Royal Thai Navy (RTN) riverine sailors prepare to execute a harbor defense demonstration aboard their patrol boat riverine to U.S. Navy Riverine Squadron ONE Sailors. The demonstration was part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2010. This is the first time in the 16-year history of CARAT Thailand that U.S. and RTN Riverine forces have participated together, sharing insight into each other’s operations, and increasing the interoperability of the two forces.By Captain Panuphun Rakkeo*
The Thai Government recognizes that maritime security could not be handled by any one agency alone. In order to ensure safety of the seas, the Office of the National Security Council approved the establishment of the Thai Maritime Law Enforcement Coordinating Center or THAI-MECC on 17 March 1997. It is located at the Navy Operations Center and operates under the Office of the National Security Council’s guidance. It was officially declared operational on 9 January 1998.
