Not open yet, but Phuket’s Chalong Marina already needs repairs

PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Marine Office has appealed to all boat operators to exercise caution while using the still incomplete Chalong Bay Marina to allow passengers – mostly tourists – to board and disembark vessels.

The news comes after a Phuket Gazette reader sent in photos of tourists cautiously avoiding a gaping hole in the gangway that joins the marina superstructure to the main marina office.

“I will send officers to inspect the marina and we will have it fixed for everyone’s safety,” Phuket Marine Chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut said.

“Technically, people are not allowed to use the marina yet because it is still under construction. However, we are trying to be as flexible as possible when it comes to the locals’ reliance on it.

“I urge all people to be very careful when using the marina. The facility is not complete and therefore safety measures may not be up to standard. But in the meantime we will try our best to fix the situation,” Mr Phuriphat said.

Only last week Phuket provincial authorities were told the facility would not be ready to open to the public until 2015 (story here) despite an original launch date of 2012.

— Namsai Wongsaeree