Tourist Boat Smashed Ashore in Pattaya by Rough Seas

CHONBURI — July 8, 2026: A tourist boat suffered extensive damage after strong winds and rough seas apparently snapped its anchor line, sending it drifting onto Pattaya Beach, with losses estimated at several hundred thousand baht. No one was on board during the incident.

Local residents alerted reporters at 23:30 that a medium-sized tourist boat had washed ashore near the entrance to Pattaya Soi 1 in Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District.

At the scene, the vessel lay stranded on the beach as powerful waves continued to pound its hull, causing severe structural damage to one side. Strong winds and high waves also left smaller boats anchored offshore rocking violently.

The boat's owner, 59-year-old Prasit Sukkul, said he received a call from people near the beach informing him that his boat had broken free from its anchorage and been pushed ashore by the waves. When he arrived, he found that repeated impacts from the surf had badly damaged the starboard side of the vessel.

Prasit said the boat had been anchored about 200 meters offshore and was normally used to transport tourists and provide charter fishing trips. Although it had not been in service for nearly a year, it had continued to receive regular maintenance.

The owner said the exact cause remains unclear. He noted that the anchor rope was thick and should not have snapped easily, raising the possibility that it may have been deliberately cut. However, he said the severe weather and rough sea conditions could also have caused the rope to fail.

Authorities are waiting until the morning of July 9, 2026, to assess sea conditions and inspect the damage before attempting to move the boat. Initial estimates place losses at several hundred thousand baht. If the vessel is found to be too badly damaged for repairs at the scene, officials may coordinate a salvage operation to remove it from the beach.