Previously called CHAICHANACHOKE 8 and flagged to Thailand. Re-flagged to Djibouti, the vessel arrived in Somalia in February 2017, and along with six other fishing vessels also controlled by Thai interests, began operations in the EEZ. The other fishing vessels included the then called CHAINAVEE 54, CHAINAVEE 55 and SUPPHERMNAVEE 21. In their operations, the vessels were supported by the fish carrier vessel WISDOM SEA REEFER. After subsequent alerts and analysis support through the FISH-i Africa network, the state of Somalia deemed the operations of the vessels as IUU fishing. During the meeting of the IOTC Compliance Committee in 2018, the CHAICHANACHOKE 8, along with the CHAINAVEE 54, CHAINAVEE 55, SUPPHERMNAVEE 21 and the WISDOM SEA REEFER, were included in the IOTC IUU list. According to several sources, the vessel after this was re- flagged to Somalia and re-named AL WESAM 4. In 2019 the vessel was re-named MARWAN 1. More information available upon request. The vessel was reported operating in Somalia in July 2019. Sources confirm presence in Somalia in August 2019. Suspected presence in Yemen in 2021. The vessel was identified in Bandar Abbas, Iran, in November 2022 by IJM, a suspected loading point for arms. On 1 December 2022, the MARWAN 1 was intercepted by a US naval vessel in the Gulf of Oman carrying more than 50 tons of ammunition, including 1 million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition; 25,000 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition; nearly 7,000 proximity fuses for rockets; and over 2,100 kilograms of propellant used to launch rocket propelled grenades.
