On 21 February 2018, Thai authorities joined forces in providing assistance to a Myanmar fishing crewman on board “Limudomchai 25” fishing vessel who was suffering from an acute stomach ache and was timely transferred to a hospital in Ranong Province. He is currently in stable condition.

          The rescue operation originated from the Port-in Port-out Control Center in Phang-nga Province, where it was informed by the vessel master of Limudomchai 25 - located then in the area of Surin Islands – requesting urgent assistance for the transfer of a sick Myanmar crewman. Thereafter, H.T.M.S. Narathiwas was contacted to take the sick crewman aboard for first-aid assistance, and the Third Naval Area Command subsequently sent a helicopter to deliver the sick crewman to Ranong Airport. From there, an ambulance arranged by the Thai-Myanmar Fisheries Coordinating Center and Ratchakrud Municipal Emergency Unit immediately took him to receive the emergency medical treatment at Ranong Hospital.

          The success of this rescue operation is a result of cooperation among the relevant agencies in setting up a system to prioritize the rescue of fishing crew as soon as a request is made. Regardless of their nationalities, anyone who is in a vulnerable state in Thai waters will receive immediate assistance in accordance with international humanitarian practices.