The ships and search-and-rescue patrol aircraft were deployed on Friday (May 29). Among them was the HTMS Angthong, a landing platform dock ship that is acting as a floating hospital. (See story here.)
The HTMS Angthong has also been provisioned with more than 10,000 packages of instant noodles, 10,000 bottles of water and 5,000 cans of fish.
“We have yet to find any boats full of Rohingya, but we will continue searching the ocean, especially the area around the Surin Islands,” said Vice-Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej.
Migrant boats in transit to Thai waters may be hampered by the current monsoon weather, he noted.
“The current monsoon brings hard rain and wind to the ocean, and it is a long way – about 795 nautical miles – from Rakhine state in Myanmar to Thailand,” V/Adm Sayan said.
“They could still be out there, and we will keep looking,” he added.
The Navy has been been ordered to continue their search and render any humanitarian assistance needed until June 12.
“After then, we are to receive new orders whether or not to continue our search-and-assist efforts,” V/Adm Sayan said.