Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai-MECC 3) received a report of the missing boat at 9:40am yesterday.
The owner, Ms Parichat Mahanop, said her vessel, ‘KANTEE 999’, had disappeared from its mooring at Asia Marina, on the east side of the island, at around 11:30pm the night before (Oct 7).
Officials noted that the white speedboat, powered by three Yamaha engines and bearing registration number 565201022,. had little fuel on board, making it unlikely to have travelled far.
Capt Pichet Songtan of Thai MECC 3 confirmed to The Phuket News that the speedboat was located at Nai Yang on Phuket’s northwest coast around noon yesterday.
“The missing boat from Asia Marina was found at Nai Yang Beach, but the thief was not found. The boat had been abandoned,” Capt Pichet said.
Officers from Sakhu Police Station are leading the investigation and continuing their search for the person responsible, Capt Pichet added.
Police have been reviewing CCTV footage in the Nai Yang area to trace how the suspect brought the boat ashore.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Thai MECC 3 at 1465.
Additional reporting by Natnaree Likidwatanasakun