Royal Thai Navy Holds Ceremony to Launch New Tugboat

15 April 2019

Second tug boat for RTN (photos : RTN)

BANGKOK (NNT) – The Royal Thai Navy has launched the second YTM-858 H.T.M.S. Panyi medium-sized tugboat, in a ceremony according to naval tradition for good fortune.

This is the second Panyi-class medium sized tugboat, number 858 commissioned in a boat launching ceremony, presided over by Royal Thai Navy Commander in Chief Luechai Ruddit, with the Navy Wives Association President Ubonwan Ruddit as the christening lady taking part in the ceremony at ItalThai Marine’s shipyard in Samut Prakan.

The Royal Thai Navy previously hired ItalThai Marine to build two tugboats, with one of the two currently in service with the Amphibious and Combat Support Service Squadron. The second Panyi-class boat in the ceremony today was built under contract to replace older boats and increase the number of medium size tugboats in the fleet.

The Navy Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Yongyut Phrompromrach said the new boat will assist in the navigation of large warships into and out of piers; fighting fire in naval bases, and in other operations more effectively, such as the removal of oil slicks at piers and on shore, and pulling weapons’ exercise targets.

The hiring of a domestic company to construct the boat is considered a demonstration of Thai ship building capacity and proficiency required for technological transmission which will help drive the country’s ship building industry forward.

(ThaiNews)