Their Majesties The King And Queen Preside Over The Ceremony To Launch A Coastal Patrol Craft Built In Honour Of His Majesty This Evening

[Jai Dee]

Their Majesties the King and Queen preside over the ceremony to launch a coastal patrol craft built in honour of His Majesty this evening

Their Majesties the King and Queen will this evening preside over a ceremony to launch a coastal patrol craft built in honour of His Majesty the King on the 80th birthday anniversary, at the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard.

Navy Commander in Chief Admiral Satirapan Keyanon (สถิรพันธุ์ เกยานนท์) says the vessel, TOR (ตอ) 991, is one of the three ships the Royal Thai Navy is building to honour His Majesty on the occasion. TOR 991 has been totally built by the Royal Thai Navy while the two other vessels -- TOR 992 and TOR 993 – are being built under a contract with a local ship building company named Marson (มาร์ซัน), to promote income generation to local industries. The two vessels are scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in October this year.

Admiral Satirapan says that the vessels are partially designed by His Majesty the King in terms of their shape, size, weight and the fuel to be used. After the launching ceremony, TOR 991 will sail to Phra Chulachomklao Fort Dockyard where it will be equipped with necessary tools. The ship will be officially presented to His Majesty on December 5 this year.

The National Broadcasting Station of Thailand will broadcast live the launching ceremony of the vessel to be held this evening at 5 p.m. at the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard by the Chao Phraya River.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 April 2007