Superyacht licence registration coming soon

PHUKET: Registration for foreign-flagged superyacht chartering licences is expected to begin next month, Marine Department Director-General Chula Sukmanop revealed to the Phuket Gazette.

“Officials have been discussing how to standardize criteria for the licences. We are pushing hard on what needs to be done, in terms of laws, to allow foreign-flagged superyacht charters in Thailand,” said Mr Chula.

A public hearing on the issue is set to be held next week.

“On June 16, we will hold a public hearing at Phuket Provincial Hall. After the public hearing we will submit the standardized criteria to the Ministry of Transport for approval. Then, the registration should be available for qualified vessels at the beginning of July,” Mr Chula explained.

“The ministry is fully supporting this matter in order to move Thailand closer toward its goal of becoming the regional maritime hub.”

It was noted in last month’s public meeting in Phuket that the government is looking to give superyachts 30 meters or longer permission to charter in Thai territorial waters for a year at time (story here).

— Chutharat Plerin