Phuket jet-ski operators complain about illegal interlopers

[webfact]

Phuket jet-ski operators complain about illegal interlopers
Nattha Thepbamrung


Surachai Yomlee points to the registration number on a legitimate jet-ski at Bang Tao Beach.

PHUKET: -- The head of the Bang Tao jet-ski Club, Surachai Yomlee, has complained that unlicensed jet-ski operators are operating from Bang Tao beach, and have been since November last year. He has also accused “some officials” of colluding with them.

He said that even though he has sent letters and reports to the Phuket Marine Office and Cherngtalay Police, no action has been taken.

“There are around six or seven jet-ski operators hiring out jet-skis without licenses. Whenever officers from the Marine Office come to check, the operators always disappear.

“We believe there are some people in the Marine Office colluding with these illegal jet-ski operators,” Mr Surachai told The Phuket News.

“If we hold a valid license but others can operate without them, why should we renew our licenses when they expire?” he asked.

He added that last year, some of the unlicensed operators were fined B10,000 for operating license, but following the fines they all obtained valid paperwork.

“The unlicensed operators that have now appeared should follow their example,” he said.

“We had an agreement with the previous governor (Maitree Intusut), that the maximum number of jet-skis on Bangtao beach should be 40.

“However, if more operators are allowed there will be more and more and the management of the past will be useless. Everything will go back to how it was a decade ago.”

“The Marine Office is trying to make the new unlicensed operators legal and put them in our group, but we disagree,” he said.

However, Puripat Theerakulpisut, Chief of the Phuket Marine Office, denied this. He told The Phuket News that the Marine Office has never asked the Bang Tao jet-ski Club to accept more members. Officers are trying to arrest the unlicensed operators but the club has to be more patient, he said.

“We have never asked them to increase the number of members, and we are trying to catch the unlicensed operators.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-jet-ski-operators-complain-about-illegal-interlopers-50527.php


-- Phuket News 2015-01-13

[peptidebomber]

Oh the irony lol

[NeverSure]

"Phuket jet-ski operators complain about illegal..."

[krisb]

Send JJ round with his rifle!

[LivinginKata]

Oh the irony lol

Love it

[schlog]

Again and again Khun Puripat. One day Karma comes knocking your door.

[pattjock]

"PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has vowed to revoke the operating license of any jet-ski owner whose machine is found sitting on the sand on any beach in Phuket, along with the boat operator licenses of any staff.

He did however, say that tourists do not need licenses to ride jet-skis which, technically, is required by law.

“A driving license [for a jet ski] is not necessary for tourists because they just come to Phuket for a week or so, and ride jet-skis maybe only two or three days,” he confirmed.

Gov Nisit also made public a list of 13 rules governing jet-skis and sports boats. These are:

All boats must have license and still valid.
First class insurance must be bought.
Rental contracts must be in four languages; Thai, English, Russian and Chinese.
Price must be shown and must be the same for all.
Tourists must be trained before being allowed to ride a jet-ski.
Life jackets must be worn at all times.
The power of jet-ski engines must not exceed 130hp.
All jet-skis and boats must have a Marine Office sticker at the bow and trailers may be parked only in designated areas.
Jet-skis and boats may not be refuelled in the water or on the beach.
Boat owners or staff look after boats or machines must have the appropriate licenses and certificates.
Tourists must not ride jet ski or boats outside the designated area of sea.
Boat crews must not drink alcohol or take drugs while controlling machine.
When any accident happens, the designated officer for the area must be informed.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783370-phuket-jet-skis-warned-stay-off-the-sand/

"

Have all the other rules dictated by the Governor been implemented?

[draftvader]

Wow, this one is too irresistible.....

[eezergood]

Send JJ round with his rifle!

anyone seen this joker lately?

[steelepulse]

Too funny. One set of corrupt officials undermining their boss to get in on the tea money, while everyone wants to get in on the gravy train. I wonder if Puripat gets a cut from these new unlicensed jet ski guys, or if the underlings are keeping it all?

[mikebell]

How can the beach support 40 jet-skis? Surely there cant be 40 half-wits in the world who still want to hire jet-skis after all the adverse publicity?

[wangsuda]

Surely there cant be 40 half-wits in the world who still want to hire jet-skis after all the adverse publicity?

The supply of stupid, world-wide, is limitless.

[klauskunkel]

“However, if more operators are allowed there will be more and more and the management of the past will be useless. Everything will go back to how it was a decade ago.”

How about everything should go back to how it was 5 decades ago?!!!

[maidee]

hahahahahaha

so funny

by definition, all jet-ski's are ILLEGAL in thailand

but mister RIPOFF likes to complain that there are other THUGS that take his stealings ?

[SOTIRIOS]

..same old/same old......

[Antonioni]

Again and again Khun Puripat. One day Karma comes knocking your door.

In My opinion they should all have insurance and not rely on the farang to pay extortionate bills for the slightest of damage...

[bangon04]

"However, Puripat Theerakulpisut, Chief of the Phuket Marine Office, denied this. He told The Phuket News that the Marine Office has never asked the Bang Tao jet-ski Club to accept more members. Officers are trying to arrest the unlicensed operators but the club has to be more patient, he said."

He doesn't seem to be in any way ashamed that he is publicly admitting how hopelessly inefficient his department is.

[hansgruber]

Amazing but it makes sense.

Mafia is just asking another mafia(authorities) to protect their turf.

[monkeycountry]

The mafia is complaining to the authorities about unfair competition. TIT

[Suffinator]

Considering the widespread publicity on the scams and rip-offs I'm amazed any tourist hires one in the first place. They are in fact illegal and it is a fact that it is illegal to operate one without a Thai licence.

If people stopped renting these jet skis then they would simply go out of business and Phuket would be all the better for it.

[kurnell]

Imagine a Thailand where the men get themselves gainful employment and work hard for their country rather than sleeping, scamming and generally ruining the country's reputation?

[jaywalker]

Imagine what would happen to his competition if they were a duly licensed Farang owned controlled company?

Probably all sorts of nasty stuff with clubs, knives, machetes & fire bombs.

[jaywalker]

Imagine a Thailand where the men get themselves gainful employment and work hard for their country rather than sleeping, scamming and generally ruining the country's reputation?

Especially in the tourist industry!

[Sviss Geez]

Imagine a Thailand where the men get themselves gainful employment and work hard for their country rather than sleeping, scamming and generally ruining the country's reputation?

Just imagine if the men in every other country could do the same also.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Sviss Geez

[Nuddy]

It suggests that all does not seem correct at the marine office.

Maybe the General can get someone to look into that aspect.

[Phuketboy]

Time to set up a couple of farang friendly jet ski hire places. Service with a smile and no rip offs guaranteed. Just need to hire a couple of thai's to run the show on the beach and stay well in the background. Do the maths on how many customers you would have per day at 3000 baht per hour per ski. You would certainly pay the skis off in no time and make a very nice little profit. Much better than hiring motorbikes/cars.

[wabothai]

This one made my day !!!

[steven100]

scum whinging about scum .......

[steven100]

Time to set up a couple of farang friendly jet ski hire places. Service with a smile and no rip offs guaranteed. Just need to hire a couple of thai's to run the show on the beach and stay well in the background. Do the maths on how many customers you would have per day at 3000 baht per hour per ski. You would certainly pay the skis off in no time and make a very nice little profit. Much better than hiring motorbikes/cars.

no thanks .....

most tourists don't want jet ski's anywhere near the beaches, they are noisy, environmentally unfriendly & damn right dangerous to bathers ....

kick out the jet ski's .......

[Nemesis7]

Scammers vs scammers ...lol