The HTMS Sukhothai, a US-built corvette carrying approximately 70 crew and 35 other naval and military personnel, including marines, sank a day after it left Sattahip Naval base in Chonburi last Saturday heading for Chumphon for a naval ceremony to celebrate the founder or ‘father’ of the service Krom Luang Chumphon Khet-Radomska whose birthday was the 19th December 1880. The warship capsized after it suffered an engine malfunction and encountered high winds and strong waves, which led to a power failure and quickly flooded the deck, during the incident. A submersible vehicle launched on Wednesday aimed to tell naval chiefs the extent of the damage done and the viability of key systems as a technical committee considers bringing in the private sector to help refloat and salvage the Sukhothai lying capsized at a depth of 40 metres off Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Royal Thai Navy has confirmed that 82 people have been recovered, of which six were found deceased, leaving 23 sailors still unaccounted for.
