THE navy will be reviewing its standard operating procedure (SOP) on the seaworthiness and assignment of old ships. 

Navy chief Mohd Reza Mohd Sany in a statement today said this following the sinking of the 35-year-old HTMS Sukhothai of the Thai navy on Sunday. 

He said a review of the procedure was required to avoid a similar fate befalling the vessels of the Malaysian navy. 

“Considering 58% of navy ships are even older than HTMS Sukhothai, let us pray our ships would not face such incidents.

“Without drastic actions taken by the government in addressing the defence budget issue, the matter of obsolete assets would continue to hamper the navy in the long run,” according to the statement. 

Meanwhile, the navy conveyed its condolences to Thai navy personnel over HTMS Sukhothai’s sinking and said it hopes the remaining crew members would be safely found. HTMS Sukhothai, which was carrying 105 sailors, was racked by engine failures and sank about 20 nautical miles from Prachuap Khiri Khan province at 11.30pm (local time) on Sunday. – Bernama, December 21, 2022.