Mysterious unmarked object hazard in Phuket waters

by Sail-World Cruising round-up on 7 May 2014 Already in or going to Thailand any time soon? There's information you'll need to have. While the last incident happened, ironically, on April 1st, a little investigation revealed that a mysterious submerged object has been causing grief for some years in waters off Phuket.

After the 55ft yacht hit the object and confirmed its position as 7°45’58.38'N, 98°19’53.58'E, sailors navigating around the south of Phuket are urged to exercise caution in the waters between Rawai Beach and Koh Bon.

'Members of the local marine community are reminding boaters of the danger, following a number of incidents which have caused near sinkings,' Noonsite has reported.

The online Southeast Asia Pilot, a critical cruising guide to Phuket and other ports throughout Asia, reported that the superyacht collision occurred at 5:10pm on April 1.

The vessel had a draft of 2.6m, but the shallowest points along the edges of the channel are known to draw just 70cm of water during the low Spring tide.

'Of course, these positions are as reported and are unverified,' a senior editor at the SEA Pilot told the Phuket Gazette.

Previous reports affirm, however, that the underwater danger has apparently lurked in the same position for years.

Mr Mott first reported the dangerous obstruction in January 2006 when the 20m aluminum yacht Orion struck the hazard, believed to be a large rock or sunken vessel.

On May 16 that year, the 20m Taipan V required the assistance of the Marine Police to be towed to safety after hitting a submerged hazard at precisely the same location.