Speedboat Plan To Ease Ride To Phuket Airport

[Lite Beer]

Speedboat plan to ease ride to Phuket airport
Naraporn Tuarob

Santisuk Tharaporn, GM of Phuket Adventures, believes hydrofoils would be more appropriate for the service, if deepwater piers can be built for them.

PHUKET: -- With traffic getting worse and worse on Phuket’s roads, authorities are seeking new ways to get people from Phuket International Airport to their destinations on the island.

One possibility is by sea, which is why a meeting was held yesterday (March 27) to discuss a plan to build a quay or pier next to the airport to run transport services, initially to Patong.

Phuripat Theerakulpisut, Director of Marine, Phuket Branch, explained, “We are waiting for approval and budget. We have drawn up a plan. We estimate the cost of building it will be around B180 million.

“We believe Patong will be the most popular destination, so we have decided to concentrate on that initially.

“If it works then we will expand to other parts of Phuket and then to other provinces such as Phang-Nga and Krabi.

“The idea is to help ease crowding in the airport passenger terminal. The number of tourists keeps increasing every year, and most passengers head for the airport early by road [because they are worried about traffic], so they get to the airport early and then sit around in the terminal waiting for their flight.

“But if you take a boat, that is different, because the timetable of the boat service will be certain and accurate, and water traffic is not congested like road traffic.

“We are ready to do this. If the project is approved, it will take a year to complete. Initially, we’ll use speedboats. From the airport to Patong is 13 nautical miles, or about 25 kilometres, so it will take only 25 minutes to get there.”

With the current state of Phuket’s traffic, it takes an hour or more to travel by road between the two points.

Santisuk Tharaporn is GM of Phuket Adventures Group, which operates many speedboat tours, and also owns Dolphin Seaways, operator of two hydrofoils. She had not heard about the plan but told The Phuket News, “It’s a good idea.”

However, she said, hydrofoils rather than speedboats would be more appropriate because they are safer and faster. The hydrofoils used by Dolphin can seat up to 128 people and has space for their luggage, while speedboats have much smaller passenger capacity and little space for luggage.

In rough weather, she added, speedboats are uncomfortable and can be dangerous, while hydrofoils “fly” above the waves, giving a smooth, safe ride. She estimated that the trip would take 40 minutes by speedboat and 20 by hydrofoil.

The main problem, however, is that apart from the small pier at the south end of Patong there are no places to bring larger boats into west coast destinations. And even in Patong, the hydrofoils draw too much water to pull in to the pier.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/speedboat-plan-to-ease-ride-to-phuket-airport-38230.php

-- Phuket News 2013-03-28

[Soupdragon]

Brilliant. Lets see the taxi muppets try and blockade a hydrofoil.

P.S. The last time I saw a hydrofoil around here it was parked on the bottom of Patong Bay after the tsunami.

[webfact]

Phuket marine chief floats Airport-Patong sea taxi idea
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- To offer tourists another option in getting from Phuket Airport to Patong Beach, the chief of the Phuket Marine Office yesterday proposed launching a “sea taxi” to ferry passengers down the island’s west coast.

The project is called “From the boat to the plane”, Chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut told a meeting at the Phuket Treasury Office yesterday.

“Many tourists visit Phuket each year and last year we had around 9.5 million tourists coming to Phuket. Currently, the only way to travel from Phuket Airport to other tourist attractions on the island is by car. Since the population is growing and more and more people are buying cars, the traffic is getting worse,” he said.

“We want to help alleviate the traffic problem and offer tourists a better way of traveling by opening a boat route from the airport to Patong Beach,” Mr Phuriphat said.

Considering the current state of Phuket’s traffic congestion, Mr Phuriphat even ventured that passengers taking a boat from the airport would reach Patong faster than they would if they travelled by car.

“Tourists will arrive at Patong Beach faster by boat because the distance is shorter,” he observed.

“Traveling by car usually takes about an hour. In rush hour, it takes 90 minutes. But traveling by speedboat would take only 25 minutes, and by tour boat would be only 40 minutes,” he suggested.

“I think this project is a good idea. Phuket is growing and more transport options are needed. It will be more convenient, and more impressive, for tourists arriving on the island. They could save time while enjoying their trip,” Mr Phuripat concluded.

“We could even add more routes from the airport to other places around the island,” he added.

Mr Phuriphat’s sea taxi proposal was well received at the meeting, though the other attendees agreed that more research was needed before committing to the project.

Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa’s support also came with a few riders. “I agree with the idea, but the relevant officers have to learn more about the laws involved, such as local planning laws, if they are going to continue the project,” she said.

Vice Governor Sommai also pointed out that the area where the pier will need to be built at the airport belongs to the Phuket branch of the national air traffic control authority Aerothai (Aeronautical Radio of Thailand).

“So the construction of the pier might affect the safety of planes landing and taking off at the airport,” she said.

“We also have to consider the current expansion of Phuket Airport. We have to discuss with Phuket Aerothai and Phuket Airport management [Airports of Thailand] to see if it is possible to move ahead with this project,” V/Gov Sommai said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-marine-chief-floats-Airport-Patong-sea-taxi-idea-20624.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-03-28

[eezergood]

I propose hovercraft! just as reliable and just as probable as this ridiculous suggestion. Instead of fixing the REAL bloody problem lets waste money on creating a new one

[LivinginKata]

“We also have to consider the current expansion of Phuket Airport. We have to discuss with Phuket Aerothai and Phuket Airport management [Airports of Thailand] to see if it is possible to move ahead with this project,” V/Gov Sommai said.

Oh well - I foresee several years worth of delay before this project is even considered.

[LivinginKata]

“Traveling by car usually takes about an hour. In rush hour, it takes 90 minutes. But traveling by speedboat would take only 25 minutes, and by tour boat would be only 40 minutes,” he suggested.

I wonder if any of these people have actually asked a mariner how long it would take. The sea route would be almost 20 miles. Boats don't travel at the speed of taxis.

[cloudhopper]

“We also have to consider the current expansion of Phuket Airport. We have to discuss with Phuket Aerothai and Phuket Airport management [Airports of Thailand] to see if it is possible to move ahead with this project,” V/Gov Sommai said.

Oh well - I foresee several years worth of delay before this project is even considered.

I forsee it will never, ever happen.

[Guest]

I think the same as mentioned before. It will not happen.

Still the idea is quite nice. The experience coming to Phuket and first thing to see would not be the boring inland, but beautiful beaches - that's something which would be a great selling point.

[asdecas]

“Traveling by car usually takes about an hour. In rush hour, it takes 90 minutes. But traveling by speedboat would take only 25 minutes, and by tour boat would be only 40 minutes,” he suggested.

I wonder if any of these people have actually asked a mariner how long it would take. The sea route would be almost 20 miles. Boats don't travel at the speed of taxis.

They often do in Thailand.

[SeaVisionBurma]

Just in: first photo of the blockade by Phuket Tuk Tuk drivers to protest the planned introduction of water services between the airport and Patong.

[Dibbler]

For 180 million baht road congestion in Phuket could be fixed without need for damaging the marine environment with a diesel belching ferry and deep water piers. Who comes up with these lame plans anyway?

[harrycallahan]

I almost posted this idea in the other thread.

Really!!

[eddie61]

I propose hovercraft! just as reliable and just as probable as this ridiculous suggestion. Instead of fixing the REAL bloody problem lets waste money on creating a new one

Why not a space shuttle: Phuket will become a hub for space launches.

A local technical college could become a training center for space cadets, and the provincial administration could replace monkeys in low gravity research (not sure about the IQ though, conditions apply!)

Space is even less crowded than the sea.

A bullet train would be good too.....Maybe all three solutions, all together.

In the development phase a road solution could also be tried...... No That is impossible, it would require a functioning brain and a fight with the taxi mafia

[davidstipek]

Just acouple of issues:

1. What to do about Buses that were supose to have already been bought?

2. What to do about Tuk Tuk and Taxi Drivers... If they were going to protest and blockade buses... What are they going to do on open water? Use missle launchers?

3. Regardless what you do you will have to deal with Mafia and Goverment Officials not getting their cut....

[belg]

no no, taxi and tuk tuk maffia says NO

except the trip would cost 2000 baht per person, so the taxi might seem a more "competitive" price to scam the tourists, sorry, transport

[retell]

eh in time when is that gonna happen ? when stayed on koh phangan you do not want to know how many hours i had to wait for those bloody boats , seatran, lompraya, raja never in time

same for the slowboat from haadrin - big buddha

why not helicopters , catapult , undergound metro ,

or deal with the traffic your on a holliday sabai sabai !

[a99az]

Silly man, what kind of fool would use this kind of craft. The best way would be to use small hovercraft that could load off the beaches and drop passengers right at the runway terminal. But I guess his crones don't own a hovercraft.

[Songhua]

Tuk Tuks. If you can't go through them, go around them.

[Soi Sauce]

They could use a Russian boat. Then the russkies really would be taking jobs from Phuket thieves.

Apart from that; what a brilliant idea. Would be a beautiful way to travel after being on a plane for hours. Pray it happens;

It cuts congestion, makes money, and pleases the customers. Let's have some more ideas olike it.

[harrycallahan]

How about Mr Garrison's It? (South Park)

You insert this thing in your backside... ahhh, ouch, ahhh!

"Still better than dealing with the tuk tuk mafia"

[chiang mai]

Karon Tuk Tuk drivers reported in negotiations to purchase small submarine with torpedo capabilities, more later as the story unfolds.

[JetsetBkk]

Looks like it's a winner - the advertising space has already been sold.

.

[Andre0720]

“We also have to consider the current expansion of Phuket Airport. We have to discuss with Phuket Aerothai and Phuket Airport management [Airports of Thailand] to see if it is possible to move ahead with this project,” V/Gov Sommai said.

Oh well - I foresee several years worth of delay before this project is even considered.

I forsee it will never, ever happen.

I have a strong tendency to agree with you.

These hydrofoils are wonderful, but I think for longer distance travels.

The time spent going to the pier, boarding, waiting for passengers to fill the hydrofoil, travelling to Patong, disembarking, taking a taxi to the final destination.....hummmmm

[upena]

Why not use jet-skis?

[JimSiam]

Did we leave out Monorail?

[Judo Chop]

Their next brainwave will be to move the Airport closer to Patong.

Watch this space.

[stevehaigh]

I propose hovercraft! just as reliable and just as probable as this ridiculous suggestion. Instead of fixing the REAL bloody problem lets waste money on creating a new one

Why not a space shuttle: Phuket will become a hub for space launches.

A local technical college could become a training center for space cadets, and the provincial administration could replace monkeys in low gravity research (not sure about the IQ though, conditions apply!)

Space is even less crowded than the sea.

A bullet train would be good too.....Maybe all three solutions, all together.

In the development phase a road solution could also be tried...... No That is impossible, it would require a functioning brain and a fight with the taxi mafia

how about a giant catapult, and some strategically placed mattresses in the major tourist destinations?

[IrishIvan]

Silly man, what kind of fool would use this kind of craft. The best way would be to use small hovercraft that could load off the beaches and drop passengers right at the runway terminal. But I guess his crones don't own a hovercraft.

Hovercrafts are very hard to steer

[candypants]

Silly man, what kind of fool would use this kind of craft. The best way would be to use small hovercraft that could load off the beaches and drop passengers right at the runway terminal. But I guess his crones don't own a hovercraft.

yes indeed, just think, it could sail right over the tops of those pesky coral reefs.

[SeaVisionBurma]

A derogatory post has been removed