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Songklha
and Phuket Ports were brought into operations in 1988 to meet
the demands of local shippers, the business community and ocean liner
companies that have their vessels calling in the south of Thailand.
The ports are leased to a single private operator and fall under the
responsibility of the Harbor Department, operating on behalf of the
Ministry of Commerce and Communications. Their present and operations
and potential for future expansion are hoped to spur southern exporters
and industries under regional economic development plans.
 Songkla
is located on the Gulf of Thailand about 100 kilometers north
of the Thai-Malaysian border. The port has an annual capacity
of 72,000 TEU's and handles a good deal of export container
traffic, mainly rubber along with both refrigerated and canned
seafood. |
Songkla port remains largely a feeder destination on shipping between
Thailand's main ports and the regional hub in Singapore.
The port is hampered by its severe draft restrictions along with a
lack of heavy handling equipment. Shippers are often reluctant to
call in Songkhla because they lose money on unused inbound containers,
thus a good portion of Thailand's southern marine shipping flows through
Penang.
Phuket port is located in the southern part of Thailand on the Andaman
Sea. The 65-hectare facility features six berths having an annual
capacity of 32,000 TEU's. The port is used primarily for exports of
tin and rubber and is a major destination for cruise ships and the
travel industry. Similar to Songkhla, Phuket port suffers from draft
restrictions that limit the size of vessels that can call, while also
suffering from a lack heavy cranes and handling equipment to efficiently
ship cargo.
| Phuket |
| GENERAL |
| Total
Area (acres) |
65 |
| Total
Area (hectares) |
26 |
| Ship
Berths |
2 |
| Barge
Berths |
4 |
| Total
Berth Length (ft) |
1,573 |
| Total
Berth Length (m) |
510 |
| HANDLING
EQUIPMENT |
| Forklifts
|
2-3 tons |
8 |
| Tow
Tractors |
40
tons |
4 |
| Tow
Tractors |
10
ton |
1 |
| Tow
Tractors |
5
ton |
2 |
| Drawbar
Trailer |
40
tons |
4 |
| Drawbar
Trailer |
10
ton |
3 |
| Drawbar
Trailer |
5
ton |
6 |
| Harbour
Tugs |
1,600
h.p. |
1 |
| Pilot
Boats |
|
1 |
| CAPACITY
|
| Annual
Maximum Handling Capacity (TEU's) |
32,000 |
| Songkhla |
| GENERAL |
| Total
Area (acres) |
24.71 |
| Total
Area (hectares) |
10 |
| Ship
Berths |
3 |
| Barge
Berths |
7 |
| Total
Berth Length (ft) |
1,573 |
| Total
Berth Length (ft) |
510 |
| HANDLING
EQUIPMENT |
| Top
Loader (30 tons) |
3 |
| Front
Loader |
2 |
| Forklifts
(3-3.5 tons) |
26 |
| Top
Loader (25 tons) |
2 |
| Tow
Tracters (40 tons) |
7 |
| Tow
Tracters (10 tons) |
1 |
| Tow
Tracters (5 tons) |
4 |
| Harbour
Tugs (2,000 h.p) |
2 |
| Harbour
Launches |
1 |
| Pilot
Boats |
1 |
| CAPACITY
|
| Annual
Maximum Handling Capacity (TEU's) |
72,000 |
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