PHUKET: A dispute over repairs to jet-skis was resolved on the beach at Karon yesterday evening after a long discussion between two Russian tourists and jet-ski operators.

The Russians had crashed the jet-skis and admitted liability but objected to the 85,000 baht asking price, said Wal Brown, an International Liason Volunteer at Kathu Police Station.

''It was really down to one of the new expat volunteer recruits, Vlad Molseev, who negotiated a proper settlement,'' he said. ''Neither of the Russians could speak English, so it wasn't easy.''

Winai ''JJ'' Naiman, perhaps Phuket's most famous jet-ski operator, also came to Karon from Patong to help with a settlement.

Although many jet-ski disputes are eventually resolved at Patong's Kathu Police Station, Karon is overseen by Chalong police who are not as familiar with mediating jet-ski disputes.

It was decided to mediate on the beach, without the police, even after sunset. Eventually the cost for the two battered jet-skis was whittled down to a total of 32,000 baht.

''The Russians, who were due to leave Phuket today, were content to pay that,'' Mr Brown said. The figure was calculated at 3000 baht per day for five days, the maximum period for which the jet-skis were likely to be out of action, plus 1000 baht for the paperwork.

All jet-skis on Phuket are now supposed to be insured, but the insurance does not cover loss of income, nor does it cover damage beyond 50,000 baht.

Colonel Panya Jansomwong, Deputy Superintendent at Kathu Police Station, told a meeting in late February that there had been 14 jet-ski disputes mediated at the station up to that point.

Mr Brown said today that volunteers continue to be involved with discussions over jet-skis regularly.

He said there were now three Russian-speaking volunteers, which was a help because of the numbers of Russian visitors, but there was a need for more German and French-speaking volunteers.