The study on maritime transport along the southern coast of Thailand on the Gulf of Thailand: a summary

Abstract

This paper examines the potential of developing coastal ports and channels along the Southern coast on the Gulf of Thailand. There were 18 channels included in the study area, ranging from Ban Don Channel to Pattani Channel. The study approach was based on the analysis of the data on cargo movement to and from the study area by coastal shipping and truck, in terms of quantity and types of cargo. The study found that there are three potential areas to be developed for coastal shipping in Thailand (along the southern part on the Gulf of Thailand), namely Songkhla (Songkhla channel), Surat Thani (Ban Don and/or Ta Thong) and Nakhon Sri Thammarat (Sichon and/or Pak Phanang). This paper, however, suggests that further study on the technical part for support of the precise channels to be developed is needed.