Royal Thai Navy installs ‘Father’s Boat’ in Sattahip

August 19, 2020

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Royal Thai Navy commanders pay their final respects to the Tor 91 Patrol Boat respectfully known as ‘The Father’s Boat’ before putting it on dry dock.

Thailand’s first domestically built modern navy vessel will go on display in Sattahip, honored as “The Father’s Boat.”

Patrol Boat 91, commissioned in 1968, was decommissioned on September 26, 2019. On August 18, Vice Adm. Samai Jai-in, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Fleet, presided over a blessing ceremony for it to be moved onto dry dock for restoration and to be installed at the Naval Museum in front of the Officer’s Club.

Navy personnel prepare Tor 91 for the final religious ceremonies before taking her out of the water.

While meager in stature, the patrol boat holds an honored spot in Thai navy history. It was commissioned by HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej after a trip to Germany who saw a similar vessel. He returned to Thailand and ordered the Royal Thai Navy to create a ship just like it.

King Rama IX provided input to designers and was aboard during trial runs. The first vessel designed and built in Thailand in the modern era, the patrol boat really was “The Father’s Boat,” Samai said.