Dredging underway for Royal Phuket Marina

by RPM on 22 Sep 2010 Thailand’s premier 'luxury marina community' Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) is maintaining its ‘Five Gold Anchor’ reputation as a premier Asian boating hub with a multi-million Thai Baht dredging operation.

The dredging will ensure a minimum draft of 4.2-4.5 metres at low tide – for all practical purposes of sufficient depth for all types of boats the marina hosts.

Styled after leading international marina resorts in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, RPM accommodates berths for 85 yachts up to 30 metres – all connected to electricity, water and broadband internet, with options for telephone and TV.

As one of Asia’s most sophisticated and high-tech marinas, RPM is Phuket’s only marina with private moorings on the doorstep of the Royal Waterfront Villas.

It is recognised by the Yacht Harbour Association with the prestigious 'Marina Five Gold Anchors Award' – the highest possible international honour for a marina. Only Raffles Marina in Singapore is similarly ranked in the region.

Marina Operations Manager Mete Izmen said 'as a Five Gold Anchor-awarded marina, we take every precaution to ensure our resident boats do not sit on silt. When the depth of the silt approaches our tolerated limit, we immediately take action. This year’s dredging sustains our quality of service levels.'

Dredging with a 250mm cutter suction head is proceeding throughout September. Day-to-day marina operations are not affected.

RPM’s outer marina comprises 85 wet berths and 40 dry berths – complete with a 60-tonne travel hoist and hardstand for maintenance. It is protected from both wind and waves, with 24-hour surveillance, and covers about 31,000 sq metres, or almost 20 rai.

Eight boat tour companies operating from RPM additionally offer affordable trips to explore Phuket’s breathtakingly beautiful archipelago of deserted islands from Phang Nga Bay and the Similan Islands to Phi Phi and Krabi.

About Royal Phuket Marina

Located on Phuket’s eastern seaboard, RPM is a world-class yachting hub in one of the world’s most idyllic and accessible cruising locations. Phuket is home to the region’s most prestigious annual regatta, The King’s Cup, held in early December.

RPM’s developer is telecom tycoon Gulu Lalvani, founder of Binatone, the world’s second largest manufacturer of digital cordless phones.

For more information, please visit www.royalphuketmarina.com