Three Royal Thai navy ships here for goodwill visit
KUCHING: Three Royal Thai navy ships arrived at Senari Port at 11.30am yesterday for a goodwill visit and to strengthen bilateral ties between Malaysia and Thailand.
The frigate ( FFG) and offshore patrol vessel ( OPV) will open for visitors from 9am to 4pm on Sunday.
HTMS Naresuan ( FFG 421) along with sister ship HTMS Kraburi ( FFG 457) and HTMS Krabi ( OPV- 551) are on a threeday stopover in Kuching following a cadet training exercise on international waters.
Royal Thai Naval Cadet Training Unit commander Rear Admiral Massabhan Thavaramara said it was an honour to visit Kuching.
“We place Kuching among the top choice destinations for our ships because of the hospitality and friendliness of the people.”
“I am confident that your presence among us here will serve to ensure a closer bond of f r iendship and mutual understanding between our two countries.
“The goal of naval cadet overseas training is to give cadets a chance to apply what they have learned in class to what they experienced at sea throughout the two-monthlong exercise ending in March.”
There are 699 crew members on board the three vessels,
The goal of naval cadet overseas training is to give cadets a chance to apply what they have learned in class to what they experienced at sea throughout the two-month-long exercise ending in March.
Rear Admiral Massabhan Thavaramara, Royal Thai Naval Cadet Training Unit commander
285 of them naval cadets. The training duration is 45 days and the cruising time 418 hours from Feb 8 to March 24. Kuching is one of three scheduled ports for the visit. The others are Jakarta and Singapore.
The Thai officials are scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem on Monday.
Several progammes have been arranged; namely friendly football match, city tour, visiting the orphanage to contribute some donation, visiting the air force base and a reception dinner at HTMS Naresuan on Sunday.
Thai Naval At tache Capt Krasair Mengumpam and Kuching Resident Naval officer Lt Aminuddin Bonumin were present at the welcoming ceremony yesterday.