MS King Cruiser

MS King Cruiser‏‎ was a car ferry that was built in Japan in 1964. She was originally named Kohaku Maru, but was renamed King Cruiser in 1996 when she was sold to a Thai company. On 4 May 1997, she sank in the Andaman Sea after hitting the Anemone Reef, resulting in no fatalities but is now a popular dive site.

History

The King Cruiser was built by Onomichi Zosen in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan, in 1964. She was originally named Kohaku Maru and was used as a passenger ferry in Japan. In 1996, she was sold to the Andaman Club in Thailand and renamed King Cruiser.

Sinking

On 4 May 1997, while on a voyage from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands, the King Cruiser hit the Anemone Reef and sank. All 561 passengers and crew were rescued. The cause of the sinking was determined to be a navigational error. The wreck of the King Cruiser is now a popular dive site.

Dive site

The wreck of the King Cruiser lies in 32 meters of water and is approximately 85 meters long and 25 meters wide. The wreck is home to a variety of marine life, including lionfish, scorpionfish, and moray eels. The site is suitable for intermediate to advanced divers due to the depth and potential for strong currents.

See also

• List of shipwrecks
• Scuba diving in Thailand