The online newspaper Vietnamplus reported that the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN, Hai quan nhan dan Viet Nam) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN, Kong thap ruea thai) have conducted their 44th joint patrol. The two sides coordinated information exchange and prevention of illegal fishing activities. The participating forces included Svetlyak-class patrol boats 264 and 265 from Naval Region 5 of Vietnam, and HTMS Makut Rajakumarn (433) and HTMS Klang (542) of the RTN.
The joint patrol aimed to maintain security and order, create conditions for the two countries’ people to develop maritime economy, as well as promote cooperation, mutual understanding and trust between the nations’ naval forces.
Other practices included search and rescue, and implementation of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea reached at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium 2014.
The Svetlyak class is a class of patrol boats designed and built in the Soviet Union and later in Russia. The patrol boats of the class are designed to carry out a variety of missions, from patrol missions to prevent violations of maritime state border, to protect friendly vessels and facilities from enemy surface and air attacks. Project 10412 is an export version for Slovenia and Vietnam.
HTMS Makut Rajakumarn is a frigate operated by the Royal Thai Navy. The ship was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Glasgow, Scotland 1971. The design was based on the Malaysian frigate KD Rahmat, but is larger and has a second gun at the stern. The ship entered service in 1973 and is currently (2010) in service as a training ship. HTMS Klang (OPV-551) is an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) of the Royal Thai Navy. She is a Hua Hin-class patrol vessel.
