Some recent correspondence by email with Golden Plan (The initiators of the meeting):

Hello

I hope you are well.

Any news on progress?

I thought I saw some people here from Bangkok undertaking a survey.

Are things progressing or stalling with the airport and political situation?

Regards

Sent: Tuesday, 2 December 2008 7:03 p.m

I successfully produced the final report.  Anyhow regarding to marina construction, there is a long pipe line.  Phuket marina comes this budgeting year (2009) follow by Phang Nga next budgeting year (2010).  Koh Samui may be realized in 2011.

Hello

Happy New Year.

How is progress going on this project? Is it still likely to happen near Big Buddha? We hear many rumours in Koh Samui including that it is going to be built in the south again.

Please let me know what is happening.

Thanks

Sent: Thursday, 22 January 2009 10:38 a.m

I never heard about the mentioned rumours. Most progress concerns with Ao Chalong Phase II and Phang Nga marina. Koh Samui would have progress in next budgeting year.

Some Engineers from Phuket arrived today to begin the process of testing the soil / sand compositions

We asked them if they were certain the marina was happening and their reply was along the lines of .. "well the Government have paid for them to come from Phuket to do the survey and some preparation work. They would be very surprised if the Government was spending such money if the marina was not going ahead." ... so we will have to wait and see .. maybe 51% sure it is progressing now.

After a couple of days of trying to do the testing at low tide, the engineers built a raft ...

They then placed the rig on it and towed it around by a canoe

Busy at work...

My wife Por had a talk with them and they stated they would continue testing for another 2 -3 days and then go and write the report for the Government in Bangkok. They also stated that they had originally planned to be in Pattaya but were told to switch the priorities to Koh Samui. They did the survey in Phuket and that marina is already under way.

They said that the location is not hard to dredge and maintain and technically work on the Koh Samui Marina could begin as early as one month from now - but subject to final approvals and budgets (just their comments, no certainty it could happen that fast).

Apparently there is about 5 metres of sand, then a thin layer of light rock / dead coral and then about another 6 metres of compacted sand and then rock. They stated that the piles would need to go down at least 11 metres from the current sand level (meaning that once they dredge out 4 - 5 metres the piles would still be in about 6 metres of compacted sand and sitting on the rock. This is all good in theory and planning, but I understand that the Bangrak Seatran pier had similar analysis before construction but they forgot to dredge before they put the piles in - which is why the pier is quite high above the water level and why it cannot now be dredged on both sides - as it might fall over. (this could also be another Samui rumour).

Anyway, we will wait and see.