Sinking platform at Chalong Pier under repair
LONG-TERM WEAR LEFT a pontoon listing dangerously at Chalong Bay Marina, next to Chalong Pier, last week, leaving officials with the decision of whether to just patch it again, or spend up to B1 million replacing it.
The pontoon began sinking on Jan 13, leaving the platform that tourists use to board boats heading out to tour nearby islands leaning dangerously to one side.
The platform was closed, and engineers inspected the damage on Thursday (Jan 13), explained Tiwat Seedokbuab, Vice President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor), which is responsible for maintaining the tourist-busy Chalong Pier and Chalong Bay Marina.
The pontoon started taking in water through rust and abrasion after years of use, Mr Tiwat said.
“The technicians pumped out the water and placed a temporary patch over the leak. The pontoon is now back in its normal position, but it is still closed because it is still being fixed properly,” he said.
“It does not affect tourism because tourists can use other pontoons,” Mr Tiwat added.
“This pontoon is more than 20 years old and has had insufficient maintenance. It had previously sunk due to rust and the repeated
contact by boats when mooring,” he explained.
Other pontoons used by tourists to board boats do suffer as much damage as this particular pontoon, Mr Tiwat noted.
However, the other pontoons will be checked for safety, he said. Mr Tiwat led a meeting last Friday
(Jan 14) to discuss what to do with the pontoon, and any others found in disrepair.
“Technicians and all senior PPAO officials involved held a meeting about the budget required to address this issue. Depending on the action to be taken, it may cost anywhere from B100,000 up to B1mn,” he said.
“It is expected that the platform affected can be reopened by the end of this month. Now, its safety and usability are normal, but it has been in use for a long time, so we have to decide whether to just repair it again, or replace it entirely,” he said.