Third Fleet gets new commander

TAB LAMU: The outgoing Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet (RTN3F), V/Adm Sathirapan Keyanon, this morning handed over command to his successor, V/Admiral Pairoj Theerachai, formerly a Deputy Chief Staff Officer. The hand-over took place at a military ceremony aboard the guided missile frigate HTMS Kraburi, docked at the Royal Thai Navy’s shore base at Tab Lamu, Phang Nga. The Ministry of Defense has already announced the promotion of V/Adm Sathirapan to Deputy Commander in the Naval Headquarters in Bangkok. This was a swift promotion; he had been Commander in Chief of the RTN3F for just a year. Both officers made speeches, V/Adm Satiraphan thanking his subordinates for their support, and V/Admiral Pairoj assuring them that he would command the RTN3F fairly.