The ‘FTX’ exercise was held at the Phuket Deep Sea Port off Cape Panwa in Wichit, and coordinated by the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 3 branch (Thai MECC 3), which operates out of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command at Cape Panwa.
Also present to oversee the exercise were Thai MECC 3 Deputy Commander Capt Krit Kluemmat and Vice Admiral Suchart Thammapitakwet, Commander of the Third Naval Area.
Also present were Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat, and Sopon Thongsai, Head of the Phuket Provincial Office of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM Phuket). along with representatives of other related government agencies. Of note, as Governor of Phuket, Mr Sophon is also the Director of the Center for Maintaining National Maritime Interests in Phuket Province.
The exercise involved various local and external agencies, and tested operational concepts, command and management capabilities, focusing on joint operations, law enforcement, information exchange and communication systems.
It aimed to prepare agencies to prevent, mitigate, and respond swiftly to maritime threats as outlined in the Marine National Interest Protection Act 2019, explained an official report of the event.
Participants engaged in exercises simulating scenarios such as the prevention and suppression of weapons smuggling and search-and-rescue operations at sea.
One scenario involved a large passenger ship collision with multiple casualties, where Governor Sophon acted as incident commander. Another simulated a collision between two tourist boats, requiring coordinated rescue efforts from various maritime agencies, including Thai MECC 3, the Marine Police and emergency medical teams from Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Adm Adung praised the successful execution of the training exercises, noting that such preparedness enhances the confidence of local authorities and tourists in Phuket’s maritime safety measures, said the official report.
Governor Sophon expressed gratitude for the Navy’s support and emphasised the importance of public awareness regarding the duties of Thai MECC in Phuket. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat smuggling and drug trafficking as part of the broader mission to secure the region’s maritime interests.
The integrated approach and successful training reinforce the commitment to ensuring the safety and security of both locals and visitors, thus boosting confidence in Phuket as a premier tourist destination, Governor Sophon said.