Thai navy vessel with crew of 106 sinks in rough seas in Gulf of Thailand

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

The Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) Ratanakosin-class corvette, HMS Sukhothai, sank in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand at about 11.30pm on Sunday night.

The RTN reported this morning (Monday) that 77 of the 110 officers and men on board have been rescued, with the remaining 33 still floating in the sea. Three were seriously injured. The ship sank after it took on a lot of sea water.

According to RTN Spokesman Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin, HMS Sukhothai was on routine sea patrol, about 20 miles from the Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan, when it began to list to starboard, allowing seawater to get into the electrical system through the exhaust pipe. This led to a loss of electrical power and the stopping of the main engine.

The ship lost steerage, resulting in more water entering the hull, increasing the list.

The RTN ordered three other naval vessels and two helicopters to rescue the crew and officers. HMS Kraburi was the first to arrive at the scene and began rescuing those in the sea.

The search for crew members who are still missing continues today, as the Royal Thai Navy sends additional vessels and planes to take part in the search and rescue operations, which are being hampered by rough seas and strong winds.

The RTN confirmed that there were enough life vests on board the ill-fated HMS Sukhothai for the whole crew, adding that the 33 sailors who are yet to be rescued are believed to have drifted in various directions, but the rough sea has made it impossible for small boats to reach them.

According to the Army Times Thailand, 43 were crew injured, most of them suffering minor injuries and four who suffered broken legs.

========================

Oil tanker runs aground near Songkhla beach, cargo ship sinks off Surat Thani

An oil tanker ran aground on the coast of Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla and a cargo ship capsized in the seas of Surat Thani province yesterday (Sunday).

Initial reports said that the captain and eight crew members of the cargo ship managed to escape from the sinking vessel in a life raft and were taken to Chaiya district hospital by the emergency services, who responded to the vessel’s SOS signal.

The report said that the 2,037-tonne oil tanker was not carrying any fuel as it was anchored near Samila Beach in Mueang district of Songkhla. The anchor chain broke, however, and the vessel was swept toward the shore by strong winds and rough seas until it ran aground.

The company which owns the oil tanker has asked for tug boats to tow the tanker back out to sea, but bad sea conditions have, so far, prevented the operation.

In Chaiya district of Surat Thani province, an SOS signal was received by a ground station from a cargo ship, Santhad Samut 2, which was carrying 36 containers of rubber timber and 10 crew. The vessel was heading for Laem Chabang in Chon Buri Province.

The ship later sank in the Gulf of Thailand, off Chaiya district. The cause of the vessel’s problem is not yet known.

 

 

[reader]

The Bangkok Post reports that 31 crew members remain missing at sea today.

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Another six members of the crew of the ill-fated HMS Sukhothai corvette class Thai Navy vessel were recovered from the sea by the crew of HMS Ang Thong today (Tuesday), leaving 24 still missing as the search continues. Five of them are confirmed to have died.

Families and relatives of the missing crew members have been wating in the compound of the coordinating command centre, set up at the Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri province, to follow updates on the search operations.

Mental health and medical teams are deployed at the command centre to provide counselling to the missing crews’ families.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Ministry of Defence to investigate the actual cause of the sinking of HMS Sukhothai, which has been in service for about 48 years.

 

[reader]

Thai PBS World reports that 76 crew members have been rescued, six were found dead and 23 are still missing after the accident on Sunday.

The Thai Army announced that it has placed its helicopters on standby to support the Thai Navy in the search and rescue operations for the missing crew members. It did not say whether the navy has requested that assistance yet. The Royal Thai Air Force has sent a fixed-wing plane and a helicopter to support the operation.

 

 

[reader]

The Navy released some additional information today about the search for the missing crew members but nothing encouraging was reported. Some in the government are raising questions about ship maintenance and the service's search and rescue capabilities. This all comes at an inconvenient time for the Navy that is vigorously pursuing the acquisition of submarines for the fleet that currently has none. China has built a diesel-powered sub that was originally to be fitted out with engines from Germany. However, the German government has declined to authorize the transfer of that technology and China officials are trying to persuade the Navy to accept China-made power plants.

It would seem that what the Navy has a greater need for new littoral-type vessels designed to operate closer to land. The ill-fated MHS Sukhothai is being described by the Navy as the workhorse of the fleet. However, its nearly 50 years of service indicates that it should have been replaced long before huge sums were pursued for submarines.

The incident also  reflects the need for more robust coast guard assets to protect the nation's long coastlines.

From Thai PBS World

An unsung hero in the tragic end of HTMS Sukhothai

In almost every disaster, there is usually at least one hero, someone who cares more for other people’s safety than their own and who does not hesitate to help, even at the risk of their own life.  The tragic sinking of HTMS Sukhothai is no exception. The aging corvette class Royal Thai Navy (RTN) ship foundered on Sunday night in rough seas off Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Kunakorn Jariyot, chief petty officer first class (CPO1), is a medic serving on HTMS Sukhothai. He went missing after he and two other crew were rescued and taken on board HTMS Kraburi, but he decided to jump into the sea again, with a life vest borrowed from one of the survivors, to help others who were still drifting at sea on Sunday night. He has not been seen since and yesterday (Wednesday) he was listed among the 23 crew still missing.

Fondly called “Torn Mor” by the seamen, Kunakorn is a nurse who completed study at the RTN’s nursing school. He was always seen carrying a big bag full of medical supplies, no matter how heavy it was, according to one of the surviving seamen. He was carrying the bag when he was in the water.

When the 106 crew members were ordered to abandon ship, Kunakorn and two others, Sarangkon, the deputy chief mechanic and a seaman, were in the same group with only two life vests. They held hands, which is a survival technique at sea, which they were trained to do and had learned from a book, according to a Facebook netizen who identified himself as “Woody” Kaweewat Boondet.

While drifting at sea, the three were joined by another seaman, identified as Komkrit. “Torn Mor told me to grab his hand tightly, telling me that then, even without a life vest, they would not drown,” Kaweewat quoted Komkrit as saying after he was safely rescued.

All four crew thought they would survive when they saw HTMS Kraburi approaching, but Kunakorn told them to swim to the stern of the ship, to avoid being hit by it.

Unfortunately Sarangkon, who was the oldest in the group, appeared to lose his strength and was swept away by the strong waves.

Only three of them, including Kunakorn, were plucked from the sea to safety. They were saddened at not being able to help Sarangkon, who “disappeared right before our eyes.”

Then Kunakorn told Komkrit to give him his life vest, saying that he needed it to help the others still drifting at sea. Then the medic took his bag to the mess room and has not been seen ever since.

“We only saw his bag of medical supplies in the mess room,” wrote Kaweewat in his Facebook post.

Kunakorn’s name appeared on the list of 75 crew members rescued, which was a relief to his friends and family. “We were relieved that Kunakorn’s name did not appear among those listed as still missing and that he would be fine,” according to the post.

“Until now, none of those who survived have seen (Kunakorn). His relatives have not heard from him. So, where is (Kunakorn)? We only hope, because of his sacrifice, that nothing bad will happen to him. He should be back safely. We are waiting for you brother….” the post concluded.

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Six more bodies found floating in Gulf of Thailand

The team searching for crew, missing from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai, found six more bodies drifting at sea off the Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan today (Saturday), reducing those still unaccounted for to 16, according to the Royal Thai Navy.

The remains were recovered by naval vessels and taken ashore for identification by forensic science officials, he said.

Six bodies have, so far, been confirmed as members of the crew of the ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai and seven other bodies, including one which was discovered at sea yesterday evening, are in the process of being identified, which will take 3-4 days.

RTN Spokesman Admiral Monthatphalin said that 76 crew members have been rescued, out of a ship’s compliment of 105.

He said that divers from HTMS Kraburi have been sent to search for missing crew, who might be trapped inside the sunken ship, and to survey the vessel ahead of a salvage operation adding, however, that strong undersea currents are hampering dive operations.

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Navy divers search sunken HTMS Sukhothai for missing crew

A team of 53 navy divers and medical personnel dove down to the sunken HTMS Sukhothai today (Sunday), to find out whether any of the missing crew members are trapped in the ship.

Captain Pongsak Ramnut, chief of the diving and demolition division of the Naval Ordnance Department, led the mission. Before the mission, he said that all the divers had been warned not to dive too close to the sunken ship, because it is unstable and could move if struck by a strong current.

All divers, he added, were told to take their own safety as their first priority, because the Royal Thai Navy does not want to see any further loss of life.

The sunken ship rests at a depth of about 40 metres, off Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan.  Sea conditions remain rough and the currents are strong, which could pose problems for the divers, he said.

The search for missing crew continues for the seventh day today and the focus has now turned to the area around the site of the sunken vessel, where eight bodies have been recovered in the past two days, leaving 14 still unaccounted for.

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Two bodies have been recovered from the sea between Sak and Samet islands off Chumphon.

The first body, without a life jacket, was found drifting near Sak Island of Chumphon province by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) this morning (Tuesday). A Fisheries Department boat was sent to recover the remains, according to Vice Admiral Pichai Lorchusakul, commander of First Naval Area Command.

He said that it is very likely that the body is that of one of HTMS Sukhothai’s missing crew, because of the mechanic’s jumpsuit he was wearing, commonly worn by mechanics and electricians on Royal Thai Navy ships.

The second body was found by a Fisheries Department vessel in the same area. The second body was wearing tracksuit bottoms and a dark blue T-shirt but no life jacket.

The two bodies were recovered by the Fisheries Department vessel and taken ashore in Chumphon. They were then sent to Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan for identification.

If they are confirmed to be crew from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai, the discovery brings the number of crew still unaccounted for to eight.

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Three more bodies, believed to be those of missing HMTS Sukhothai crew, were recovered from the sea today (Wednesday), according to Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Spokesman Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin.

He said that the number of bodies found has increased to 24, with 20 of them in the process of being identified, while the number of crew still missing has dropped to five.

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Former captain of sunken HTMS Sukhothai tenders resignation

The former captain of the ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai, a Rattanakosin-class corvette, has offered his resignation, which will take effect as soon as he completes the 15 day detention, imposed by the Navy for the sinking of the vessel in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand on the night of December 18, 2022.

Twenty-four of the ship’s complement died and five others are still unaccounted for.

Commander Pichitchai Thuennadee, the former captain, offered his deep condolences, once again, to the families of those who died or are still missing, as soon the results of the RTN’s year-long investigation into the loss of the vessel were published at a press conference held Tuesday.

Commander Pichitchai said that he would like to reiterate that this was a tragic accident and every member of the crew, including himself, had tried their utmost in an extreme situation, which went beyond their control.

In his capacity as the captain of the vessel, Pichitchai said that he had assessed the situation on the night of December 18 and made the decision to order the vessel to head back to Sattahip naval base, because the ship was under control at that time.

He claimed, however, that the weather and sea conditions changed for the worse very quickly which, in hindsight, means he may not have been cautious enough.

On Tuesday, the Navy blamed the sinking on a sudden charge in the weather and sea conditions, resulting in waves as high as six metres, making it impossible to control the vessel which, eventually, took on water and began to list and then sink.

Pichitchai said that he takes full responsibility for the tragic incident and will accept any consequences his superiors decide are appropriate. When everything is settled, he said he will leave naval service.

He maintains that he has decided to quit of his own free will, without pressure, and that the Navy’s findings on the tragic loss are transparent.

[Keithambrose]

2 hours ago, reader said:

From Thai PBS World

Former captain of sunken HTMS Sukhothai tenders resignation

The former captain of the ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai, a Rattanakosin-class corvette, has offered his resignation, which will take effect as soon as he completes the 15 day detention, imposed by the Navy for the sinking of the vessel in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand on the night of December 18, 2022.

Twenty-four of the ship’s complement died and five others are still unaccounted for.

Commander Pichitchai Thuennadee, the former captain, offered his deep condolences, once again, to the families of those who died or are still missing, as soon the results of the RTN’s year-long investigation into the loss of the vessel were published at a press conference held Tuesday.

Commander Pichitchai said that he would like to reiterate that this was a tragic accident and every member of the crew, including himself, had tried their utmost in an extreme situation, which went beyond their control.

In his capacity as the captain of the vessel, Pichitchai said that he had assessed the situation on the night of December 18 and made the decision to order the vessel to head back to Sattahip naval base, because the ship was under control at that time.

He claimed, however, that the weather and sea conditions changed for the worse very quickly which, in hindsight, means he may not have been cautious enough.

On Tuesday, the Navy blamed the sinking on a sudden charge in the weather and sea conditions, resulting in waves as high as six metres, making it impossible to control the vessel which, eventually, took on water and began to list and then sink.

Pichitchai said that he takes full responsibility for the tragic incident and will accept any consequences his superiors decide are appropriate. When everything is settled, he said he will leave naval service.

He maintains that he has decided to quit of his own free will, without pressure, and that the Navy’s findings on the tragic loss are transparent.

Bit odd this. A frigate is surely capable of handling bad weather; 6 metre waves are high, but much worse conditions in the Atlantic, etc. I suspect there is more to this. 

[reader]

I think you're right. That the captain was sentenced to 15 days detention apparently indicates that his actions were deemed to have hazard the vessel. If he had not chosen to resign, he likely would have been dismissed along with a reduction in rank. Commanders who survive a lost hull which 29 shipmates did not survive would not traditionally be viewed favorably by naval courts of inquiry anywhere.