WEATHER warnings for offshore sailing could soon be improved for Phuket and the Andaman coast with the installation of a new 200 million baht radar system, a seminar was told this week.
The radar set-up could also help to warn of future tsunamis. The radar can read the height and speed of the waves.
Chairman of the Thailand Warning System, Dr Smith Dharmasaroj, told the gathering of local officials at Phuket Provincial Hall: ''This system can work very well and has been successful in many countries already.
''For a tourist destination like Phuket, this system is ideal.''
A decision is to be made before July on whether the Phuket radar will go on the southernmost tip at Promthep Cape or Moo Six in Kho Daeng, a hilltop in nearby Rawai.
Six radar monitors would be installed in appropriate place along the Andaman coast with another 14 stations for checking the weather.
The radar would give at least 15 minutes' warning of a tsunami, Dr Smith said.
Questions have been asked about the adequacy of Phuket weather warnings to vessels at sea since the sinking of the Asia Dive 1 with the loss of seven lives one year ago.
The Director of Marine Metrological Center, Dr.Wattana Kanbua, said that Thailand's capacity to forecast chages was not as good as it should be. '
'This radar can tell people what weather is coming with great certainty,'' he said.
Experts from Norway and Britain are involved in helping Thai officials to conduct a survey to find the right installation points on Phuket and along the Andaman.
The Royal Thai Navy has also resurrected a plan to create helicopter landing pad zones on popular island destinations off Phuket.
The idea has the backing of Captain Rangsarit Sattayanukul of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who raised it with officials from local authorities of Phuket and Phang Nga at a meeting at the Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday.
In his two-year term in command of Thai Navy Three, which oversees the region, Vice Admiral Supot Pruksa, who retired in 2008, tried to instigate a plan for helicopter pads on outlying islands.
His idea was simple: to be prepared in the event of a problem involving safety at sea to make rescue easier.
His plan for the helicopter pads sprang from a personal tragedy.
His nephew, as a young man on a navy exercise, died for want of assistance in tragic circumstances where the weather prevented his rescue by boat.
A helicopter pad may have saved his life.
Vice Admiral Supot still believes that the Similan Islands and Surin Island need helicopter pads as a precaution for when seafarers, especially tourists, get into trouble.
The environmentalists in charge of the marine park have so far rejected the landing pad concept, despite the credentials of the Navy as an environmentally sensitive organisation, especially in its work with turtles along the Andaman coastline.
Yesterday's meeting also involved a visit to Patong where the Navy has a beachfront centre but needs more equipment.
Young Sisters Drown in Patong CanalThe radar set-up could also help to warn of future tsunamis. The radar can read the height and speed of the waves.
Chairman of the Thailand Warning System, Dr Smith Dharmasaroj, told the gathering of local officials at Phuket Provincial Hall: ''This system can work very well and has been successful in many countries already.
''For a tourist destination like Phuket, this system is ideal.''
A decision is to be made before July on whether the Phuket radar will go on the southernmost tip at Promthep Cape or Moo Six in Kho Daeng, a hilltop in nearby Rawai.
Six radar monitors would be installed in appropriate place along the Andaman coast with another 14 stations for checking the weather.
The radar would give at least 15 minutes' warning of a tsunami, Dr Smith said.
Questions have been asked about the adequacy of Phuket weather warnings to vessels at sea since the sinking of the Asia Dive 1 with the loss of seven lives one year ago.
The Director of Marine Metrological Center, Dr.Wattana Kanbua, said that Thailand's capacity to forecast chages was not as good as it should be. '
'This radar can tell people what weather is coming with great certainty,'' he said.
Experts from Norway and Britain are involved in helping Thai officials to conduct a survey to find the right installation points on Phuket and along the Andaman.
The Royal Thai Navy has also resurrected a plan to create helicopter landing pad zones on popular island destinations off Phuket.
The idea has the backing of Captain Rangsarit Sattayanukul of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who raised it with officials from local authorities of Phuket and Phang Nga at a meeting at the Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday.
In his two-year term in command of Thai Navy Three, which oversees the region, Vice Admiral Supot Pruksa, who retired in 2008, tried to instigate a plan for helicopter pads on outlying islands.
His idea was simple: to be prepared in the event of a problem involving safety at sea to make rescue easier.
His plan for the helicopter pads sprang from a personal tragedy.
His nephew, as a young man on a navy exercise, died for want of assistance in tragic circumstances where the weather prevented his rescue by boat.
A helicopter pad may have saved his life.
Vice Admiral Supot still believes that the Similan Islands and Surin Island need helicopter pads as a precaution for when seafarers, especially tourists, get into trouble.
The environmentalists in charge of the marine park have so far rejected the landing pad concept, despite the credentials of the Navy as an environmentally sensitive organisation, especially in its work with turtles along the Andaman coastline.
Yesterday's meeting also involved a visit to Patong where the Navy has a beachfront centre but needs more equipment.
Latest One sister went to the rescue of the other, but both drowned in a tragedy that highlights the need for swimming lessons to save lives.
Young Sisters Drown in Patong Canal
Phuket Reds Head Out: Ambassador Urges Peace
Latest Phuket's red shirt supporters are in the process of joining demonstrators from around Thailand in Bangkok for a mass protest that the British Ambassador hopes will remain peaceful.
Phuket Reds Head Out: Ambassador Urges Peace
Phuket's Fab Feb Pushes Air Numbers Sky High
Latest For some, the Immigration delay at Phuket airport may be longer than the flight but the number of arrivals and departures keeps right on rising, a good sign for Phuket's future.
Phuket's Fab Feb Pushes Air Numbers Sky High
Phuket's Big Puzzle: Where Are The Boatpeople?
UPDATE Navy activity today lends credence to reports that an unusual vessel, possibly a boatload of would be refugees, may be at sea close to the popular tourist destination of Phuket.
Phuket's Big Puzzle: Where Are The Boatpeople?
Phuket Coma Diver Inspires New Action Force
Latest One small step for Shane, a giant leap for Phuket. The island's motorcycles are liberating but the cause of much damage. Meet MOM, a new action group to reduce the toll.
Phuket Coma Diver Inspires New Action Force
Phuket Dive Asia Sinking: Probe Still Going On
Breaking News It's one year since the Dive Asia 1 sinking with the drowning of seven on board, Phuket's worst diving disaster. And the investigation is still proceeding, with questions unanswered.
Phuket Dive Asia Sinking: Probe Still Going On
Another multi million baht contract that may or may not offer benefits. I mean, a whole 15 minutes warning of a tsunami, it would take a lot longer than that for those monitoring the system to make a decision to issue a warning. Meanwhile, the beaches remain unguarded and many more will perish.
Posted by Bernie on March 10, 2010 14:51