Phuket bus company ends navy shuttle contract

PHUKET: The Blue Sea bus company of Phuket says it has cancelled its contract with Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), the facilitator that handles US warships visiting the island, including supplying a free shuttle bus service for crews between the Deep Sea Port and Patong.

Crew from the carrier USS Nimitz come ashore from a GDMA ferry. They’ll have to pay to get to Patong.

Due to a dispute over payment, Blue Sea stopped the service at the end of Wednesday night (May 29).

Narong Kumban, the local village chief and head of the Ao Makham Taxi Group – and a relative of Aree Kumban, owner of Blue Sea – told The Phuket News today (May 31) that after negotiations last night with GDMA, “The contract between Blue Sea and Glenn has ended. It has been agreed that the outstanding debt will be paid within a couple of days.”

Pornpun Settapakorn, GM of GDMA in Thailand, declined to comment on the matter.

According to a Royal Thai Navy source, GDMA has now hired another bus company to provide the free shuttle service for sailors going to Patong.

The new deal has alrady received the blessing of the Ao Makham Taxi Group.