Navy says ‘reckless’ choice compounded sinking tragedy brought on by tough seas and surprising puncture
PUBLISHED : 9 Apr 2024 at 21:50
The commander of the HTMS Sukhothai mentioned on Tuesday that he would resign from the navy to point out his accountability for the 2022 sinking that took 29 lives.
The Royal Thai Navy mentioned a “reckless” choice by Capt Phichitchai Thueannadee to not dock the corvette on the nearest port contributed to the tragedy, as did tough seas and surprising punctures.
The commander can be confined for 15 days however wouldn’t face a civil lawsuit, the navy mentioned at a press convention held to announce the outcomes of its investigation into the incident.
The HTMS Sukhothai sank within the Gulf of Thailand off Prachuap Khiri Khan province on the evening of Dec 18, 2022, ensuing within the deaths of 24 officers and males. 5 are nonetheless unaccounted for and presumed lifeless.
Adm Adung Pan-Iam, the navy commander-in-chief, advised a press convention on the Navy Auditorium that the corvette was able to withstanding wave heights of as much as 2.5 metres. Nonetheless, the waves on Dec 18, 2022, had been unexpectedly excessive at as much as six metres whereas the corvette was travelling from the Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri to Chumphon province.
Navy officers mentioned highly effective waves broken the wave breaker in entrance of a 76mm gun turret on the corvette. The dislocated wave breaker additionally triggered a one-square-inch rupture on the metal deck of the vessel.
The gun turret was additionally broken by the impression of an unidentified giant and exhausting object. The broken turret additionally had a gap that allow water into the vessel.
An investigation additionally discovered two ruptures within the left gunwale about 5 toes above the conventional water degree. The ruptures had been brought on by the impacts of exterior and unidentified objects and had nothing to do with any welded a part of the corvette. The ruptures coated a mixed space of 80 sq. inches.
The commander didn’t dock the vessel on the close by Bang Saphan port in Prachuap Khiri Khan province as a result of the seas had been tough and there was no tugboat obtainable to make sure protected docking, the navy mentioned.
At the moment, the commander was unaware of the broken wave breaker. Subsequently, he determined to carry the corvette again to Sattahip though it was distant, with an intention to save lots of the ship. The investigation discovered that whereas the commander had no intention to trigger the vessel to sink, the choice to return the vessel to Sattahip was reckless.
Whereas Capt Phichitchai wouldn’t face a civil lawsuit, police in Bang Saphan would contemplate if felony motion towards the commander is warranted.
Salvaging the complete sunken corvette from its 50-metre depth can be too expensive and success was not assured, Adm Adung mentioned.
Capt Phichitchai apologised for the incident and mentioned he and all personnel aboard the corvette had carried out their finest to deal with the state of affairs, which turned out to be uncontrollable.
He mentioned he determined to carry the vessel again to Sattahip as a result of it was not itemizing on the time, however climate circumstances subsequently worsened.
HTMS Sukhothai commander Capt Phichitchai Thueannadee attends the press convention held by the Royal Thai Navy on Tuesday. (Picture: Wassana Nanuam)
