The Ekawat Nava 5 is the name of a Thai trawler that was sunk in the Gulf of Aden by the Indian Navy's frigate INS Tabar, who believed that the ship was a pirate "mother vessel". CNN: Sunken 'pirate ship' was actually Thai trawler, owner says (November 25, 2008)
According to owner Wicharn Sirichaiekawat, on November 18, 2008, his ship was sailing from Oman to Yemen to deliver fishing equipment, when it was attacked by pirates. They radioed a distress signal but the pirates were seizing control when the Tabar attacked.New York Times: Pirate ‘Mother Ship’ or Thai Trawler? (November 25, 2008)
Attack at Sea
On November 18, 2008, the Tabar reported that it had fought a battle at sea with a flotilla of three pirate ships off the Omani coast. They sank one suspect vessel, calling it the "mother ship."New York Times: Pirate ‘Mother Ship’ or Thai Trawler? (November 25, 2008)
"We fired in self-defense and in response to firing upon our vessel. It was a pirate vessel in the international waters and its stance was aggressive."—Commodore Nirad Sinha, Indian Navy spokespersonCNN: Sunken 'pirate ship' was actually Thai trawler, owner says (November 25, 2008)
Six days later, owner Sirichaiekawat learned that his ship had been sunk when a Cambodian crewman from the Ekawat Nava 5 was rescued by a passing ship. He had survived the pirate attack and the ship's sinking and is recovering in a Yemeni hospital.New York Times: Pirate ‘Mother Ship’ or Thai Trawler? (November 25, 2008)
