no idea who, or what they are.

It might be interesting to note that all boats entering Singapore are required to have an AIS transponder aboard. It is even possible to rent transponders for temporary stayers. This means that many boats that come here from Singapore already have the equipment aboard anyway and many local pleasure boat owners are starting to fit them. Its just the locally owned and operated tour boats that don't have it that will squeal the loudest.

Starting to see a lot more vessels around Phuket on the AIS tracking site http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/home

Starting to see a lot more vessels around Phuket on the AIS tracking site http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/home

That's handy tool. Thanks for sharing it. Hopefully there will be much more transponders for future boat spotting.

I have Lady D on my balcony view.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/7644219/vessel:LADY_D

I have Devocean from my balcony view http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/8653906/vessel:DEVOCEAN