brucewillow

The moorings that are breaking are most definitely the ones laid about two weeks ago by the government. The have no barnacles attached and consist of a government mooring buoy and a length of Rope frayed at one end the same design as used all over the region. I have several photo's of mooring from different locations around the bay all frayed through.

While I wouldn't advocate the method used I'm not sure that the rope tied directly to the block is the cause of the premature failures, as this is a system that has been used across the region for many years without chafing issues arising. I think it is more likely, that in the random way that they tossed them into the water, some landed upside down lying on the lines and subsequently causing the breakages.

The moorings were placed very randomly and also strewn across the fairway making entry and exit from the pier quite dangerous particularly at night time. In most parts of the world it is against the law to obstruct a fairway.

The new moorings were dropped close to existing moorings causing collision issues when dive boats returned home to their moorings. Also they were placed too close to each other, so that many can simply not be used safely.

The issue that the project is to protect coral reef is quite bemusing as Chalong Bay a muddy mangrove bay and will never have a coral reef on its shore where the moorings have been laid.

200 was also overkill as most will never be used. There are simply not that many visitors and there will never be in Chalong until they provide a proper floating pontoon access for yachtsmen with dinghys.

Such a shame they didn't lay some at Coral Island and nearby Nai Harn Bay as these are just two locations where they would be put to great use and would have protected coral reefs.