SIPA called in to track visiting yachts

PHUKET CITY: In the name of better security, the Phuket office of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) has been given until the end of April to develop a device that allows Thai authorities to track yachts visiting Thai waters.

The proposal was announced on Thursday at a meeting of a special committee formed to review security, Customs and Immigration procedures at the “one-stop service center” at Chalong Pier for people arriving in Phuket on yachts.

Leading the meeting, Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima explained that as the Thai authorities physically cannot inspect every yacht that arrives – about 20 yachts a day during the high season – the device would help patrol boats keep tabs on vessels in local waters.

The device would be issued when the yacht is checked into Phuket and returned when the yacht is checked out of the country, he said.

Every yacht arriving or departing Phuket must register at the Chalong center, where the Customs, Immigration and Marine Office (formerly called the Harbor Master’s Office) paperwork can be completed under one roof.

“After the yacht and its passengers have been registered [as arriving], they can berth or moor at any marina around the island,” explained Phuket Marine Office 5 Chief Olarn Hengcharoen.

To aid authorities in performing their work and to streamline the registration process, SIPA was also charged with devising an IT system that cross-linked Customs, Immigration and Marine Office databases.

V/Gov Worapoj proposed that Chalong Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) and the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) provide officers to help smooth the registration process and key in the data.