Navy’s Third Fleet Heightens Safety Role

CAPE PANWA: Vice Admiral Somphop Bhuridej, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet, announced on Wednesday that the Third Fleet will assist in ensuring safety for those who travel by boat to Phuket’s outlying islands. The announcement follows a spate of fatal accidents which occurred in the region’s public ferry services last year, and which were summarized in a front-page story in the December 15 issue of the Phuket Gazette. The Navy will now work more closely with the Phuket Provincial Government in inspecting boats carrying tourists to such islands as the Similans, Surin, Kao Tapoo, James Bond, and others, the Commander in Chief said. Inspection details will pay particular attention to overloading and the presence or absence of adequate communications equipment, fire appliances, and life vests. The Phuket-based Third Fleet will also continue to assist in emergencies. Vice Admiral Somphop noted the availability of the Fleet’s helicopter for evacuation work and reminded the public that it is on standby to rush casualties to hospital. The emergency numbers for the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet – all in Phuket with area code 076 – are 411941, 411284, 327510, 391598, 391598. These numbers are manned 24 hours a day, the Navy says.