Move Forward MP Natcha Boonchai-insawat criticising the navy at parliament. Photo: Amarin TV

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

 

THE NAVY HAS BEEN taken to task for reported failure to ensure sailors aboard a sinking corvette, namely HTMS 442 Sukhothai, survived a stormy sea in the Gulf of Thailand on Sunday night.

 

During a fresh interpellation at parliament today (Dec.22), Move Forward MP Natcha Boonchai-insawat blamed the navy for six fatalities  reported so far among the sailors, plus 23 others who have been reported missing after HTMS 442 Sukhothai had capsized due to strong winds and high tides and finally sunk off Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

The Move Forward MP doubted that the navy corvette had had the number of life jackets and inflatable boats available for emergency use in proportion to that of its crewmembers and others, reportedly totaling 106.

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/12/22/navy-slammed-over-missing-sailors-sunk-ship/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2022-12-23

 

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"The Move Forward MP doubted that the navy corvette had had the number of life jackets and inflatable boats available for emergency use in proportion to that of its crewmembers and others, reportedly totaling 106."......

 

Yesterday's story indicated that there were NOT enough lifejackets. Now he says he "doubted" there were enough? It's a simple question. Did they have enough or not? I'm afraid the Thai Navy isn't skilled enough to protect the country from an angry octopus let alone a military attack from another country. They'll have to rely on the US for protection. SUCH an embarrassment. Why do they even have a Navy if this is what the Thai people have to look forward to in an emergency situation. 

 

The Thai Navy seems to be a comedy starring the Three Stooges, Bennie Hill, Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy. 

If you look at the arm forces of Thailand, and their fancy uniforms in the high number of generals I believe whether be the Navy, the army or the Air Force you’re totally incompetent TIT

No doubt there were the correct number of life jackets. Now, the crewmen recovered from the sea that weren't wearing a life jacket is another matter; 'why' would be the question. 

Don't even ask why the boat wasn't prepped for heavy seas. Oh, the next question would be; was the ship rigged for heavy seas? 

Edited December 22, 20223 yr by IAMHERE

Let's get one thing straight.

 

There were the correct number of life jackets. It's just that that there were the incorrect number of crew.

 

 

 

18 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

No doubt there were the correct number of life jackets. Now, the crewmen recovered from the sea that weren't wearing a life jacket is another matter; 'why' would be the question. 

Don't even ask why the boat wasn't prepped for heavy seas. Oh, the next question would be; was the ship rigged for heavy seas? 

Think the question should be expanded, are the Thai defence forces prepped for anything other than glitz and glamour? 

 

all shown and no go. 

Thai thinking is always 'fair-weather' 

If you point to them various possible disaster-senarios, they get infuriated.

As an aside..

A couple of fishing trawlers went down during that time period.

Someone also reported a dent/break in the ship's hull.

Did a collision occured?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 20223 yr by VinnieK

24 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Think the question should be expanded, are the Thai defence forces prepped for anything other than glitz and glamour? 

 

all shown and no go. 

Imagine these clowns in charge of a submarine!!  ????

I am wondering why is nobody talking yet about a National Day of Mourning for the victims...It should be done as a respect for them...

This is a Badr Class Corvette, built by the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, USA  for the Saudi Arabian navy:

 

This is the Sukhothai, built by the same company as a modification of the Badr Class design:

 

Sorry folks, for some reason the system refuses to let me upload any image of the Sukhothai for comparison......now there's a funny thing! You'll just have to find an image to compare yourselves,,,,,,,anyway:

 

Notice how much more upperworks have been added to the Sukhothai, plus an additional gun turret forward of the (increased height) bridge The Harpoon missiles have been moved up onto the added works aft the funnel, and a heavier missile system added in place of the gun (Phalanx?) on the fantail.

 

They just had to have everything......and a bit more.....didn't they?  You know......to show off.......you know.

 

Anyone care to speculate what that added weight might have done to the stability of the design?

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 20223 yr by Enoon

It'll make an excellent artificial reef for the marine life ....

So sad for the loss of these young Thai sailors.

My (ex) Thai brother-in-law was a captain in the Thai navy. That was captain of a desk in Bangkok. He couldn't swim and got seasick every time boarding a boat. I was astounded at this during one Songkhran off the coast of Trang. And they want submarines?

They had better buy 2 subs at the same time so they will have a rescue sub available when the other one gets into trouble down below.

 As a Retired Military/Civilian Pilot-The first thing when we as Pilot's do is check the weather before launching to make sure it's "SAFE." I'm sure it is the same for Captains of ships especially in the military. This blame falls on the ship's Captain. He should have not been there unless it was an emergency! 

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

I am wondering why is nobody talking yet about a National Day of Mourning for the victims...It should be done as a respect for them...

Like TAT, all Thais are born with rose-coloured spectacles.  They still believe the missing are going to turn up on a beach in Bali whilst clinging to a polystyrene box.

Maybe some of the AN mob can shed light on this;

 

The photo I saw of the ship listing heavily as it took on water before sinking was a decent section of the hull plating was simply missing on the starboard side (I think the photo I saw showed the vessel listing heavily to port?).

 

As a sailor, literally since being in nappies, and open ocean cred and some nautical smarts, I fail to understand how in a reasonably rough but certainly not horrendous sea a steel naval vessel delaminated lie that.

Unfortunately, in Thailand incidents like this result in cover up, and you can be sure no one will be held responsible.

Short life jacked count is bad. Shows systemic lack of preparation and stocking.

 

But.... Inability to keep a naval vessel aimed into the wind/waves at steerage speed to prevent excessive rolling and waves hitting air /exhaust vents, that were clearly not battened down properly is an abrogation of basic seamanship. It’s not rocket science.

And not having working back up electric systems options is also clear evidence of command incompetence. There should be a courts marshal for the Captain, officer in command center, if not Captain and/or Officer Of The Day at the very least. There’s no face left to save.

3 hours ago, HuskerDo2 said:

The Thai Navy seems to be a comedy starring the Three Stooges, Bennie Hill, Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy. 

Celine and Julie Go Boating would be closer to the mark, I think.

What happens if the 2nd sub gets in the trouble? Will the army be on standby?

 

I wonder if Thai navy ships have safety officers?

Edited December 23, 20223 yr by cardinalblue

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The Move Forward MP doubted that the navy corvette had had the number of life jackets and inflatable boats available for emergency use in proportion to that of its crewmembers and others, reportedly totaling 106

Thai navy playing amateur hour

Very big silence as to the fate of the Captain.  Did he go down with his ship, or was he among he first to be saved?

2 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

He couldn't swim and got seasick every time boarding a boat.

I think if you want to join the Navy the first thing the Navy has to do is teaching how to swim...Suppose in a war and you a navy with soldiers who can't swim..That would be easy for the enemy..Again education is so needed .. How many of the lost cadets now could swim??? if not no wonder there are so many casualties.

   And, rightly 'slammed' as the whole sorry mess was a total cock-up--from going out to sea in an un-seaworthy ship, to not managing the ship crisis when it happened, to not notifying rescue vessels soon enough of the crisis, to not getting the sailors off the ship even though there was ample time, to not having enough life jackets, and likely enough life rafts for everyone (but styrofoam boxes on hand, thank goodness), to a very poor and slow effort to rescue the sailors by the other armed services.   Army chiming in days later that it was putting itself on 'stand-by' to assist in the rescue.  Don't bother; the chance to save the sailors was days ago.   Total train wreck, or, I guess I should say ship wreck.

Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, the head of the navy, the vice admiral, and the captain of the ship should all be fired and court martialed for malfeasance. The lack of life preservers was so mickey mouse, such bad form and unforgivable. It is the responsibility of the captain, to make sure a navy boat is safe, before it leaves port. This is a crime against his soldiers, who depend on him with their lives. It is very possible many of these young men could have survived with that equipment. Lock all 3 of these Navy brass creeps up. 

Edited December 23, 20223 yr by spidermike007

38 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I think if you want to join the Navy the first thing the Navy has to do is teaching how to swim...Suppose in a war and you a navy with soldiers who can't swim..That would be easy for the enemy..Again education is so needed .. How many of the lost cadets now could swim??? if not no wonder there are so many casualties.

They were all good swimmers. That is a pre-requisite of any navy man. That was not the issue. Swimming in 10 foot seas, with gusting wind can bring down alot of experienced swimmers. The life preservers, or lack of, is the real issue here, and the real crime here. Heads need to roll. 

Dressing up like a captain or an admiral doesn't mean you have the skill sets to be a captain or an admiral.  Speaking of which.  The captain and the entire chain of command up through the head Thai admiral should be forced to resign.  Ships don't just sink.  They're built to be water tight if you have a trained, functioning crew following protocol.  The 'engine room flooded?'  How?  Lack of safety equipment?  Why?  Obviously lack of basic seaworthiness protocols and criminally lax command. 
"The Navy" didn't screw up.  Specific people in charge of the proper maintenance and operation of that military vessel HTMS 442 Sukhothai   <deleted> up beyond all repair to coin a common US Navy phrase.  Speaking as someone with eight years in the US Navy, four years on ships, and multiple deployments.  This is a disgrace.

An off topic post about corruption and Russian failure in Ukraine has been removed.

29 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

They were all good swimmers. That is a pre-requisite of any navy man. That was not the issue. Swimming in 10 foot seas, with gusting wind can bring down alot of experienced swimmers. The life preservers, or lack of, is the real issue here, and the real crime here. Heads need to roll. 

If they have had minimal training they learned how to make flotation devices out of their trousers. That's if you actually have had training and practice and don't loose your head. However.  Even in this relatively warm waters, if you are in water below body temperature long enough you'll experience exposure and loss of strength.  Those sailor cut loose from their ship have one goal:  stay afloat and expend as little energy as possible and wait for rescue.
Just an utter disgrace.

Flotation Device Out Of Pants

 

Edited December 23, 20223 yr by connda

3 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Maybe some of the AN mob can shed light on this;

 

The photo I saw of the ship listing heavily as it took on water before sinking was a decent section of the hull plating was simply missing on the starboard side (I think the photo I saw showed the vessel listing heavily to port?).

 

As a sailor, literally since being in nappies, and open ocean cred and some nautical smarts, I fail to understand how in a reasonably rough but certainly not horrendous sea a steel naval vessel delaminated lie that.

Where you there, how do you know how rough the sea was. I spent 26 years in the US Navy and have been in some serious weather. Bur I cannot commit on this situation because I wasn't there. The crew nor the Thai Navy should not be critisied until more is actually know about what happened.