27 Januari 2023
Royal Thai Navy (RTN) held a launching ceremony for HTMS Tachai-859, the new third Panyi-class Tugboat at Asian Marine Service PCL (ASIMAR) shipyard in Samut Prakan Province, Thailand on 25 January 2023 (photos : Royal Thai Navy)
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) held a launching ceremony for the third medium tug of the HTMS Panyi series, named HTMS Tachai on 25 January 2023 at the shipyard of Asian Marine Services Public Company Limited (ASIMAR: Asian Marine Service PCL), Thailand.
Which has a keel laying ceremony on September 13, 2021, which is expected to be completed for delivery to regular service within May 2023 according to the delay due to the Covid-19 epidemic situation.
The tug HTMS Tachai still uses the Ramparts 3200 SD tug of Robert Allan Ltd. Canada, the previous 2 medium tugs of the HTMS Panyee series built by Italthai Company. Italthai Marine Limited Thailand namely HTMS Panyi (857) commissioned on 27 March 2017 and HTMS Lipe (858) was commissioned on 23 January 2020.
Currently, the Royal Thai Navy has a Medium Tugboat stationed in the Amphibious and Combat Support Service Squadron (ACSSS: Amphibious and Combat Support Service Squadron), Royal Thai Fleet (RTF: Royal Thai Fleet), a total of 5 ships, namely 1 HTMS Rin series tug, HTMS Rin (853), 2 HTMS Samaesan series tugs, HTMS Samaesan (855) and HTMS Rad (856) and HTMS Samae San series tugs Panyee 2 boats by HTMS Rang (854) tug boat series HTMS Rin the second was discharged from service on September 30, 2022.
According to naval strategy 2015-2024 requires a total of 8 tugboats to be used, making it understood that the Royal Thai Navy will provide 3 more medium-sized tugboats after HTMS Tachai. The ceremony to release the ship into the water and replace HTMS Rin, which should be discharged in 2023.
Including a small tug of the HTMS Khueng Badan series, 2 ships that have been retired. The tugboat HTMS Panyi series uses a ship model according to accepted international standards. Equipped with reliable equipment such as MTU 16V 4000 M54 Germany diesel engine and supporting the shipbuilding industry of Thailand.
(AAG)