Admiral Totrathon Kajitsuwan, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Region 3 base in Phang Nga told the Phuket News that the Thai crew's fishing boat was assisted out to sea by an accompanying tug boat.
He said the tug-boat and fishing boat breached Myanmar waters, at the coordinates of 9 degrees latitude, 40 clicks north, and 98 degrees longitude, 14 clicks west – about 10 nautical miles west of Koh Chang (off the coast of Ranong).
“Considering the strong waves yesterday, the crew didn't think the Myanmar Navy would bother with patrol,” the admiral said.
But when their tug boat was overwhelmed by the strong waves and finally sank, the Myanmar Navy patrol spotted them and quickly moved in to seize their fishing boat. The Thai seamen were all allowed to jump overboard and swim back to Thailand.
Luckily for them, a friendly fishing boat and Thai patrol boat nearby came to the rescue, and brought the distressed crew membersl safely back to shore.
“I doubt their boat will be returned. I will inform the Fisheries Association and radio station about this and warn Thai fishermen to avoid breaching territorial waters of our neighbors. It's very dangerous,” he said.