Deputy PM Launches High-Capacity Rescue Raft for Flood Victims
Deputy Prime Minister Yoschanan Wongsa-wad unveiled a high‑capacity modular rescue raft made from floating buoys, capable of carrying 2‑3 tonnes, to aid flood victims in Lad Krabang. The raft was tested with an electric tugboat from TTA Group and will be transferred to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for ongoing disaster relief and possible floating‑waste collection.
The rescue raft originated from a collaboration between the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) and the private sector, with SCGC supplying high‑quality floating buoys originally designed for its floating solar‑farm projects. The modular raft covers 47 square metres, can safely carry about 2 tonnes and up to 3 tonnes in extreme conditions, has a shallow draft and low friction, allowing it to operate in shallow water and be towed by small boats. During the field test on 1 October 2026 at Ladkrabang Pier, Deputy PM Yoschanan and his team used the raft, pulled by an electric tugboat from TTA Group, to deliver relief supplies to flood‑stricken communities at Hua Takheep market via the Khlong Prawet Burirom canal. The deputy PM noted the raft’s versatility, mentioning that it could later be adapted for collecting floating waste, and praised the electric tugboat’s quiet, wake‑free operation as ideal for rescue missions. The ministry said it will hand over the innovation to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for continued use in flood response and potential waste‑collection tasks.
