Navy

  • GuidesAnchoring history: Amerigo Vespucci makes waves in Phuket

    Anchoring history: Amerigo Vespucci makes waves in Phuket

    The prestigious Italian Navy ship Amerigo Vespucci made a historic stop in Phuket as part of its ongoing 22-month World Tour, visiting 31 countries across five continents. Docked at Phuket Deep Sea Port from November 6 to 10, the vessel represented a significant naval diplomacy initiative by the Italian Ministry of Defense and the Italian Navy. The tour aims to…

  • Thailand NewsMentally unstable RTN officer causes chaos in Krabi province

    Mentally unstable RTN officer causes chaos in Krabi province

    A Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officer in camouflage attire, exhibiting signs of mental instability, wreaked havoc on the streets in Krabi province. The individual, whose erratic behaviour was caught on camera and widely shared on social media, was confirmed to be a genuine naval officer based at the Phang Nga Navy base. The individual had previously shown signs of mental illness…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket forest reserve dwellers demand removal of RTN fence

    Phuket forest reserve dwellers demand removal of RTN fence

    In a recent event in Phuket, over 100 residents who have illegally occupied land within the Bang Khanun protected national forest handed over their formal request for the removal of a barbed-wire fence that the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has installed. The appeal yesterday was addressed to Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and received by Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrambam at…

  • Phuket NewsThai navy warns of demolishing illegal structures near Phuket Airport

    Thai navy warns of demolishing illegal structures near Phuket Airport

    The Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, Vice Admiral Arpakorn Yookongkaew, has given a stern warning to individuals occupying land illegally in the Bang Khanun Forest near Phuket International Airport, stating that their structures will be demolished. The Royal Thai Navy intends to develop facilities in the protected area, including the 22nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, the 2nd Anti-Aircraft…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket fishing crew rescued after almost one month at sea

    Phuket fishing crew rescued after almost one month at sea

    A Phuket fishing crew survived for nearly one month at sea after their boat, the Soi Sakul Petch, suffered engine failure a week after it departed from the island in southern Thailand on January 19. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) launched a huge search operation after losing contact with the boat, combining marine and air searches, and reached out to…

  • Phuket NewsThai navy rescues tourists caught in large Phuket waves

    Thai navy rescues tourists caught in large Phuket waves

    The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) rescued a group of tourists in distress who were caught in large waves on a fishing boat off Phuket. The RTN Third Area Command said they rescued the seven foreign tourists in the south of Phuket on Wednesday. The boat’s navigator was broken, leaving the captain unable to bring the boat back to the shore.…

  • Thailand NewsHTMS Sukhothai update: Thai navy confirms 22 dead, 7 missing

    HTMS Sukhothai update: Thai navy confirms 22 dead, 7 missing

    At 8.20am today, the body of a Thai navy sailor from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai was found on the coast of Koh Samet island, Chumphon province, southern Thailand. In a press release, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy Admiral Pokrong Monthatphalin said that 76 out of 105 crew members survived after the ship went down off the coast of Prachuap…

  • Thailand NewsCorpse wearing Royal Thai Navy shirt is a fisherman, not a HTMS Sukhothai sailor

    Corpse wearing Royal Thai Navy shirt is a fisherman, not a HTMS Sukhothai sailor

    The dead man wearing a Royal Thai Navy shirt found washed up on a beach in Songkhla province this morning was a fisherman and not a sailor from the HTMS Sukhothai, which sank in the Gulf of Thailand just over a week ago. Many thought the man may be one of the 11 HTMS Sukhothai sailors still missing. However, a…

  • Thailand NewsSailor floating in Gulf of Thailand for 60 hours rescued by navy

    Sailor floating in Gulf of Thailand for 60 hours rescued by navy

    The Royal Thai Navy found another HTMS Sukhothai crew member alive floating near Koh Talu in the Gulf of Thailand this afternoon, reports ThaiRath. The sailor drifted in the sea amid high waves and strong winds for 60 hours after the warship sank, 19 nautical miles off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, on Sunday night. Navy vessel HTMS…

  • Thailand NewsNavy ship sinks in Thailand: ‘There weren’t enough life jackets on board’

    Navy ship sinks in Thailand: ‘There weren’t enough life jackets on board’

    In a race against time, the Royal Thai Navy continues their search today for missing crew members from the HTMS Sukhothai which sank off the coast of Thailand on Sunday night. So far, the navy’s HTMS Kraburi has brought ashore the bodies of six crew members found floating in the sea. The navy is still searching for 23 missing sailors.…

  • Thailand NewsNavy ship sinks in Gulf of Thailand: 77 rescued, 4 dead, 24 missing

    Navy ship sinks in Gulf of Thailand: 77 rescued, 4 dead, 24 missing

    UPDATE 4 In a press release this afternoon, the Royal Thai Navy reported the results of their continued search for missing sailors from the HTMS Sukhothai which sank in the Gulf of Thailand on Sunday. On Sunday night, 75 crew members were rescued from the sinking ship. Navy vessels have since found two more sailors alive in the Gulf of…

  • Thailand NewsNavy rescues 1 sailor from Gulf of Thailand, 30 still missing

    Navy rescues 1 sailor from Gulf of Thailand, 30 still missing

    UPDATE 3 Last night, the Royal Thai Navy rescued one missing sailor – Chief Petty Officer Natee Timdee – found floating in the Gulf of Thailand. Natee was unconscious when he was found but his condition is now “safe.” The navy reports that 30 sailors are still missing. At 8:45pm, the HTMS Kraburi docked at Prachuap Pier after patrolling the…

  • Thailand NewsNavy ship sinks in the Gulf of Thailand, 84 rescued, 1 dead, 21 missing

    Navy ship sinks in the Gulf of Thailand, 84 rescued, 1 dead, 21 missing

    False information in this story has been updated. In total, 84 members of the Royal Thai Navy have been rescued from the Gulf of Thailand after the HTMS Sukhothai navy vessel sank to the bottom of the sea last night amid rough conditions. One body has been recovered and 21 crew members are still missing. As of noon today, the…

  • Thailand NewsNavy ship sinks in the Gulf of Thailand, 73 rescued, 33 missing

    Navy ship sinks in the Gulf of Thailand, 73 rescued, 33 missing

    This story has been updated. The Royal Thai Navy‘s HTMS Sukhothai sank in the Gulf of Thailand last night, around 20 miles from the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, with 106 navy personnel on board. Navy vessels, tug boats and oil tankers rescued 73 crew members from the water, three of whom are in critical condition, and are still searching…

  • World NewsUPDATE: Russia’s flagship vessel sinks in Black Sea after Ukrainian missile strike

    UPDATE: Russia’s flagship vessel sinks in Black Sea after Ukrainian missile strike

    As Russia’s war in Ukraine entered its 50th day, its flagship cruiser has sunk in the Black Sea, after a “fire” onboard caused ammunition explosions. It’s the first major war ship to be taken down by cruise missiles since World War Two. At least, that’s the Ukrainian side of the story. Russia’s Ministry of Defence has released a statement on…

  • Thailand NewsThai navy won’t buy Chinese submarine switcheroo, must have German engine — PM Prayut

    Thai navy won’t buy Chinese submarine switcheroo, must have German engine — PM Prayut

    No engine, no cigar. That’s the hard line Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha set on Monday regarding the navy’s deal to purchase a Chinese submarine without the most important part — the engine. If China doesn’t include the German-made engine as stated in the purchase agreement, then it’s “Hasta la vista, baby.” “What do we do with a submarine with…

  • Thailand NewsThai Navy helps bring crew of gas tanker back to shore after more than a year at sea

    Thai Navy helps bring crew of gas tanker back to shore after more than a year at sea

    The Thai Navy helped five crew members on a gas tanker get to shore after one complained that they had been on board the vessel for 13 months without leave. The Schumi 7 liquefied petroleum gas tanker, en route for Bangladesh, was redirected to a boat pier at Ao Makham Bay in Phuket. Noppadol Boonmee, a crewman on the vessel, had…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Officials to discuss more easing of Covid restrictions

    Thailand News Today | Officials to discuss more easing of Covid restrictions

    Thailand’s health officials plan to propose the easing of some Covid-19 restrictions in a bid to move away from imposing lockdowns when outbreaks are reported. Opas Karnkawinpong from the Department of Disease Control says other countries are relaxing some curbs and Thailand is ready to follow suit. However, he did not specify what restrictions might be eased. It’s understood the…

  • Crime News350kg of compressed marijuana seized off Mekong River

    350kg of compressed marijuana seized off Mekong River

    Navy officers in the Laos-bordering province of Nakhon Phanom seized a compressed marijuana shipment of about 350 kilogrammes as it was being offloaded from the Mekong River. 2 men were arrested while 3 more fled and have not been apprehended yet in the bust that took place late Friday night. The northern province, separated from Laos by the Mekong River,…

  • World NewsIndonesian submarine confirmed in 3 pieces at 800m depth

    Indonesian submarine confirmed in 3 pieces at 800m depth

    In a follow-up to our previous story this morning, Indonesian authorities have now stated officially that the missing submarine has been found and it is safe to assume all 53 crew members have died. Earlier in the day, debris from the submarine such as a bottle of lubricant and a torpedo protection device, as well as an oil slick, were…

  • Koh Samui NewsBlackout on Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan after navy ship anchor damages underwater cable

    Blackout on Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan after navy ship anchor damages underwater cable

    A widespread blackout swept over Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan after a Thai navy ship anchor dropped on an underwater cable which supplies power to the islands in the Gulf of Thailand off the Surat Thani coast. The 115kv cable runs from Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Khanom district to Koh Samui. The anchor damaged the cable about 2 kilometres out…

  • South Thailand NewsThai navy sailors rescue adorable cats from ship fire

    Thai navy sailors rescue adorable cats from ship fire

    In an act of good deed, navy officials have rescued 4 cats from a ship that had caught fire and began to sink about 13 kilometres off Adang Island in the southern province of Satun. The ship’s 8 member crew had jumped off the sinking vessel and were rescued by a passing fishing ship, but the cats were left onboard.…

  • Thailand NewsNavy starts “Thai Submarines” Facebook page following last year’s controversy

    Navy starts “Thai Submarines” Facebook page following last year’s controversy

    After much criticism last year over plans to purchase submarines, the Royal Thai Navy launched the new Facebook page “Thai Submarines” which a spokesperson says is intended to provide accurate information about Navy submarines. Posts on the page outline the history of Navy submarines, including a photo of Thailand’s first submarine which was in service from 1938 to 1951. The…

  • Thailand News16 Thai Navy officials investigated for alleged involvement in drug trafficking

    16 Thai Navy officials investigated for alleged involvement in drug trafficking

    The Royal Thai Navy is investigating 16 of its officials for alleged involvement in a drug trafficking operation earlier this month in the Isaan province Nong Khai which borders Laos. If the officials are found guilty, the Navy will immediately take both disciplinary and legal action, according to a spokesperson. Local officials reportedly seized 2 million amphetamine tablets and 116…

  • Politics NewsNavy defends their purchase of 2 new Chinese submarines

    Navy defends their purchase of 2 new Chinese submarines

    “…disputes involving territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea have been ongoing, with major powers getting involved” After coming under criticism over the weekend over the decision to go ahead with the purchase of 2 Chinese submarines, the Royal Thai Navy faced the media yesterday. The hashtag #PeopleSayNoToSubs has been trending since the budget allocation was passed by…

  • Politics NewsRoyal Thai Navy front media today to explain purchase of 2 Chinese submarines

    Royal Thai Navy front media today to explain purchase of 2 Chinese submarines

    After the outcry over a house budget committee’s decision to approve the purchase of another 2 Chinese submarine’s last week, the Royal Thai Navy will front the media today to explain the controversial 22.5 billion baht acquisition. A Royal Thai Navy source has told Thai PBS World that “a clarification is necessary”, because members from the Pheu Thai party had…

  • Koh Samui News1 more body found, 3 remain missing. Koh Samui ferry disaster.

    1 more body found, 3 remain missing. Koh Samui ferry disaster.

    3 people remain missing following Saturday night’s ferry disaster off Koh Samui where the car ferry, Raja 4, capsized and sank. Another body of one of the crew was recovered at 1pm this afternoon. Strong currents and poor weather has been hampering the rescue and recovery operations with operations leaders worried that any more people would have been swept a long way…

  • Koh Samui News4 people still missing from the Koh Samui ferry sinking

    4 people still missing from the Koh Samui ferry sinking

    Rescue workers and recovery teams are still searching for 4 missing people following the capsize and sinking of a car ferry off the coast of Surat Thani last Saturday night. The ferry, the Raja 4, was on its way back from Koh Samui, loaded with garbage trucks and was about 2 kilometres off Don Sak Pier, when the incident happened.…

  • Crime NewsIntoxicated navy officer fatally shoots police rescuer

    Intoxicated navy officer fatally shoots police rescuer

    A police volunteer in Chon Buri province’s southern Sattahip district was fatally shot when he tried to rescue a heavily intoxicated navy officer from his flipped vehicle. A bystander was also shot and injured. Police were alerted to the incident at around 2am. When they showed up they found 33 year old Rit-rong Yasawut, fatally injured, with inebriated 23 year…

  • Covid-19 NewsNavy delays sub purchases as it slashes budget by a third

    Navy delays sub purchases as it slashes budget by a third

    All ministries in the Thai government have been instructed to contribute 10% of their 2020 budgets to the fight against Covid-19. Last week the Royal Thai Army announced it would also delay most of its purchases of new military hardware until the situation improves. A spokesman says that The Royal Thai Navy has gone further and will cut 33%, or…