Bangkok Port shipping scene sets sail for relocation

The Bangkok Port, located in the bustling Klong Toey district, is earmarked for a potential relocation, the Transport Ministry announced. Deputy Minister Manaporn Charoensri revealed plans for a feasibility study into the port’s relocation yesterday, to transform parts of the 32-rai site into a public park.

Manaporn, responsible for overseeing the operations of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), shared that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had proposed during an April 2 Cabinet meeting, a partial relocation of Klong Toey port to the Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri. The 62 year old prime minister’s order will be followed with the formation of a dedicated committee to examine the plan further.

This relocation is complex, with multiple factors to consider, including existing lease agreements and employment contracts, Charoensri noted, referencing an initial survey conducted by the PAT.

She reassured of the impact on industrial factories and oil refineries, stating that not the entire port would be shifted. Instead, the Bangkok-born PM has proposed methods to make optimal use of leftover space or areas currently misused by the community, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion in the vicinity. Some of this space, she indicated, might be redeveloped into a public park.

Manaporn elaborated that the move to Laem Chabang Port could be beneficial from a developmental perspective. Due to the limitations of the Bangkok Port being non-deep-sea, a partial move to the deeper Laem Chabang would be more practical. PM Srettha further suggested exploring the possibility of transforming the port into a tourism hotspot.

In line with this potential new direction, the PAT’s Director-General, Kriangkrai Chaisiriwongsuk, revealed that the port’s master development plan aims to elevate it to a green port. The intention is to enhance the quality of life for surrounding communities and residents while evolving the port into a tourist pier, complete with comprehensive logistics transportation services, reported Bangkok Post.