Pattaya Tackles Sunken Buoy Cleanup, Eyes Docking Revival

Pictures courtesy of MGR Online

In a crucial step to revive Pattaya's boating sector, officials have launched a long-overdue cleanup operation to remove sunken buoys from a failed docking project. This initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, comes a decade after tropical storm Vamco caused chaos in the area.

On June 25, teams from the Pattaya Natural Resources and Environment Office joined Manoch at Bali Hai Cape in South Pattaya to tackle the remnants of the Smart Boat Docking Project. This ambitious 300-million-baht plan aimed to establish a hydraulic docking hub for over 300 boats, boosting marine tourism.

However, the project's dreams were dashed in 2015 when tropical depression Vamco struck, sinking many buoys and severely damaging the docking facilities. This left boat and speedboat operators struggling, further impacting tourism.

“These buoys were part of a contracted pier construction for Pattaya City," Manoch explained. "But after the Vamco storm, the pier was nearly destroyed. A lawsuit against the contractor found no fault, leaving the city without funds to continue."

The cleanup operation now uses backhoes to extract sunken buoys from the sea. For remaining debris, a barge or large transport ship might be deployed to assist boat operators who've faced ongoing docking troubles.

“We're storing over 200 recovered buoys at the Pattaya National Stadium on Soi Chaiyaphruek,” the deputy mayor noted. “In the future, we might sell them to government agencies that can use them.”

This cleanup signifies a vital move to enhance Pattaya’s maritime infrastructure. Officials are optimistic that resolving these challenges will improve the city’s boat operations and boost tourism.

While the Smart Boat Docking Project may have stalled, the removal of the sunken buoys indicates Pattaya's commitment to supporting its tourism-dependent boating industry.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-26