Thai Navy to retire 10 ageing vessels from October

Thailand's Defence Minister Lt Gen Adul Boonthamcharoen has approved the retirement of 10 Royal Thai Navy vessels, including the frigates HTMS Khirirat and HTMS Similan, after repairs were judged uneconomic.

The order, signed on 23 September, takes effect on 1 October 2026. The Defence Ministry said the vessels had deteriorated after long government service and would require costly maintenance that was not worthwhile for continued operations.

Ships have served for more than 50 years

The retired fleet includes the frigates HTMS Khirirat and HTMS Similan, both of which have been in service for more than 50 years.

Also named in the report are the large logistics vessel HTMS Simiran, the large survey ships HTMS Suk and HTMS Chan, near-shore patrol vessels Tor 81, Tor 82 and Tor 83, and coastal patrol vessel Tor 243.

Two river patrol craft, Lor Kor 15 and Lor 141, are also due to leave active service from 1 October.

Rear Admiral Parat Rattanachaiphan, the Navy spokesman, said the 10 vessels were being retired because of their age and poor condition, with further repair and maintenance no longer cost-effective.

Auction first, dismantling if needed

Under Finance Ministry regulations, the Navy will first offer the vessels for sale by public auction.

If they cannot be sold, they will be dismantled and their parts sold separately. All proceeds are to be returned to the Ministry of Finance.

The Navy has also said that unusable hulls could be handed over to interested state agencies for public use. One possible use would be as artificial reefs.

Navy restructuring plan

The report said the retirements form part of a wider Royal Thai Navy effort to restructure and modernise its maritime force in line with budget constraints, current security threats and operational requirements.

The aim is to deploy personnel and naval resources more appropriately for future missions, rather than continue spending heavily on vessels that have reached the end of their practical service life.

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27 September 2026