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Last Updated: Sep 14th, 2008 - 02:45:41 |
Lanta Old Town, the cultural heart of Koh Lanta, and historically an important harbor and trading post, is becoming a popular destination for Andaman sea travelers. When the fishing village was officially register 150 years ago as a Thai town, Lanta Old Town was a busy sea port where large junk ships registered with Thai Customs when entering into Thailand waters from ports in Malaysia, Singapore and China.
Lanta Marine Services (www.lantamarineservices.com) is now helping the local government install and manage 50 new moorings, three of which have already been set and are occupied. The company will also offer marine support services for short-stay visitors and long-stay yacht storage.
The project also involves creating ways to help local fishermen and small island communities from surrounding islands access Koh Lanta in a safer and more efficient manner. Currently, Lanta Marine Service is looking at ways to build loading docks next to the main cement pier to soften the impact on the wooden long tails and make it easy to offload passengers.
Graeme Belshaw, the Managing Director of Lanta Marine Service, has been sailing in the area for 9 years and has lived on his yacht in Phuket, Langkawi and Penang prior to making Lanta his home. He approached the local authorities about starting the project last year to assure the added marine activity takes on an eco-friendly approach.
"This is a wonderful safe harbor with a surrounding infrastructure to support a secure mooring area," comments Belshaw, "We'd like to help it develop in a sustainable manner."
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