Work on Phuket's rival marina in Krabi well underway

Fortunately for the region’s yachting community, work is well underway on a rival facility, Port Takola Marina, under construction across Phang Nga Bay in Krabi.

Robert Reynolds, a property consultant working on the project, recently told The New York Times that the marina was 50 per cent excavated.

Once complete – the 680-million-baht first phase is set to open in mid-2012 – Port Takola will feature 250 wet births to accommodate yachts of between 10 and 35 meters. Future phases may see berths for larger vessels.

Retired surgeon admiral in the Royal Thai Navy, Suriya Na Nagara, is developing the project, which is being designed by marina consultancy Arrol.

Built on the site of a former shrimp farm, Port Takola is about 3 kilometers away from Krabi Town and 50 km from Phuket’s east-coast marinas.

Phuket is already home to the Boat Lagoon, Royal Phuket Marina, the Yacht Haven Marina and Ao Po Grand Marina, which have a combined total of 661 wet births. There are also plans to develop a new marina in Chalong Bay.