Bangkok Post
Friday, September 10, 2010
About 300 officers and sailors departed on the frigate HTMS Pattani and supply ship HTMS Similan for the seven-day journey to the Gulf of Aden. Their families and friends were at Chuksamed port to bid them farewell.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon chaired the ceremony.
Rear-Admiral Chaiyos Suntornnak, who heads the mission, said the Thai contingent was ready for this mission and had received some training in suppression of piracy.
"It is the pride of all Thai navy men," he said. "Although Thailand is not a big country, we can take part to help cope with the problem facing the world community."
Four ships flying the Thai flag were hijacked off the Somali coast in the last year.
The Thai Union 3 was hijacked in October and three fishing boats, the MV Prantalay 11, 12 and 14, in April this year.
Source: Bangkok Post