SIPA takes steps to fast-track yacht and crew registrations

PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) has announced its plan for a first step in creating a true one-stop service for yacht and crew registrations at Chalong Pier.

In February, SIPA was tasked with creating a “device” to help track yachts visiting Thai waters, as well as streamlining procedures among the Marine, Immigration and Customs offices in charge of processing the yachts, crews and cargo at the pier. (Click here for original story)

SIPA Specialist Pracha Asawaweera, at a meeting at the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) office on May 20, said that SIPA had studied the registration procedures of the three agencies and found that they were complicated and involved extensive paperwork.

SIPA designed a format, he said, that will bring all the information together into a centralized database that can be easily accessed and updated by each of the relevant offices. The registration step would be less time consuming, requiring only one or two officers from the OrBorJor to help in filling in the data.

SIPA has estimated the budget required for this first phase at about 2 million baht.

Phuket Provincial Information and Communications Office Chief Somnuk Wijitsarat said that the first-stage proposal will be passed to Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima for consideration, and the budget will be funded by the OrBorJor at the end of the year.

“The project is expected to start early next year and it will take about six months to complete,” he said.

K. Pracha said that the second step involves improving security issues, but that these would have to be developed together with the Third Naval Command.