Royal Thai Navy officials explained the organization of the newly upgraded Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center to five agencies that now fall under its jurisdiction at a meeting in Pattaya.
Rear Adm. Sucheep Whoungmaitree, academic dean for the Royal Thai Naval Academy, briefed representatives of the Marine Police Division, the Customs Department, the Department of Fisheries, the Marine Department, and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources at the A-One Royal Cruise hotel Dec. 12.
Rear Adm. Sucheep Whoungmaitree, academic dean for the Royal Thai Naval Academy, briefs officials about the newly upgraded Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center.
Early this month the Cabinet approved a plan to upgrade the status of the MECC to handle security issues and protect marine resources. It previously served as an operational center for only marine resources. The upgrade complies with the National Security Council’s roadmap through 2021.
Maritime threats also will come under the newly upgraded center’s jurisdiction. Adm. Thanarat Ubon, who is now the navy’s chief of staff, was named the MECC’s director.