The Royal Thai Navy has intensified patrol operations to safeguard maritime sovereignty after more than 30 foreign fishing vessels were detected encroaching into Thai waters off Trat province for the second time this month, Rear Admiral Paraj Ratanajaipan said today.
Patrol patterns will be intensified and radar surveillance increased following the latest intrusion.
On February 12, HTMS Thepa spotted at least 30 foreign fishing boats in Thai territorial waters off Trat province. The warship moved swiftly to control the situation and escorted the vessels out of the area.
On the warship’s Facebook page, it stated: “These are Thai waters. Intruders will be dealt with decisively. Sovereignty is not something to be tested and the Royal Thai Navy never backs down.”
The latest incident follows a similar case on February 9, when 25 Cambodian-flagged fishing vessels crossed approximately one nautical mile into Thai waters near Kut Island, also in Trat province.
They were subsequently driven out by Thai naval patrol vessels.
