‘Seasteading’ couple Nadia Summergirl and Chad Elwartowski face arrest warrants after Thailand dismantles sea shack

The navy deployed three frigates to demolish the structure and dragged the cabin back to shore to be used as evidence against the couple

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A Thai navy ship pulls the floating platform to shore after dismantling and removing it from the sea. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 3:25pm, 23 Apr 2019Updated: 3:25pm, 23 Apr 2019

Thai police will issue arrest warrants for Chad Elwartowski and his partner Nadia Summergirl, who have been accused of violating the country’s sovereignty by building an offshore “sea home” 14 nautical miles off the island of Phuket.

On Monday, the Royal Thai Navy deployed three frigates to dismantle the shack as divers from the force’s SEAL team separated the hexagonal fibreglass structure from the underwater base and dragged the cabin back to shore to be used as evidence against the couple.

Elwartowski, an American national, and Summergirl, a Thai citizen, whose real name is Supranee Thepdet, fled before the Thai navy first raided the structure on April 13.

The navy accused the pair of trying to establish a breakaway nation, an offence punishable by death.

In a Facebook post on April 16, Elwartowski said the couple were safe.

The duo, who are bitcoin investors, began living on their floating home to the southeast of Koh Racha Yai last month. In doing so, they became the first couple to live out the vision of the Seasteading Institute, a think-tank that promotes the establishment of the self-ruled sea colony not under any governments or statehood.