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Enlarging Phuket's deep sea port is the priority, not an airport ferry

Ferry Diverts Attention from Phuket's Ailing Port

Monday, May 20, 2013
Phuket News Analysis

PHUKET: Marine authorities on Phuket should not waste time seeking approval for a pie-in-the-sea Airport-to-Patong ferry when the priority is to fix Phuket's deep sea port.

The world's leading cruise ship lines are swinging their vessels away from Europe towards Asia. Phuket's port facilities are among the poorest in the entire continent.

Carnival Corporation is pulling out of Europe in 2014 and has officially launched its regional office in Singapore. Carnival brands Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises continue to grow their operations in Asia.

Costa Atlantica, the biggest ship in the Costa fleet, is being deployed to Asia, joining Costa Victoria and more than doubling Costa's capacity in the region.

Costa Atlantica will sail from Singapore to Malacca and Penang for three-night cruises and four-night trips to Phuket and Langkawi.

Because of dithering, Phuket's deep sea port, on the east coast, remains possibly the shabbiest facility in South-East Asia.

For reasons that are difficult to understand, marine officials appear to be devoting an inordinate amount of time to the Airport-Patong ferry concept.

The ferry will not attract new passengers to Phuket, only cater to passengers once they have reached Phuket.

An improved Phuket deep sea port would have instant appeal and attract thousands more top-quality passengers to Phuket, which is just what the island needs.

What the marine authorities should be concentrating on is improving the temporary facilities at Phuket deep sea port and providing a shuttle bus service for passengers to Phuket City and Patong.

The fact that cruise passengers continue to be held to ransom by local taxi and tuk-tuk drivers is a source of shame for Phuket's authorities.

The US aircraft carrier Nimitz will be anchoring off Phuket later this month, and setting the standard for land transport on Phuket.

The 5500 sailors and aircrew on board will be offered the choice of shuttle buses or taxis and tuk-tuks. This is just the way it should be for all the luxury cruise passengers that want to make Phuket a destination.

That choice should also apply to passengers arriving at Phuket airport, and Airports of Thailand must be made to take its management responsibilities seriously.

Phuket's marine authorities - along with many other Phuket officials - also need to get their priorities sorted.

Speedy improvement to Phuket's deep sea port is what Phuket must fast-track because it will deliver thousands of extra quality tourists.

The Airport-Patong ferry is not going to attract a single extra tourist. It will be difficult to operate on days when Phuket's weather turns bad.

Cancelled trips and repaying customers will be a nightmare for operators, and the initial cost seems ridiculously high for a low-return venture that only adds travelling time and extra trouble for arriving tourists.

The message to Phuket's marine authorities is plain: extend the deep sea port, give Phuket a cruise line facility it can be proud of, then worry about the pie-in-the-sea idea.

Making Phuket a jet-ski scam-free zone is another matter that should be close to the top of the list of marine authority priorities - not the Airport-Patong ferry.

Comments

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Just returned from Palma de Majorca & St Maarten where cruise ships arrive daily and are a huge bonus to the local economy. Phuket is a nicer location to visit than either of those places ... with the correct facilities!

Posted by Anonymous on May 20, 2013 12:47

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Safety is also an issue with the West Coast airport ferry service. We've seen safety issues with marine tour operators recently, how will a ferry service be any different? More than likely the same pool of "captains" that all are talking to.

Huge waste of money, potential safety issues, chances of cancellations in bad weather... hardly ticks in the box for this hare brained idea. Mmm...

Posted by Duncan on May 20, 2013 13:00

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maybe the new airport buses that are standing empty could be utilised for the shuttle service. Be interesting to see when Nimitz is in what the taxi drivers allow to occur. IIRC last time a big ship was in the officers were 'allowed' to use the mini buses and the sailors had to pay for taxis. I optimistically (not pessimisticly) foresee another short-sighted season ahead. When you bite off your nose to spite your face eventually you will find it difficult to breathe.

Posted by Mister Ree on May 20, 2013 14:43

Editor Comment:

I'd like some evidence of the distinction you cite between officers and sailors. Sounds extremely unlikely. I think you'll find all sailors were offered the same choice, regardless of rank.

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Good article with some well-made points. But will Phuket authorities actually do anything? No, of course not!

Posted by jimbo on May 20, 2013 14:57

Editor Comment:

The people who constantly respond that nothing will change are actually a problem. jimbo. When you say nothing will change, you are actually in agreement with the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers and the officials who don't try hard enough.
I find it disturbing that you (and others who think nothing will ever change) are unwitting allies of the who want nothing to change.
So you don't really want change at all? Is that what you are saying?

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How am i part of the problem, Ed?? And how does my cynicism affect change? You really are a strange guy to think i'm part of the administrative inaction on this island. I'm just a farang, who, unfotunately has no right to say anything.
Even on here, judging by your comments!

Posted by jimbo on May 20, 2013 17:29

Editor Comment:

You and those who say 'Nothing is going to change' are saying exactly what the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers say, and what they want others to believe.

You and the taxi drivers agree: nothing is going to change. Pretty strange, that. If you think nothing is going to change, you're cheerleading their team, jimbo.

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No wonder you've added a disclaimer about hostile comments, on your front page, Ed. If you really think i, or any visitor, supports the taxi/tuktuk mob you really are a strange deluded sort.
The sooner the cronyism and corruption that let this lot rule the island are ousted, the better. However, despite all the hot air, it'll take Martial Law to do that. And i don't see that happening any time soon.
"Cheerleader" indeed! You write such piffle!

Posted by jimbo on May 20, 2013 18:07

Editor Comment:

When you say 'Nothing will change' and 'The authorities won't act,' you are saying precisely what the corrupt and the scammers and the monopolists want you to say. And you don't see any change coming soon.

You're in agreement, virtually one of them. What a pity you're not a cheerleader for change.

I should add that throughout history, the scoreboard for achieving everything reads:
Cynics: 0 Strange deluded sorts: Victories galore.
Personally, I'll stick with the winners.

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@ ed, sticking with the winners makes you a part of the tuk tuk drivers and taxi gangs, because as far as I can remember, they always win. One way or another. And I am longer in Thailand than you. So, if you tell the readers to stick with the winners, as you are doing, maybe everybody should start blocking roads, like the tuk tuk gangs. You are wrong, Ed, because when we say that nothing will ever happen, believe us, most of us are saying this with pain in our hearts. But, unfortunately, this is being realistic.

Posted by Charles on May 20, 2013 19:45

Editor Comment:

I don't care how long you've been in Thailand, Charles, as long as it doesn't affect your ability to think clearly. And I am beginning to wonder. There was a time before the internet when cynics were forced to sit at home and watch while people with constructive ideas went out and changed the world. The cynics, of course, celebrated, whoever won. Unfortunately cynics now think their non-opinions are important and they have plenty of non-opinions, no ideas, and still nothing constructive to add. Cynicism should never be confused with realism. Realism is acceptable, cynicism is a pathway to despair. And that's probably a path some take if they've been on Phuket too long. If you think the tuk-tuk drivers and taxi drivers are winners . . . how long did you say you've been here?

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I guess the question is just how long each ship spends here on a visit? My cousin is coming here on The Dawn Princess 25 May 2013. The ship is in port for just one day and then moves on. Is this Typical. The immigration office tells me they don't know when a ship is coming until three days before. Does this sound like 'sound planning'? How can they plan for something in advance if the cruise people don't tell them in advance?

Posted by Chris on May 20, 2013 19:57

Editor Comment:

Cruise ship itineraries are published months in advance, when people buy tickets. That's like an airport saying: nobody told us. These flights just turn up.

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The deep sea port may be shabby, but it will be well suited to a 'shabby' cruise company with a dismal safety record - the sinking of the Costa Concordia off Italy & the major engine room fire on the Costa Allegra, which disabled it in dangerous pirate ridden waters in the west Indian Ocean. It is little surprise they are pulling out of Europe where the top quality tourists have shied away from that company.

Posted by Logic on May 20, 2013 23:14

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Forget the airport to patong ferry the taxi drivers being stake holders will hold another democratic meeting and vote NO unamiously then it will sit parked at the wharf just like the shuttle buses are parked stationary
apparently what the taxi drivers say goes, they run the island.

Posted by slickmelb on May 21, 2013 03:54

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This editor's a twat. He ridicules anybody who is cynical about Phuket governance, but does he suggest a way forward?

Posted by jimbo on May 21, 2013 04:55

Editor Comment:

By saying that nothing is going to change, you're putting yourself on the same side of the fence as the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers. You either want Phuket to change and believe it can . . . or you're backing the wrong side. Why should the Land Transport Office leaders, who are doing their best, bust a gut for the likes of you? I suggest the way forward is for you and the other do-nothing cynics to jump the fence, to get on the right side, and to support those who are working actively to improve Phuket. The alternative to repeating the same old taxi cheerleading stuff is to shut up, and let those who believe change is possible get on with it.

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Winston Churchill said "I've always been an optimist, there doesn't seem to be much point being anything else".

Posted by Magpie on May 21, 2013 07:08

Editor Comment:

Yes. Luckily, Internet comment wasn't around in Churchill's time. If it had been, the Phuket doomsayers would have been there, saying 'We can't win this. Why should we try?'

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The answer to this problem is staring at you in the face from this picture. Extend the Trisarco Finger Jettyand secure the Passenger Vessel mooring lines with Dolphin Piles. It is ONLY a passenger ship and does not require a Full Length alongside Berth. We proposed this to Phuket Port Management as far back as 2004 (Pre Tsunami). Why should the Govt/Province foot the Bill? The Mangement Company should b responsible for Port Development Infrastructure Improvements. Something NOT RIGHT HERE???

Posted by No Idea Management on May 22, 2013 09:49

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okay I will try to stifle my negative cynicism..lol
Many of the worlds most beautiful cruise line destinations and ports of call do not have any docking facilities per se...ie they anchor and ferry their passengers.Many that do have facilities sometimes are unable to accommodate large vessels due to draught/displacement.( e.g.Cairns QLD cannot accommodate QE2)
Seem to remember seeing a cruise liner anchored off Kata?
While "improving" the Phukets port would be nice; building a small craft docking facility/terminal adjacent to one of the major Marinas or.., would perhaps be more economical?
Won't mention the state of Thailand's "Aids to Navigation"..that would be negative and cynical.

Posted by david on May 24, 2013 07:32


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