BANGKOK, Thailand – Salvage teams have recovered six bodies from the wreck of the S. Kanchanawari 888, the fishing boat that sank about 50 nautical miles off Samae San in Sattahip, Chonburi, closing the search for the Myanmar crew members missing since the vessel went down in a storm around 10pm on 21 September.

Fishing Boat Sinks Off Sattahip, Three Dead, Four Missing

All 22 crew were flung into the sea when the boat sank between Samae San Bay and Prachuap Khiri Khan Bay. Fifteen survived and the Thai captain, 46-year-old Wichan Ma-iang, was confirmed dead. The six missing men were identified as Soe Lae, 20, Naing U, 45, Tho Luai, 22, Din Mao Ae, 47, San Thikwe, 47, and Yi Lin, 22, all Myanmar nationals.

The operator began salvage work at 11am on 29 September, using three fishing boats — S. Kanchanawari 19, 79 and 89 — to tow the wreck ashore. Divers strapped dozens of 200-litre plastic drums to the hull to lift it partly above the surface, easing the tow. The convoy covered 50 nautical miles to Chuk Samet Pier at Sattahip Commercial Port inside Sattahip Naval Base, arriving at 3.20pm on 30 September after a journey reported to have taken 28 hours. Divers from the Sawang Rojanathammasathan Sattahip rescue foundation supported the effort and watched for emergencies at sea, with the vessel to be craned upright and pumped dry for inspection.

Officials found the bodies trapped in small compartments inside the boat, later confirming six recoveries. The decomposed remains were sent to Sattahip Hospital, Km 10, for post-mortem examinations and formal identification.

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Relatives travelled to the pier during the operation, inviting Phra Khru Sangharak Wichai, a monk from Wat Chong Samae San, to lead a ceremony calling the spirits of the dead home before religious rites. The case is being closely watched by Myanmar migrant-worker communities in Thailand, and formal forensic identification will be vital before families can arrange funerals or repatriation.

-Thailand News (TN)