PHUKET'S Navy personnel are preparing for an attack by pirates off the Andaman coast as the Thai military readies to sent two battleships to join the suppression of piracy on the other side of the Indian Ocean, off Somalia.
Cruise ships may be a target for pirates off Phuket at some stage, a meeting of officers from the Third Royal Thai Navy and other water-based officials was told at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket City.
An attack by pirates is something the Navy wants to be ready for, just in case. Of more practical concern have been 11 rescues executed by the Navy in the Andaman in the past nine months.
While large numbers of vessels carrying Rohingya boatpeople appears to no longer be the issue that it became in 2008-2009, the Navy says it has apprehended 52 Burmese illegal immigrants in 18 interceptions of vessels at sea since October.
Vice Admiral Choomnoom Ardwong, commander of the Third Navy, attended the meeting with Marine Police, the Marine Office, Customs and fishing industry organisations.
The Navy was involved in six drug arrests at sea, one case of arrest of a vessel carrying illegal timber, one arrest of a fishing boat operating in a conservation zone, and one case of a large quantity of whisky being imported without customs duty.
While the main concern along the Andaman coast remains yachts and longtail boats carrying drugs or other illegal imports, the Royal Navy is awaiting Cabinet approval to reinforce the international action against pirates operating off Somalia.
Thai-registered vessels have been among those taken by pirates and Thai crew have been captured.
Meanwhile, a group of 397 Thai soldiers is to head for Darfur, Sudan, to serve on the United Nations peace keeping mission on October 25, with 400 more troops to follow in November.
Tourist's Body Found; Phuket Beach Bosses in Crisis TalksCruise ships may be a target for pirates off Phuket at some stage, a meeting of officers from the Third Royal Thai Navy and other water-based officials was told at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket City.
An attack by pirates is something the Navy wants to be ready for, just in case. Of more practical concern have been 11 rescues executed by the Navy in the Andaman in the past nine months.
While large numbers of vessels carrying Rohingya boatpeople appears to no longer be the issue that it became in 2008-2009, the Navy says it has apprehended 52 Burmese illegal immigrants in 18 interceptions of vessels at sea since October.
Vice Admiral Choomnoom Ardwong, commander of the Third Navy, attended the meeting with Marine Police, the Marine Office, Customs and fishing industry organisations.
The Navy was involved in six drug arrests at sea, one case of arrest of a vessel carrying illegal timber, one arrest of a fishing boat operating in a conservation zone, and one case of a large quantity of whisky being imported without customs duty.
While the main concern along the Andaman coast remains yachts and longtail boats carrying drugs or other illegal imports, the Royal Navy is awaiting Cabinet approval to reinforce the international action against pirates operating off Somalia.
Thai-registered vessels have been among those taken by pirates and Thai crew have been captured.
Meanwhile, a group of 397 Thai soldiers is to head for Darfur, Sudan, to serve on the United Nations peace keeping mission on October 25, with 400 more troops to follow in November.
Updated Report The body of a Bahraini tourist, missing since a double drowning on Phuket on Sunday, has been found. Phuket officials have held a meeting to discuss beach water safety.
Tourist's Body Found; Phuket Beach Bosses in Crisis Talks
Mystery Phuket Death Troubles Man's Relatives
Latest The untimely death of a man with property and insurance policies has raised the alarm of relatives. Police are making no assumptions and continuing an investigation.
Mystery Phuket Death Troubles Man's Relatives
Phuket Expat Accused of Selling Cocaine
Latest A Frenchman has been accused of possessing and selling cocaine and marijuana in a police sting on Phuket. They say he operated at a no name Thai massage shop.
Phuket Expat Accused of Selling Cocaine
Phuket's Overseas Tourists Come Charging Back
Latest Figures for July travel through Phuket International Airport show a 47.15 percent growth in overseas tourist numbers with passengers overall topping the half-million mark.
Phuket's Overseas Tourists Come Charging Back
Phuket Bag Snatch Attack on Young Aussie Woman
Updated Report Credit cards and a driving licence recovered from a Phuket beach are awaiting a young Australian tourist who was targetted and beaten by a bag snatcher.
Phuket Bag Snatch Attack on Young Aussie Woman
The Thai navy has battleships! Well I never knew that. A load of hot air, me thinks, just like the balloons purchased by the military.
Posted by Pete on August 10, 2010 12:50