The much trumpeted online check-in system for yachts arriving at Chalong Marina in Phuket, Thailand will finally go live on 1st September 2011.
The announcement was made by officials from the Phuket division of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) during a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall.
“We have finished developing the system and it is now in a trial period that also provides training to business operators and government authorities so they will be well prepared to put it to use,” Project Manager for SIPA, Pracha Asawateera, commented.
The new system will mean that yacht owners can now submit all their information via the online system before arriving at Chalong Marina.
“The Marine Department, Immigration Bureau, and Customs are all responsible for each yacht, crew and cargo check-in. [At the moment] each department has a different form for visitors to fill in and the problem is that it takes so much time for them to complete all three.
“[With the on-line system] when yacht owners and passengers arrive at the marina, they only need to bring documents such as passports and yacht registration. Government officials can also plan how many officers need to be at the marina because they will know how many yachts will be arriving,” Asawateera explained.
The electronic check-in system has been in development since December 2010.
Chalong Marina is the main customs and immigration point for private yachts arriving in Phuket.
Construction of the marina started in 2007. Phase one was a seventy million baht (US$2.34 million) project to build port facilities, quays and a waste water treatment pool.
Work began on phase two in September 2010 and is now almost complete. The second phase cost two hundred and thirty five million baht (US$7.86 million) and includes a passenger terminal with immigration and customs offices.
A second pier is also being built, at a cost of 11.6 million baht (US$388,000), for the exclusive use of local fishermen and long tail boats.
Once fully open, Chalong Marina will provide space for fifty yachts, up to thirty metres in length.
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