The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to conduct a night search for the 22 crew members of the sunken HTMS Sukhothai who are still missing in the Gulf of Thailand, according to RTN Spokesman Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin.

The drone is equipped with a high resolution night-vision camera, can remain airborne for 4-5 hours and has an operational range of about 100km. It is based at a temporary search operations centre, set up in the Lang Suan district of Chumphon province.

Admiral Pokkrong said yesterday (Friday) that the drone has been deployed twice in the search operations. The first time was in and around the Bang Saphan deep-sea port and the second time around Paknam Chumphon.

He also said that traces of oil have been found at three locations at and around the location where the HTMS Sukhothai foundered, off Bang Saphan district, adding that a clean-up operation will soon be launched to dispose of the spillage.

Search operations continue for the sixth consecutive day today, after another body, believed to be that of a missing crew member, was found in the seas off Bang Saphan district.

Admiral Pokkrong said that the search operations have been adjusted to cover coastal areas and the islands off Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani provinces.

The 35-year-old HTMS Sukhothai carried 105 crew, including some marines, when it went sank in stormy seas off Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan on Sunday night. So far, seven crew have been found dead, 22 are still missing and 76 have been rescued.