Police Boat T813 Tsunami Memorial

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: The outdoor memorial has no fixed timed-entry sessions; daytime or late afternoon visits before dark are recommended

 

Police Boat T813 Tsunami Memorial Phangnga is one of the most powerful memorial sites in Khao Lak, Phang Nga Province. Located at Moo 5, Ban Bang Niang, Khuk Khak Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, the site preserves Police Boat 813, a real patrol vessel that was swept inland by the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004. The boat, weighing about 60 tons, was carried from the sea to a position roughly 2 kilometers from the shoreline. It has been kept at the site as a memorial to the disaster, the people who lost their lives, and the force of nature that changed the Andaman coast within minutes.

 

Police Boat 813 is not a symbolic replica. It is the actual vessel involved in the 2004 tsunami event. Before the disaster, the boat belonged to the Royal Thai Police and served as Patrol Boat 813, widely known in Thai as Ruea Tor 813. Its duties included royal and VIP water security, public safety, maritime order, national security, environmental protection, investigation work, crime prevention, and search-and-rescue support for boats, aircraft, and people in distress at sea. This background makes the memorial more meaningful because the boat was an operational patrol vessel before it became a national reminder of disaster.

 

Shortly before the tsunami, Police Boat 813 had been assigned to provide security for Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya and her family during their stay in Phang Nga. The order was issued on 23 December 2004, and the boat traveled to the area on 24 December 2004. Eleven officers were stationed on board, with Police Captain Nirat Chuayjit in command of the vessel. The boat was anchored offshore near La Flora Resort in the Khao Lak area, about one nautical mile from the coast, when the tsunami struck on 26 December 2004.

 

The tsunami that hit the Andaman coast that morning was one of the most devastating natural disasters in Thailand’s modern history. In Khao Lak, Bang Niang, Takua Pa, and other coastal areas of Phang Nga, the waves destroyed communities, hotels, buildings, fishing boats, roads, and countless lives in a very short time. Police Boat 813 could not withstand the force of the water. The waves pushed the heavy patrol boat across the shoreline, overland, and inland until it came to rest near its present location. The sight of such a large vessel standing on land remains one of the clearest physical demonstrations of the tsunami’s power.

 

After the disaster, there was an initial intention to recover the boat and return it to its unit. Instead, the decision was made to leave it in place as a memorial. This decision gave the site its emotional force. The boat was not moved to a museum as a detached exhibit; it remains close to the place where the waves carried it. Visitors therefore stand in front of real evidence of the tsunami, not a reconstructed scene. The position of the boat allows people to understand the scale of the disaster immediately, without needing complex explanation.

 

The memorial has several layers of meaning. It honors the victims of the tsunami. It shows the immense force of the sea. It reminds visitors to take natural warning signs seriously, including sudden sea withdrawal and unusual coastal behavior. It also recognizes the risks faced by officers and rescue personnel. One officer from Police Boat 813, Police Sergeant Major Yutthakon Nulekha, died in the event and should be remembered as part of the boat’s history.

 

Today, the memorial is an outdoor site where visitors can walk around the vessel and view it from different angles. The number 813 is clearly visible on the hull. The area includes open walking space, information points, and photo spots. The atmosphere is quiet and reflective rather than recreational. Most visitors do not need a long time to see the boat, but the emotional effect can be strong because the vessel makes the disaster tangible. A large patrol boat standing on land communicates the power of the tsunami more directly than words alone.

 

The site is located in Ban Bang Niang, Khuk Khak Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, close to Khao Lak’s main tourist area. It is near Bang Niang Market, Bang Niang Beach, Nang Thong Beach, and the Tsunami Museum. Some older travel descriptions broadly associate the site with Khao Lak or nearby beach areas, but the useful travel reference is Ban Bang Niang in Khuk Khak. Travelers can search for “Police Boat T813 Tsunami Memorial Phangnga” or “Tsunami Memorial Boat 813” on maps.

 

Getting There is easy by private car, rental car, local taxi, or organized transfer in Khao Lak. From central Khao Lak or Nang Thong Beach, travel north along Phetkasem Road toward Bang Niang and Takua Pa. From Takua Pa town, travel south along the same road toward Khao Lak and Bang Niang. The memorial is close to the main road and can be combined with a visit to Bang Niang Market, the Tsunami Museum, and nearby beaches. Visitors staying in Khao Lak can usually include the memorial in a short local route.

 

A visit usually takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. This gives enough time to walk around the boat, read the information, take respectful photographs, and reflect on the event. Visitors who also want to explore the Tsunami Museum or other tsunami-related learning sites nearby should allow more time. The place is especially valuable for families, students, and travelers who want to understand Khao Lak beyond beaches and resorts.

 

The memorial is suitable for teaching children and younger travelers about tsunami safety. Seeing the large boat on land makes it easier to explain why people must move away from the coast and head to higher ground when natural warning signs appear. A sudden and unusual retreat of the sea can be a warning sign of a tsunami. This educational value is one of the strongest reasons to preserve the memorial. It turns a tragic memory into practical awareness that can protect lives in the future.

 

Nearby Bang Niang Market adds another layer to a visit. After the quiet and reflective experience at the memorial, the market shows the living community that recovered and continued after the disaster. Visitors can find local food, snacks, fruit, drinks, and souvenirs. Bang Niang Beach and Nang Thong Beach are also nearby, allowing travelers to connect the memorial with the coastal landscape that was affected by the 2004 tsunami.

 

Photography is allowed, but visitors should treat the site with respect. Good angles include the side of the hull with the number 813, the bow of the boat, and wider views showing the vessel on land. However, this is a memorial site, not a theme attraction. Photographs should communicate history, remembrance, and learning rather than inappropriate posing. Visitors should avoid climbing on structures, touching the boat unnecessarily, littering, or behaving in a way that disrespects the memory of those who died.

 

The site is outdoors, so visitors should prepare for heat and weather. A hat, drinking water, comfortable walking shoes, and sun protection are useful. Morning and late afternoon are the most comfortable times to visit. In the rainy season, visitors should check weather conditions and walk carefully on wet surfaces. Because the site is open-air, lighting and weather conditions can strongly affect the visitor experience.

 

Police Boat T813 Tsunami Memorial gives Khao Lak a deeper meaning than a typical beach destination. The area is known for resorts, beaches, diving trips, and national parks, but this memorial tells a different story: one of sudden loss, rescue work, recovery, and community resilience. The 2004 tsunami also changed how coastal communities, governments, and travelers think about early warning systems and disaster preparedness. The boat stands as a reminder that beautiful coastlines can also be vulnerable places.

 

Even many years after the disaster, Police Boat 813 continues to serve the public in a new role. It no longer patrols the sea, but it teaches visitors about respect for nature, the importance of emergency awareness, and the memory of those affected by the tsunami. For travelers who want a meaningful stop in Phang Nga, the memorial is one of the most important places to visit in Khao Lak. It is a place to remember the past, understand the force of the sea, and learn lessons that remain relevant for the future.

 

 

A: It is located at Moo 5, Ban Bang Niang, Khuk Khak Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, Phang Nga Province, in the Khao Lak area.

 

A: Police Boat 813 was swept inland by the tsunami on 26 December 2004 and preserved as a memorial to show the force of the disaster and honor those who were lost.

 

A: No. The outdoor memorial area can be visited without an admission fee.

 

A: Most visitors should allow about 30 minutes to 1 hour to walk around the boat, read the information, take respectful photographs, and reflect on the event.

 

A: Nearby places include the Tsunami Museum, Bang Niang Market, Bang Niang Beach, Nang Thong Beach, Khao Lak Lighthouse, Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, and Ton Chong Fa Waterfall.

 

A: Yes. It is a meaningful educational site where families can discuss tsunami awareness, natural warning signs, and the importance of moving to higher ground during coastal emergencies.

 

A: Morning or late afternoon before dark is best because the memorial is outdoors and the weather is more comfortable for walking.

 

A: Visitors should remain respectful, avoid climbing on structures, avoid littering, and take photographs in a way that honors the memorial and the people affected by the tsunami.