Thailand’s Marine Department is considering building 3 deep sea ports in Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui.
According to a Nation Thailand report, a budget of 156.15 million baht has been earmarked for a feasibility study, which is being driven by the need to accommodate larger cruise ships.
In Phuket, the project involves an upgrade to the island’s existing Deep Sea Port, to allow it to accommodate large cruise vessels travelling along the Andaman coast, even though the port is on the opposite side to all the tourist areas.
The work at the exiting port is expected to be completed by the end of this year and consists of extending the length of the dock and dredging the depth of the channel, expanding the turning basin to accommodate large ships, the construction of a breakwater and installation of breakwater lights, as well as the construction of a passenger terminal.
Once complete, the port is expected to operate as both a home port for small to medium cruise ships, as well as accommodating the largest cruise ships in Asia, carrying 4,200 – 4,900 passengers.
On Koh Samui, construction of a cruise terminal is based on the public-private partnership model, with the private sector in charge of construction and operations, while the government repays the investment in infrastructure over 10 years. The total investment cost is over 12 billion baht.
The work is expected to begin in 2029, with the facility officially opening in 2032. The terminal is expected to accommodate between 200,000 and 400,000 passengers and 240 cruise ship trips a year, generating economic value of 46 billion baht over 30 years.
Meanwhile, in Pattaya, there are plans to develop a large cruise ship terminal at Bali Hai Pier. The facility would operate as a home port, accommodating 1,500 passengers an hour, as well as being a port of call for 3,500 – 4,000 passengers every hour.
The new terminal would be able to welcome the world’s largest cruise ships, with a dock length of 300 metres, allowing two large ships to be docked at the same time.
It will also boast a passenger terminal, a parking area that will support overland connections to other destinations, in addition to facilities for passenger ferries and speedboats travelling to tourist islands.
The estimated investment is over 7 billion baht, based on a PPP model. Bidding is expected to begin in 2025, with construction starting in 2026. The project is expected to take 4 years, with the terminal opening in 2031.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
