The Silver Sea 2 was captured by Indonesian authorities on 12 August 2015 near Sabang, Aceh province, in the northern part of Sumatra, on allegation that the vessel has conducted fisheries crimes, falsified documents and deactivated the Auto Identification System.

          At the time of arrest, there were 19 Thai crew members on board, including the captain of the vessel. Following the incident, based on the request made by the Royal Thai Embassy in Jakarta, the Indonesian authorities gradually authorized the release of Thai crew members of Silver Sea 2, due to their health conditions. Mr. Yothin Kuarabiab, the captain of the vessel, was brought to the first court hearing on 27 April 2017 as a defendant. The court continued its hearing on 10 May 2017 and the said Thai three crew members were requested by the Silver Sea Reefer Co.Ltd, the owner of the Silver Sea 2, to testify as witnesses on the case before their return to Thailand. 

         The release of the three crew members of Silver Sea 2 resulted from consultations between General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand,
and Mr.Jusuf Kalla, Vice President of Indonesia, on the occasion of the latter’s visit to Thailand on 23 March 2017.

          During the past two years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Royal Thai Embasy in Jakarta have continuously cooperated with the Indonesian authorities concerned to expedite the investigation and judicial process of the case of Thai crew members in Indonesia.

         From 1 October 2014 to 13 May 2017, the Royal Thai Embassy in Jakarta has continuously facilitated the return of 1,943 Thai fishermen from Indonesia to Thailand. At present, there are approximately 20 Thai fishermen remaining in Indonesia, mostly with their families.