Rules eased to attract super yachts to Thai waters

Thailand’s Transport Ministry relaxed regulations to permit larger cruise ships or super yachts, to operate in Thai waters, aiming to establish the country as a premier marina hub in Asia.

Deputy Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced yesterday, September 22, that the Marine Department recently revised a regulation concerning the arrival of super yachts and sports boats. According to Manaporn, this change is intended to align with the current maritime situation and bolster the marine tourism industry.

“The regulation, which has been in effect since August 2015, required updating to match the current context. It supports the government’s policy by targeting affluent foreign tourists.

“Thailand is on track to become a regional hub for ocean tourism and cruise ship travel, driven by government initiatives to position the nation as an Asian marina centre.”

Marine Department Director Kritpetch Chaichuay detailed the amendments to the definitions of such vessels. The length requirement for big cruise and sports boats (super yachts) has been adjusted from the previous 30 metres-plus, accommodating up to 12 passengers, to 24 metres and over, still with a maximum of 12 passengers, aligning with international standards.

Additionally, insurance policies must now cover at least US$5 million (approximately 171 million baht) per incident. The application process for permission has been streamlined to an electronic service system, and supporting documents can be submitted in either Thai or English.

The timeframe for considering these applications has been set to within 25 working days.

Data from the Ministry of Transport shows a significant increase in the number of yachts longer than 24 metres entering and leaving Phuket over the past three years. In 2021, 41 super yachts arrived in Phuket, compared to 117 in 2022 and 148 in 2023.

Phuket and Koh Samui remain the top destinations for these vessels on the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand sides, respectively. The ministry is also advancing two cruise terminal projects, one at Laem Chabang Port and another in Koh Samui, reported Bangkok Post.