Search teams from the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) started scouring all the islands in the Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, off Surat Thani Province, today (Wednesday), for the five missing crew, according to RTN Spokesman Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin.

He said that the teams have completed the search of 33 islands in the Mo Ko Chumphon National Marine Park, but did not find any of the missing crew of the ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai.

Twenty-four crew are confirmed dead, with only one set of recovered remains still awaiting identification. 76 crew members were rescued after the corvette-class ship foundered in rough seas off Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan on the night of December 18th. The ship had a complement of 106, but only 105 were on board, with the chief engineer absent as he attended to other business.

The RTN has vowed to continue the search until all the missing crew are accounted for.

A royally-sponsored cremation was held today for two crew members at the Sattahip naval base.