Latest News For Phuket and Langkawi

Created by doina. Last modified on 2005-09-20 11:34:43
Countries: Malaysia, Thailand

The bank guarantee for bonding off the boats in Phuket is no longer applied. The procedure now is to pay the 20,000 Baht direct to the Phuket Town Immigration / Yacht section. Getting the money back can be a bit drawn out as they repay it in cheque form. That cheque requires two signatures and the people to sign are not always there - in some cases it may take three trips to the office to get the refund cheque. It may take a few weeks before they can give the cheque refund out.

Customs are being a bit difficult when yachts take over 7 days to make the passage from Langkawi to Phuket at the moment.

Langkawi Malaysia now has a Thai consulate that will be able to hand out visas. They are located out of town in a resort hotel necessitating transport to get there. Penang is still more convenient at the moment for visas.

There is a push by ex prime minister Mahatir to get things happening between Langkawi and Phuket with word they may reintroduce the flights between the two islands.

MAT Marine Association of Thailand is active at the moment trying to get rules relaxed for visiting yachts as well as local charter yachts. Moves are on the way there as well.

For those who are interested diesel is 1 Ringit (12 Baht) at the service stations in Langkawi. Containers can be filled at Petronas stations only. At the moment fuel at Langkawi Yacht Club is contaminated and should not be purchased until the problem has been solved. Fuel at the Yacht Club is 1.95 Ringit and at the nearby barge in Kuah Harbour (Shell) 2 Ringit. Fuel from the jetty in Phuket and the barge is around 24 Baht slightly dearer than the Langkawi fuel barge and Marina prices.

One amusing thing is that a car has sunk in the anchorage in Kuah. Local Malays were trying to save money using a home made raft of drums and wood planks tied together and used to carry a late model sedan to a nearby island. The knots came undone and the car is now on the bottom in around 5 metres of murky water. A safety margin should be considered around the coordinates 6.18.828N 99.50.731E.

Richard Beasley, Phuket.