Tourist sub on its way

PHUKET: A US$2.5 million (107 million baht) submarine, designed to carry tour parties underwater, will arrive at Phuket Deep Sea Port on June 6 and go into service in November. Steve Nutting, President of Phuket Submarine Ltd, said today that the DS-48 submarine had left Florida aboard a ship on May 8. Thai staff will spend about six months in training before the sub begins operating off Koh Dokmai. The sub can carry 51 people and will make four trips a day at six kilometers an hour, or three knots. A ticket will cost 2,500 baht for 45 minutes. Passengers will be insured for US$1 million.