Superyacht hits unchartered object in Phuket

Captains navigating the south of Phuket are being urged to exercise caution after reports were made of a 55m superyacht hitting an uncharted submerged object in the waters between Rawai Beach and Koh Bon.

Bob Mott, Phuket yachtsman commented, “[Members of] the local marine community are reminding boaters of the danger, following a number of incidents which have caused near sinkings.

“The Ao Chalong Yacht Club website advises the approximate location of the submerged object as 5.6NM from Rawai Beach and 2.43NM from the northern tip of Koh Bon.”

The approximate position of the hazard was reported as 7°45’58.38”N, 98°19’53.58”E

The online Southeast Asia Pilot, a critical cruising guide to Phuket and other ports throughout Asia, reported that the collision occurred an hour ago.

The luxury 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.

Bob 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.