Superyacht charter permits inch ahead at Phuket forum

Tanyaluk Sakoot

Marine Department Director-General Chula Sukmanop. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: Marine Department Director-General Chula Sukmanop announced at a public forum in Phuket yesterday (June19) that foreign-flagged superyachts will soon be able apply for one-year permits to stay and operate charters in Thai waters.

Basic details of applying for permits for foreign boats were revealed, such as that the yacht must be more than 30 metres in length, be carrying no more than 12 persons and must be fully insured.

“The application for the permit must be submitted by a natural or juristic Thai person,” Mr Chula said, adding that permit application fee will be levied at a rate of B40 per gross tonne of the yacht.

Mr Chula added that the application must be supported by an official letter of endorsement from an embassy or government agency, though exactly which authorities in the yacht’s country of registration and which embassies could provide the letter was not made clear.

Questions about crew visas and taxes on revenues earned through charters remained unanswered.

“This is a complex issue involving many laws and regulations, and I have to discuss this in depth with officials from other departments,” Mr Chula told The Phuket News.

“It is possible that we may be able to grant special conditions regarding tax and immigration.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/superyacht-charter-permits-inch-ahead-at-phuket-forum-52867.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

-- Phuket News 2015-06-20

What load of protectionist self important Xenophobic fools put these conditions in place. Hub of idiots.

Yes, make it difficult to be sure that the rich do not come here ! But luckily they do not care your stupid laws and do exactly what they want anywhere in the world !

"Mr Chula added that the application must be supported by an official letter of endorsement from an embassy or government agency" - huh?

What is this letter supposed to say?

I can picture it now. One superyacht with 100 crew - all on 1 year Thai visas.

Tell your customers that the charter is free for everybody, and they only have to pay within international waters.