The commander of the HTMS Sukhothai, Capt Phichitchai Thueannadee, announced his intention to resign from the Royal Thai Navy, accepting responsibility for the 2022 sinking incident that resulted in the loss of 29 lives. This declaration came after a navy investigation attributed the disaster to a combination of severe weather conditions, unexpected structural damages, and what it described as a reckless decision not to seek immediate refuge at the nearest port.
The corvette sank in the Gulf of Thailand off Prachuap Khiri Khan Province on December 18, 2022, during a voyage from Sattahip Naval Base to Chumphon province, amid conditions that far exceeded the vessel’s operational wave height limits.
Royal Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Adung Phan-iam detailed in a press conference how unexpectedly high waves of up to six meters led to significant damage, including a dislocated wave breaker and subsequent ruptures on the vessel. The investigation pointed out the absence of a tugboat for safe docking at Bang Saphan port as a reason for the commander’s decision to head back to Sattahip, a choice later scrutinized for its lack of caution.
Despite Capt Phichitchai’s forthcoming resignation and his assertion of the crew’s exhaustive efforts to manage the crisis, the navy disclosed he would be confined for 15 days but would not face civil litigation. The Navy also considered the retrieval of the sunken corvette from its resting place at a depth of 50 meters but deemed it prohibitively expensive and uncertain of success.
Expressing regret over the incident and detailing his rationale for attempting to return to Sattahip, Capt Phichitchai said he was driven by the vessel’s then-stable condition, which later deteriorated as weather conditions worsened. (NNT)
