In Ao Yon and Ao Khao Khad, 3 metre high waves lashed the coast and damaged long-tail boats, yachts, speedboats and sailboats, all anchored close to shore. Some of them were beached.

Pol Lt Col Panya Chaichana, an inspector at the Phuket police station, said some of the boats that had been berthed at Ao Yon were registered to enter the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta scheduled from December 1-6.

More than 20 craft were damaged and the cost to repair them would be around B40 million .

In Ao Chalong, home to many speed boats, tour boats and diving vessels, two boats close to shore were torn from their moorings and beached. Out in the bay, large waves caused boats to smash together. At present, the total amount of damage has not been estimated.

Meanwhile at Rawai beach, a fishing boat was smashed; in Ao Po, 20 fishing boats, which were moored ashore, were all damaged because of the hard-hitting waves, while a house was also destroyed.

Around Naka Island, five fishing boats were damaged. Mr Panya Samphaorat, the mayor of Pakhlok district, along with staff went to inspect the damage, and advised the owners to report it to the local government office.

Heavy seas at Phi Phi Island sunk a large passenger ferry, beached a cargo boat and heavily damaged at least six speedboats and 20 longtail boats, officials have confirmed.

The Andaman Jet Wave ferry, registered to carry 250 passengers, had yet to begin its daily operations of carrying tourists to and from Krabi and Phi Phi, explained Krabi Marine Police Inspector Chaiyasit Kancharoen.

“It was moored overnight at Tonsai Bay and started taking on water this morning,” Lt Col Chaiyasit told the Phuket Gazette.

“Nobody was on board,” he added.

Strong waves also beached a large cargo ferry, which sustained heavy damage by the pounding of the surf.

“Six speedboats and 20 longtail boats were also damaged,” Col Chaiyasit said.