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Bangkok Port

Bangkok Port was constructed in 1938 with the purpose to enable large sea- going ships to transport goods directly to Bangkok. The work was interrupted during the second world war and completed after the war ended. In 1951, the government obtained a loan from the World Bank for dredging the sand bar, deepening the river course to the Bangkok Port and purchasing loading / unloading equipment. Also in that year, under the Port Authority Act B.E. 2494 (1951) , The Port Authority of Thailand was established as an autonomous body under the general supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

In 1961, the Royal Thai Government started its effort to construct a new deep-sea port at Laem Chabang, Chonburi to accommodate larger vessels which could not enter the Bangkok Port. However, due to the economic recession the project was suspended. The Sattahip port, formerly a Navy Port, was developed and operational for commercial purpose under PAT's management in 1979.

Construction of Laem Chabang Port started in 1987. On 21 January 1991, the Port was officially opened at its multi - purpose terminal and the Sattahip Commercial Port was later returned to the Navy for military purpose.

In 1997, the Laem Chabang Port hit the target of 1 million TEU and became Thailand's major port. PAT, therefore, accelerates the construction of Phase 2, to cope with the rapidly increasing number of containers.

 

Laem Chabang port - Thailand

Detail of the first phase

TERMINAL	LENGTH / DEPTH	CAPACITY
1 Multi-Purpose Terminal	400 m. / 14 m. MSL	Conventional or container ship of 50,000 D.W.T. capacity; - Container ~ 0.2 million TEUs, General cargo ~ 2.0 million tonnes. Under construcion process, scheduled to operate by the year 2001.
5 Container Terminals	300 m. each / 14 m. MSL (a berth box of 50 m. wide, 1,200 m. long and 15 m. MSL deep)	Container ships of 33,000 D.W.T. cargo terminal capacity approximately 0.3 million TEUs per year. Only B5 is 400 m. quaywall, thus its capacity is 0.6 million TEUs per year.
1 Coastal Terminal	200 m. / 6.5 m. MSL	Domestic ship of 1,000 D.W.T. capacity 0.163 million ton / year
1 Service Boat Berth	100 m. / 6.5 m. MSL	Service boat of 1,000 D.W.T.
1 Agri-bulk Terminals	14 m. MSL	Sugar-molasses ship of 40,000 D.W.T. capacity 0.7 million tons / year
1 General Cargo Terminal	14 m. MSL	Vessel ; 70,000 D.W.T. capacity of 4.0 million tons / year

Total capacity : 7,253 million tons / year.

Dredging : a dredged channel of 14 m. MSL in depth., 2.5 kms in length.

Breakwater : total breakwater length is 1,300 m.

Infrastructures : transit sheds, open storage area, office buildings, road, railway and other utilities.

The first stage of development is scheduled to be completed in late 1991, but the multi-purpose terminal is firstly operational from January 21, 1991.In the future, the PAT will consider expanding terminals according to the increased volume of goods passing through the port. Construction Cost Construction cost required for the original project was 2,029 million Baht (70% from OECF of Japan, 30% of local currency). Later the PAT extended the project at an additional cost of 426 million Baht, making a total cost of 2,455 million Baht.

Main Equipments

Quayside Container Cranes
Panamax Size 13 units
Post-panamax Size 3 units
Tugboats
-3,200 hp 3 units
-3,000 hp 3 units
-800 hp 2 units
Various Harbour Crafts 6 units

Performance of Laem Chabang Port

Fiscal Year 1996-1999

1. Terminal A (Domestic and Services Boat Terminal)

It is located on the end of basin 1 with 150 meters berth length and depth of 6.5 meters (MSL). The terminal provides services for accommodating domestic coastal and ferry ro/ro vessels, apart from handling of domestic cargo approximately 2.0 million tons per annual. On the other side of basin, there are 2 jettys available for services boat.

Right now under bidding for a successful concessionaire to construct and operate with the concession period of 30 years.

2. Terminal A.1 (Coastal and Domestic Terminal)

With a 300 meters berth length and depth of 6.5 meters (MSL) and 1,000 DWT vessel capacity. The terminal provides services for handling of general cargo approximately 0.163 million tons per annual. It is operated by Laem Chabang Port.

3. Terminal A.2 (Multi-Purpose Terminal)

Berth length is 400 meters with a depth of 14.0 meters (MSL). Thai Laem Chabang terminal Co.,Ltd. (TLT) has leased since October 1, 1996 with a concession period of 30 years. The terminal capacity is 50,000 DWT of container and conventional Vessels together with containers and general cargo of about 0.2 million TEUs and 2.0 million tons per annual, respectively, at present, the terminal is in the process of construction. It is scheduled to operate by the year 2001.

4. Terminal A.3 (Conventional Terminal)

Berth length is 350 meters with a depth of 14.0 meters (MSL). At present, the terminal is under bidding. It is scheduled to operate by the year 1999.

5. Terminal A.4 (Agri-Bulk Terminal)

Berth length is 250 meters with a depth of 14.0 meters (MSL). It provides handling of export-oriented sugar and mollass. Aawthai Warehouses Co.,Ltd. has leased and operated since March 17, 1993 with a concession period of 25 years. Its capacity is 40,000 DWT vessels and 0.7 million tons commodities per annual. Now is available for general cargo as well.

6. Terminal A.5 (Bulk and General Cargo Terminal)

Berth length is 450 meters with a depth of 14.0 meters (MSL). It provides handling of imported coals, some categories of agricultural commodities, and also others (such as cement and exported cars). Banpu Terminal Co., Ltd. has leased and operated since May 1, 1996 with a concession period of 25 years. Its capacity is 70,000 DWT vessels and commodities of about 4.0 million tons per annual.

1. Terminal B.1

Berth length is 300 meters with a depth of 14.0 meters (MSL). The terminal provides services to handle container cargo. Laem Chabang Container Terminal 1 Co.,Ltd. has leased and operated since November 1, 1995 with a leasing period of 27 years. The terminal’s capacity is designed to accommodate up to 50,000 DWT container vessels 0.2 million TEUs per annual.

2. Terminal B.2 , B.3 and B.4

Berth length is 300 meters with a depth of 14.0 meters (MSL). The terminal has a capacity of about 50,000 DWT for container vessels and approximately 0.3 million TEUs per annual. For the B.2 Evergreen Container Terminal (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. (ECTT) is a lessee and operator since March 30, 1993 with a leasing period of 27 years. For the B.3 Eastern Sea Laem Chabang Terminal Co.,Ltd. Arial"> (ESCO) is a lessee and operator since December 17, 1990 with a leasing period of 27 years. For the B.4 TIPS Co.,Ltd (TIPS) is a lessee and operator since December 18, 1990 with a leasing period of 27 years.

3. Terminal B.5

Berth length is 400 meters with a depth of 14.0 meters (MSL). Its capacity is 50,000 DWT and 0.6 million TEUs per annual. Laem Chabang International Terminal Co.,Ltd. (LCIT) is a lessee, developer and operator since May 1, 1996 with a concession period of 30 years.

FUTURE PROJECTS 

Backgroud

The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) is responsible for operating the Bangkok Port and Laem Chabang Port, both of which handle transport of foreign and general goods and containers. The fees for container service is likely to increase tremendously in accordance to the national economic growth.

In 1978, the government decreed a law of eminent domain covering 6,341 rai of land for the construction of the Laem Chabang Port and started Phase 1 in 1982 after receiving funding support from OECF.

The construction was completed and operational on January 21, 1991 with 8 terminals in service and 2 in the preparation stage.

PAT announced an open bidding for the interested private sector to lease and operate the terminals at Laem Chabang Port in accordance to the government policy. Of the 8 operating terminals, 7 are private sector-run while the remaining one is administered by the Laem Chabang Port.

The main problems confronting Bangkok residents now include the traffic woes and environmental pollution. In order to remedy the situation, the government decided to limit the container traffic through Bangkok Port to 1 million TEU or less per year starting in 1998. As a result of this, Laem Chabang Port will have to handle the rapidly increasing number of containers every year which exceed the existing capacity of Phase 1.

PAT, therefore, had to accelerate the construction of Phase 2, Stage 1 so that the first terminal to operate will have the container handling capacity of no less than 600,000 TEU per year by early 2001.