Patrol Boat 813
Patrol Boat 813 was built in 1994 by Marson Company Limited in Samut Prakarn Province for the Thai Marine Police. She served under Marine Police Station 1, Division 8, Marine Police Bureau, Pak Nam Sub-District, Mueang District, Ranong Province.
The boat body was made of aluminium alloy. She was 81 ft long, and had a maximum speed of 29 knots.
Prior to the Boxing Day tsunami disaster on 26 December 2004, PB813 was anchored about 1 nautical mile offshore from the Khao Lak La Flora Resort in order to protect Her Royal Highness Ubonrat Rajakanya Siriwaddhana Phannawadee and her son and daughters who were staying in the resort. When the Tsunami devastated the Andaman coast, the wave carried the Patrol Boat approximately 2km inland, killing the entire crew (as well as Prince Khun Poom Jensen who was jet skiing at the time).
PB813 is now maintained as a memorial where it ended up – in the Tsunami Memorial Park, right next to the main street in Khao Lak.
Image and write-up courtesy of David Chessum
