Ao Yon boats ordered to move to Phuket's Chalong Bay

[webfact]

Ao Yon boats ordered to move to Phuket's Chalong Bay
Saran Mitrarat


Ao Yon: Too close to the Royal Thai Navy base.

PHUKET: -- The owners of all boats anchored in Ao Yon have been ordered to move them within a week to Chalong Bay or to one of Phuket’s established marinas.

The new order comes soon after another that requires foreign boats to be fitted with expensive Authomatic Identification Systems.

Although the order came from the Phuket Marine Office (PMO) and was signed by PMO director Phuripat Theerakulpisut, it also relates to the security of the Royal Thai Navy base on Cape Panwa.

The notice was signed by Mr Phuripat on August 18 but was distributed only in the past week, and The Phuket News was told today by some people in the area that they have yet to receive it.

The letter states, “Because Phuket has a lot of foreign-flagged boats coming into its waters, [this order is for] the safety of marine traffic, for reorganisation of boat mooring, for boat safety and for the stability of the Kingdom.”

Owners or representative of yachts, ferries and all kinds of boats in the Ao Yon area, whether Thai- or foreign-flagged, were ordered not to anchor in the bay, to move to Chalong Bay and moor there, and to have crew on board around the clock.

Navy Cdr Pornprom Sakultem told The Phuket News this afternoon, “It’s not a new regulation, but officers may have been flexible about it for long time.

“From the Navy’s point of view, we have focus on our security and safety. The Military Safety Area Act of 2478 (1935) sets the distance from navy bases inside which other vessels may not venture,” he explained. The distance is one nautical mile.

But this is not the only reason for the order, he said.

“There is another related reason. Four government departments – Immigration, the Marine Office, Customs and Excise – all have the right to check boats coming into the Kingdom.

“We have found from inspections in the past that there were a lot of illegal boats coming in without registering or coming through Immigration or Customs.

“So now when you enter Phuket’s waters you must go to Chalong Pier and you may moor [long-term] only at Chaolong or recognised marinas,” he said.

All boats coming into Phuket must follow this rule. “It’s all about your safety and making it easy for us to monitor traffic,” Cdr Pornporm said. “It is also to prevent smuggling.

“It’s similar to arriving by air [because you must go through Immigration and Customs]. But the sea covers a very large area and it is hard to monitor all of it around Phuket, which is why all boats must register at Chalong Pier.

“When you register your boat and inform officers where are you going and for how long, it will be easy for us to identify your location in case of accident or emergency,” he added.

The news has dismayed and angered people who have sailing businesses in Ao Yon.

One said he had not received the notice but added, “I’ve been here 10 years and I don’t want to move to Chalong.

“There are thieves there who break into boats, there are shifting sandbars, and they have concrete mooring blocks that move – a boat was sunk by one of those recently.

“They can’t say it’s for our security – it’s much safer and more secure here in Ao Yon.”

Another said that he, too, had not received notice to move, but if he was told to do so, and to comply with the new rules, “I’m probably in the wrong business.”

He was particularly upset that, to get his four boats fully insured, he had spent a lot of money on safe moorings at Ao Yon which, if he is forced to move, would have to be left behind.

He also said of the requirement to have crew on board round the clock, “That’s serious. I don’t think anyone would could pay for that [and remain in business].”

Additional reporting by Alasdair Forbes

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/ao-yon-boats-ordered-to-move-to-phuket%E2%80%99s-chalong-bay-48629.php


-- Phuket News 2014-09-09

[chooka]

Have to make room for that fleet of submarines they want

[terryp]

like most things here ...NEVER take anything you have done for a while as guaranteed, as it will come back to haunt you (and your bank balance)

[oldsailor35]

If they don't move, bring in the airship and buzz the buggers. But make sure that its fuelled up first.

Edited September 9, 2014 by oldsailor35

[cloudhopper]

Another bizarre ruling, considering the government installed moorings there just 2 years ago.

[impulse]

Another bizarre ruling, considering the government installed moorings there just 2 years ago.

Not so bizarre if the current local authorities own (or have a profit sharing deal with) the marinas, which will now be getting a windfall.

That's where I'd bet- following the money.

Feel sorry for the guys and gals who bought boats thinking their mooring fees would be X and now they'll be 5X...

Sadly I pay about the same to store my tiny boat for a year as I paid for the boat itself. Really skews the total cost of ownership.

Edited September 9, 2014 by impulse

[BigC]

Why don't they just get the AIS systems then the government shall leave them alone???

[MoonShadow]

Lots of boats moor there for Phuket Race Week Regatta......I guess Cape Panwa Hotel is less than 1NM from the Navy base so will boats be able to moor there during the regatta next year......

[Seismic Joe]

The present administration is reported to be trying to promote tourism and has instructed TOT to begin a campaign to encourage more visitors. Last January the Maritime Dept. received a directive to reduce the maximum length of stay for visiting yachts in Phuket. As a result many owners left for Langkawi and other countries with more attractive terms. They won't be coming back! So much for encouraging tourism! Now the directive to move the boats from Ao Yon within 7 days, Huh? Apparently , this directive was signed 3 weeks ago and issued only now. How about the marine businesses established for 10 years or more in Ao yon?

[kartman]

The present administration is reported to be trying to promote tourism and has instructed TOT to begin a campaign to encourage more visitors. Last January the Maritime Dept. received a directive to reduce the maximum length of stay for visiting yachts in Phuket. As a result many owners left for Langkawi and other countries with more attractive terms. They won't be coming back! So much for encouraging tourism! Now the directive to move the boats from Ao Yon within 7 days, Huh? Apparently , this directive was signed 3 weeks ago and issued only now. How about the marine businesses established for 10 years or more in Ao yon?

How did they get everybody's phone number?surely some are exdirectory.

Edited September 9, 2014 by kartman

[laurentbkk]

Chalong bay is too crowed and water very shallow not to mention not the nicest area of Phuket.

[Bulldozer Dawn]

More job losses in Ao Yon. Add them to the growing number of unemployed in Phuket.

[rickirs]

"The Military Safety Area Act of 2478 (1935) sets the distance from navy bases inside which other vessels may not venture,” he explained. The distance is one nautical mile."

Yes, please enforce this law for the all the naval facilities along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. No more ferrys, no more tourism, no more commercial traffic.

[Inepto Cracy]

Only twice in the life of a boat owner are they truly happy, . . . When they buy the boat and then the day they sell the thing. Stay away from from the 3 F's and you will be fine.

The 3 F's you nutters ask, if it flies, floats or ok you get the idea now?

[stevenl]

Where is user Pagallim when you need him? He used to moor there, so I'm sure he can give us some insights in this, and maybe even in the AIS talk as well?