The Royal Barge "Sri Suphannahong" was first mentioned in the barge-rowing poems of Prince Thammathibet in 1548, during the early reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

The annals of Thai military boats written by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab mentions the construction of the "Sri Suphannahong" royal barge during the reign of King Rama I.

[3][4] The royal barge's distinct feature is the bow shaped as the head of a golden swan/phoenix and is decorated with a tassel hanging from the mouth, made from yak hair imported from Nepal.

The award was granted to the Fine Arts Department for its role in refurbishment of the ship.

[5] The Royal Barge Suphannahong has become a renowned icon of Thai culture, having been used as the namesake for awards such as the Suphannahong National Film Awards, as well as aircraft livery for Thai Airways International and the logo of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.