On 15 July 2011, at 10.00 – 12.00 hrs. Mr. Jitti Suwannik, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Ms. Buniga Chamsai, Director of the Commercial Affairs Office, Ms. Kanjana Wongsuwan, Director of the Labour Affairs Office, and staff of the Royal Thai Embassy, went to Changi Naval Base to welcome the Royal Thai Navy anti-piracy fleet – H.T.M.S. Similan and H.T.M.S. Narathiwat, which made a 3-day stop over in Singapore. Captain Tanin Likitwong RTN, Commander of the Thai counter piracy task unit, greeted CDA Jitti on board the H.T.M.S. Similan. The group from the Royal Thai Embassy received a briefing on the fleet’s capacities, duties and the piracy situation in the Gulf of Aden.

The fleet left Thailand on 12 July 2011 for its second deployment to join the Combined Maritime Forces, an international anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. The two ships carry on board 2 helicopters, SEAL unit and 368 naval personnel. They are expected to return home in November 2011.