PHUKET: A claim by four Aussies on a Phuket-based yacht that Thai officers tried to extort 10,000 baht from them at sea has met with an official response that there must have been a communications breakdown.
A dinghy containing six uniformed Marine Office staff pulled alongside a 55-ft yacht in Phang Nga Bay on Monday.
According to a spokesperson for the four Australians who were on board at the time, the officials attempted to extract an on-the-spot fine of 10,000 baht because the vessel was not flying a Thai flag and did not have a Thai captain.
In a 45-minute exchange at sea, a copy of the yacht's documentation was printed out and handed over.
But the Australians, suspicious at the sizeable amount of the fine, declined to part with any cash.
At one stage, the officials suggested that the yacht, from a Phuket marina, should be sailed to Phang Nga so the conversation could continue on land. The Australians turned down that offer.
Eventually, with talks made difficult by the lack of English among the officials and the lack of Thai among the Australians, the dinghy pulled away.
Over the next few days, several telephone calls were made to the Australians asking for the 10,000 baht, without success.
Soon after, Phuketwan was contacted and the Australians provided a number of photographs taken at the time.
One photograph showed the ID of a Marine Office official, presented to the sailors on Monday.
However, when the person identified by the ID document was contacted, he told Phuketwan he had not been to sea for three months.
The chief of the Phuket-based Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, conducted an investigation and said the dinghy contained colleagues from Phang Nga, the province north of Phuket.
He said that the confusion was probably due to miscommunication. As no money had changed hands, no harm had been done.
''Dealing with people on yachts is difficult because the technical terms have to be precise,'' he said. ''Skills in the English language would certainly help our staff.''
He urged Marine Office staff to behave professionally at all times.
The sailors could contact him directly if they thought it was necessary on 076 39 1174. Khun Phuripat speaks English well.
A dinghy containing six uniformed Marine Office staff pulled alongside a 55-ft yacht in Phang Nga Bay on Monday.
According to a spokesperson for the four Australians who were on board at the time, the officials attempted to extract an on-the-spot fine of 10,000 baht because the vessel was not flying a Thai flag and did not have a Thai captain.
In a 45-minute exchange at sea, a copy of the yacht's documentation was printed out and handed over.
But the Australians, suspicious at the sizeable amount of the fine, declined to part with any cash.
At one stage, the officials suggested that the yacht, from a Phuket marina, should be sailed to Phang Nga so the conversation could continue on land. The Australians turned down that offer.
Eventually, with talks made difficult by the lack of English among the officials and the lack of Thai among the Australians, the dinghy pulled away.
Over the next few days, several telephone calls were made to the Australians asking for the 10,000 baht, without success.
Soon after, Phuketwan was contacted and the Australians provided a number of photographs taken at the time.
One photograph showed the ID of a Marine Office official, presented to the sailors on Monday.
However, when the person identified by the ID document was contacted, he told Phuketwan he had not been to sea for three months.
The chief of the Phuket-based Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, conducted an investigation and said the dinghy contained colleagues from Phang Nga, the province north of Phuket.
He said that the confusion was probably due to miscommunication. As no money had changed hands, no harm had been done.
''Dealing with people on yachts is difficult because the technical terms have to be precise,'' he said. ''Skills in the English language would certainly help our staff.''
He urged Marine Office staff to behave professionally at all times.
The sailors could contact him directly if they thought it was necessary on 076 39 1174. Khun Phuripat speaks English well.
Ah yes more cover-ups - its always a misunderstanding when money is involded. How odd that is.
Posted by Phuket Saviour on September 13, 2014 12:42