US warns Thai navy over salvage operations of sunk HTMS Sukhothai

[webfact]

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) received a second warning from the Joint United States Military Advisory Group Thailand (Jusmagthai) over salvage operations on the US-built HTMS Sukhothai, which sank in the Gulf of Thailand back in 2022. This information was revealed by Bangkok’s Move Forward Party MP, Chayaphon Satondee, during a parliamentary debate on the 2024 budget bill.

 

Chayaphon explained that Jusmagthai, the body regulating military trade between Thailand and the US, had expressed concern that the RTN has not yet responded to US queries since the ship went under on December 18, 2022. On December 1, Jusmagthai sent a second letter to the RTN, reminding it to comply with their agreement, following reports that a Thai contractor working with China had been selected to salvage the vessel.

 

The first letter from Jusmagthai was delivered in January last year, but the RTN has yet to inform the US about the situation. Chayaphon emphasised that the RTN is obliged to secure approval for third-party transfer from the US government for the contractor’s clearance, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Mitch Connor

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-22

 

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[spidermike007]

A reasonable request considering how much aid the US has given Thailand over the years. I think they have the right to keep China's Armed Forces out of Thailand's business to the extent that is possible. After all, how much direct aid has China given Thailand? 

[Bundooman]

Yes, you can also imagine the aggressive action from China if this warship had originated from China and the US had been approached to help salvage it.

China would immediately dis-allow it - so why would the USA not warn Thailand to check the terms of  sale agreement? Sounds like an under the table deal by the RTN, doesn't it?

[jacko45k]

18 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

A reasonable request considering how much aid the US has given Thailand over the years. I think they have the right to keep China's Armed Forces out of Thailand's business to the extent that is possible. After all, how much direct aid has China given Thailand? 

Yes I wonder too how much money have they perhaps got out of China? Isn't the begging bowl still being waved for the land bridge project? 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

reminding it to comply with their agreement, following reports that a Thai contractor working with China had been selected to salvage the vessel.

That's a no-no.

[hotchilli]

9 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Yes I wonder too how much money have they perhaps got out of China? Isn't the begging bowl still being waved for the land bridge project? 

Yes, the Wai is still being banded about for anyone to come build Thailands infrastructure projects, then Thailand can say it has the best facilities in Asia.

[mfd101]

Trust the Thais to have forgotten (when convenient) - or couldn't care less about - a written agreement/protocol with another friendly country.

 

Says it all about how Thais in general deal with the law and with international relations and with interpersonal relations: Smile brightly, wai & fingers crossed. A nation with a great future.

[EVENKEEL]

6 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Trust the Thais to have forgotten (when convenient) - or couldn't care less about - a written agreement/protocol with another friendly country.

 

Says it all about how Thais in general deal with the law and with international relations and with interpersonal relations: Smile brightly, wai & fingers crossed. A nation with a great future.

Yep, smile then fork you. The Thai way

[klauskunkel]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The first letter from Jusmagthai was delivered in January last year, but the RTN has yet to inform the US about the situation.

He further added that Jusmagthai cautioned RTN that any failure to do so would be a breach of agreements, potentially affecting foreign military sales between Thailand and the US.

In response, RTN Chief Admiral Adung Phan-iam stated that they are still in the process of sorting things out. However, there is a concern that if the US gets involved in the salvage operation, it could delay the initial schedule set for April. 

Delay the initial salvage schedule, Admiral? It was you who never responded to the US for over a year, and therefore any resulting delay is YOUR FAULT.

[ignore it]

Just protocol. 

The china boat people engineers have certainly been all through the ship already with measuring equipment and knew all the specs before the RTN left the windows open and it sank.

Keeping the china lads from getting their hands on the now soggy tech bits is not as important as playing by the rules.

[Seeall]

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Trust the Thais to have forgotten (when convenient) - or couldn't care less about - a written agreement/protocol with another friendly country.

 

Says it all about how Thais in general deal with the law and with international relations and with interpersonal relations: Smile brightly, wai & fingers crossed. A nation with a great future.

Its not a complicated topic....  My handyman needs constant reminders.. likes to ignore things...  unless there is a daily reward (on top of salary) it is ignored...  the same as my kids when they were 3 years old...

[Srikcir]

Wonder if China offered a submarine for only a down-payment with no installment payments to award salvage to a Chinese contractor ?

[redwood1]

Why raise the boat?.....

 

The rust must be getting pretty thick after being under water so long.....How much could a 1987 boat worth?.....I will tell you how much.....Very little sunk or un-sunk......I bet it would cost at least 3-4-5 times the boats value to raise it and rebuild it...

[PETERTHEEATER]

The quality of the steel in old vessels is much desired for its scrap value which is why Chinese salvage ships have been illegally plundering WW2 wrecks including those designated as war graves.

Perhaps the 'plan' is to recover the vessel intact for reuse although the cynic in me says that could reveal the cause of sinking. Alternatively, if to recover for scrap value it can be dismantled where it lies piece by piece.

[john donson]

if general somchai wants to make another billion baht, thailand pretends it cannot salvage, but sells the ship wreck to china... (if it sank at all....)

[lordgrinz]

15 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Trust the Thais to have forgotten (when convenient) - or couldn't care less about - a written agreement/protocol with another friendly country.

 

Says it all about how Thais in general deal with the law and with international relations and with interpersonal relations: Smile brightly, wai & fingers crossed. A nation with a great future.

 

Well, Thai's in general don't follow any laws, regulations, or rules.....so why stop the status quo?

[sidneybear]

Thailand is a sovereign country. The US has screwed up every foreign policy ininitiative since WW2, leaving nothing but blood, screams and misery in its wake. Thailand should tell the US to mind its own business, like other countries around the world are now doing.

[mikebike]

2 minutes ago, sidneybear said:

Thailand is a sovereign country. The US has screwed up every foreign policy ininitiative since WW2, leaving nothing but blood, screams and misery in its wake. Thailand should tell the US to mind its own business, like other countries around the world are now doing.

Thailand is a sovereign country which needs to protect its sovereignty by buying military equipment from other countries. Those contracts come with stipulations. Your proposal would guarantee only one outcome. Thailand would be limited in its access to western military equipment. Is that the outcome you want? 

[sidneybear]

7 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Thailand is a sovereign country which needs to protect its sovereignty by buying military equipment from other countries. Those contracts come with stipulations. Your proposal would guarantee only one outcome. Thailand would be limited in its access to western military equipment. Is that the outcome you want? 

That western military equipment isn't doing too well in Ukraine. Thailand would be better off without it.

[John Drake]

6 hours ago, sidneybear said:

That western military equipment isn't doing too well in Ukraine. Thailand would be better off without it.

 

Vintage 1980s Bradley Fighting Vehicle takes out latest Russian tank in Ukraine.

 

 

[redwood1]

When a ship is submerged for an extended period of time, several factors can impact its condition and structural integrity. When a ship is submerged for an extended period of time, the following effects can occur:

• Damage to Structure: Prolonged submersion can cause significant structural damage to a ship. The water's pressure increases with depth, subjecting the ship to enormous forces. Over time, this pressure can cause the hull and other structural components to deform, buckle, or even collapse.
• Corrosion: Water is a corrosive environment, and submerged ships are exposed to corrosive elements. Salts and other chemicals present in seawater accelerate corrosion, particularly in the presence of oxygen. Metal components of the ship, such as the superstructure, propellers, and machinery, are particularly susceptible to corrosion. This can compromise the structural integrity and functionality of the ship.

[beautifulthailand99]

I can't imagine this 40 year old rust bucket has any secrets that China hasn't got already - probably just a matter of protocol and contract being enforced.