On the occasion of the visit of the Head of States to celebrate the Sixtieth Anniversary of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne, the Royal Thai Navy is organizing a Royal Barge Procession to be performed on 12 June 2006 at 1930. The procession will travel from Wasukri Royal Pier to the Temple of Dawn. His Majesty the King will preside over the performance along with of Head of States from 28 Nations. The Procession will comprise 52 barges: 4 royal barges: Suphannahongse, Anantanagaraj, Narai Songsuban H.M. King Rama IX, and Anekchatbhuchongse. Crew of all the barges were drawn from various departments of the Royal Thai Navy

Royal Barge Suphannahongse

Royal Barge Suphannahongse was constructed during the reign of King Mongkutklao (Rama VI), deriving the name from Sri Suphannahongse, built in the reign of King Rama I. The prow is carved into a head of the Royal Swan, gold lacquer painted and ornamented with mirrors. The outside hull is painted black. She weights 15.6 tons and measures 44.70 metres in length, 3.14 metres at the beam with a hull-depth of 90 centimetres and with a draught of 41 centimetres. The crew comprises 50 rowers, 2 steersmen and 2 officers fore and aft. The paddles are gilded and the oarsmen use a stylized rowing motion to suggest a flight with wings.

The present royal barge Anantanagaraj

The present royal barge Anantanagaraj was built during the reign of King Mongkutklao (Rama VI) to replace the former barge built during the reign of King Rama IV. The figurehead is that of a seven headed serpent (Naga), gold lacquer painted and ornamented with mirrors. The outside hull is painted green. She weights 15.36 tons and measures 42.95 in length, 2.95 metres
at the beam with a hull-depth of 76 centimetres and with a draught of 31 centimetres. The crew comprises 54 rowers and 2 steersmen.

The royal barge Anekchatbhuchongse

The royal barge Anekchatbhuchongse, the oldest of the royal barges, was built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). The prow is covered all over with very intricate pattern of innumerable serpent (Naga) figures. The outside hull is painted pink. She weights 7.7 tons and measures 45.40 in length, 3.15 metres at the beam with a hull-depth of 1.11 metre and with a draught of 1.46 metres. The crew comprises 61 rowers, 2 steersmen and 2 officers fore and aft.

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The royal Barge Narai Song Suban H.M. Rama IX

The royal Barge Narai Song Suban H.M. Rama IX was built during the reign of the present King Rama IX), the figurehead was a replica of the figurehead of the former royal Barge Narai Song Suban built during the reign of King Rama III and IV.

The Royal Thai Navy and the Fine Arts Department cooperated in the construction of the barge to commemorate King Rama IX on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne. The barge is considered a secondary royal barge at the same level as the Royal Barge Anatanagaraj and Royal Barge Anekchatbhuchongse. The outside hull is painted red. She weights 20 tons and measures 44.30 in length, 3.20 metres at the beam with a hull-depth of 1.10 metres. The crew comprises 50 rowers and 2 steersmen.

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