Phuket Marine Office orders halt to Rawai breakwater works
Phuket marine officials have ordered a halt to breakwater and seawall construction at Laem Ka Yai in Rawai pending an investigation into possible encroachment on public waterways.
The Phuket Regional Marine Office has ordered construction work at Laem Ka Yai in Rawai to stop pending an investigation into possible encroachment on public waterways.
The move followed public concern after images and reports circulated on social media showing heavy machinery operating along the beachfront. Marine Office officials inspected the site on May 21 and confirmed the work involved a breakwater and seawall project by Baron World Trade Co Ltd.
According to the Marine Office, the company was summoned to explain the development and provide supporting documents. On May 25, company representative Thanachai Soonponrai met officials and presented chanote title deeds and a building permit issued by Rawai Municipality.
The documents covered two adjoining plots in Moo 2, Soi Laem Ka Yai, with a combined area of 20 rai, and described the southern boundary as adjoining the sea. However, the company representative told officials that some original land boundary markers had disappeared because of coastal erosion and seawater encroachment.
The Marine Office said discussions were held on how any seawall or breakwater structures could be adjusted to remain within private land boundaries while minimizing impacts on the coastal landscape and public access.
In an official letter dated May 25, Phuket Marine Office Chief Adul Ralukmoon ordered any construction that might involve encroachment on waterways to be suspended until a full investigation is completed. The order cited possible violations under Sections 117, 118 and 119 bis of the Thai Maritime Navigation Act concerning structures or activities affecting public waterways.
The letter said the company must halt any construction that may encroach on waterways until land ownership boundaries are clearly verified. It also instructed the company to conduct a formal boundary survey to determine whether any construction had extended beyond privately owned land.
The dispute widened on May 26, when residents from the Rawai sea gypsy community filed a formal complaint with Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn seeking an urgent investigation. The petition was received by Monchai Saeleow, director of the Phuket Damrongdhama Centre.
Community representatives said they feared the construction could damage traditional fishing access routes, interfere with boat launching areas and disrupt cultural and ceremonial practices linked to the beachfront. The petition also questioned whether the land had historically been used as shared public space and whether any Environmental Impact Assessment had been conducted for the breakwater.
Villagers argued that roads and pathways used by the public for decades may legally qualify as public land under Section 1304 of the Civil and Commercial Code. Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee accompanied villagers when they submitted the complaint.
The current dispute revives a long-running conflict between the Rawai sea gypsy community and Baron World Trade Co Ltd over coastal development in the area. In 2019, more than 50 sea gypsies gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall to oppose canal excavation and resort construction linked to the same company, citing concerns over public beachfront access, disputed land boundaries and the handling of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment process.
The Phuket Marine Office said any further legal action over the current project would depend on the results of land surveys and joint inspections with other relevant agencies.
