Salvage begins on Thai warship lost in deadly sinking

By Baird Maritime - February 25, 2024.

The Royal Thai Navy corvette HTMS Sukhothai steams at the front of a ship formation during the at-sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2013 in the Gulf of Thailand, June 8, 2013. (Photo: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st class Patrick Dille)

Salvage teams from the US and Royal Thai Navies have begun their recovery of portions of the wreckage of a Thai warship that sank along with at least 24 of its crew in late 2022.

The salvage operation on the corvette HTMS Sukhothai is being carried out with US assistance as part of an investigation into the sinking.

As they continued their surveys of the wreck, which currently lies at a depth of 40 metres, salvors have also recovered the corvette’s metal nameplate as well as the personal effects of some of the crew.

Additional surveys will be conducted with the aim of locating the ship’s ammunition for eventual safe disposal.

Acquired as a newly built vessel in 1987, Sukhothai was the second of two Ratanakosin-class corvettes that were constructed in the United States for the Royal Thai Navy.

The corvette suffered a severe list and sank in stormy weather off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province on the late evening (local time) of December 18, 2022. Only 76 of the crew were successfully rescued.

In addition to the 24 confirmed fatalities, another five personnel are presumed dead as their bodies were never found.