PATTAYA, Thailand – A tourist boat left stranded on Pattaya Beach for nearly a week after being swept ashore during a storm is now drawing growing concern from residents and beach operators, who are calling for urgent action to remove the vessel before it further affects the city’s tourism image and public safety. The damaged boat, located near Soi Pattaya 1, remains stuck along the shoreline despite the passage of several days, becoming an unusual sight for visitors at one of Pattaya’s busiest beachfront areas. Tourists have been seen stopping to take photos of the vessel, while local businesses worry that the prolonged presence of the boat could harm the appearance of the popular tourist destination.
The vessel was originally pushed onto the beach late on July 8 after strong winds and rough seas caused its anchor line to break. The medium-sized tourist boat drifted from its offshore anchorage before being slammed onto the shoreline by powerful waves. Boat owner Prasit Sukkul, 59, previously said he was alerted by people near the beach and rushed to the scene, where he found the boat had suffered major damage, especially to the right side of the hull. He estimated repairs could cost several hundred thousand baht. The boat had been anchored around 200 meters offshore and was previously used for tourist trips and charter fishing services. Although it had not operated for almost a year, Prasit said the vessel had continued receiving regular maintenance.
The owner said the exact cause of the anchor line failure remained uncertain, questioning how a heavy-duty rope could have broken. He said strong winds and high waves may have been responsible, although other possibilities could not be ruled out. Due to dangerous sea conditions at the time, immediate removal was not possible. However, with the boat still remaining on the beach nearly a week later, residents and operators are urging Pattaya City, maritime authorities, and related agencies to coordinate with the owner and speed up the removal process. They warned that the stranded vessel could become a safety risk if waves move the boat or damaged parts become exposed, while also affecting the clean and attractive image expected of Pattaya Beach. Local businesses said quick action is needed to restore the beachfront area and maintain confidence among both Thai and international visitors.
Earlier Report: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-tour-boat-breaks-free-200-meters-offshore-before-waves-smash-it-onto-beach-556945
