Spectacularly, "hundreds of fishing boats" are anchored densely in Samae San Bay, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, stretching 2-3 kilometers from in front of Viharn Luang Por Dam hill to Sih Thong Beach.
On 29 Aug 2026 GMT+7, reporters visited the viewpoint atop Viharn Luang Por Dam hill at Wat Chong Samae San, Samae San Subdistrict, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province to capture images of hundreds of small and large fishing boats, tourist speedboats, and cargo vessels anchored densely to shelter from monsoon waves in front of Samae San Bay, from in front of Viharn Luang Por Dam hill to Sih Thong Beach, spanning 2–3 kilometers.
This phenomenon is a spectacular and rare sight seen only once a year during the monsoon season. The reason fishing boats gather offshore is that local fishermen from Ban Chong Samae San community, along with speedboat operators and tour boat owners, usually dock their boats at various piers. However, in August, strong waves of 1–2 meters and thunderstorms make docking risky, as boats may be damaged by impact with piers or nearby vessels.
Therefore, fishermen anchor their boats offshore to float in the bay, with owners keeping watch or sending crew to stay onboard to prevent flooding inside the boats. If the boat’s internal pumping system is damaged, they can promptly address the issue.
Due to natural disaster risks during the monsoon season from May to October, the Meteorological Department announced in August that waves in the upper Andaman Sea will be quite strong, reaching 2-3 meters high, with waves above 3 meters in thunderstorm areas.
Meanwhile, the lower Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand will have waves about 2 meters high, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm zones. Boaters are advised to navigate cautiously and avoid sailing in stormy conditions. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should refrain from leaving shore to ensure safety and minimize potential impacts.
