Upon arrival at Thong Sala, the main port of Koh Phangan, two absolutely unnoticeable sights await you at the entrance. The first is a model of the island (already pretty spoiled), which is hidden inside a low stone ring in the middle of a square with a circular movement. There are also convenient steps to walk up to and look at the layout from a height of human height. And, literally a hundred meters to the north, invisible from the trees, there is a landing ship of His Majesty's Fleet «Phangan» - namesake of the island. Moreover, not a model, but quite a huge life-size ship in the middle of an artificial backwater.
The content of the article
Cruiser Phangan
The people dubbed him the cruiser Phangan, although in fact it is like walking to the cruiser to China. The HMS Phangan has originally served in the US Navy since the ship was built in 1945. The Americans had it under the codename LST-1134, and later, in 1966, the ship was first temporarily and then permanently transferred to the Royal Thai Navy. It was in this year that he received his new name from the late King Rama IX - «Phangan». 15 meters high and 98 meters long, with a team of 130 people, HMS Phangan served until 2009, after which it was decommissioned.
At the request of the administration of the island of Phangan, the ship of the same name was not cut into scrap metal, but towed to the pier in Tong Sale. Then they built an artificial harbor for him, and separated the reservoir from the rest of the sea with a bulk rampart..
Phangan landing ship
Information to visit
Inside the ship, Phangan authorities have announced the island's first museum, which is often closed. It is periodically used as a platform for exhibitions of photographs or artwork, a striking example of this is the Koh Phangan Colormoon Festival..
The area around the attraction is open, access is free, sometimes it stands with the ladder folded back and you can go inside, remove the iron insides of the ship. There are no problems with parking, no dress code is required. There is no access to the upper deck of the ship. Nearby, twenty meters from the pond, there is a statue in honor of King Rama the 5th, as a monument to the most respected monarch of modern Thailand.
On the map
Phangan landing ship
Phangan landing ship
The decommissioned warship of His Majesty's fleet "Phangan", the namesake of the island and the symbol of King Rama 9's love for Phangan.
More about the museum ship.
The decommissioned warship of His Majesty's fleet "Phangan", the namesake of the island and the symbol of King Rama 9's love for Phangan. More about the museum ship.
