Submarine tangled in red tape

PHUKET: Plans to begin using a 48-passenger underwater vessel in Phuket this month have been postponed until May next year because of delays in gaining official approval. Surin Bamrungphol, Director of Phuket Submarine, told the Gazette “The Board of Investment took longer than we anticipated and the company that was selling us the submarine sold the vessel that was due to come to Phuket to another company “We’ve put in a new order, and expect to be ready to operate in May.” The US$4 million DS-48 submarine is built in San Diego, USA, and is approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). This model of submarine has a maximum capacity of 48 passengers and two crew and is capable of diving to 30 meters.