Port Authority of Thailand
The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) is a state corporation of Thailand, responsible for the regulation and governance of the ports of Thailand, primarily the ports of Laem Chabang and Bangkok, the country's two largest ports. PAT operates Thai ports in conjunction with public companies including Hutchison Ports Thailand and PSA International. The Port Authority is located in Bangkok.
Contents
History
The PAT was founded by the Port Authority of Thailand Act 1951, as an autonomous government agency under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. In 1961 construction was begun on the port of Laem Chabang, due to overcrowding at the river port of Bangkok, and by 1997 Laem Chabang had become the country's busiest seaport. In 2000 the Port Authority of Thailand was converted from a government agency to a state corporation by amendment to the Port Authority of Thailand Act 1951.[1]
Operations
Ports under the governance of PAT include those of Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Chieng Saen, Chieng Khong, Ranong, as well as the Bangkok Coastal and Barge Domestic Terminal.[2]
Port of Laem Chabang
Laem Chabang is in eastern Thailand, on the Gulf of Thailand, and is the country's main deep sea port. It consists of several separate ports, and occupies 2,572 acres (10.41 km2).[3]
Port of Bangkok
The port area is on the east side of the Chao Phraya River in Khlong Toei District occupying over 900 acres (3.6 km2), with jurisdiction of 66 km of riverfront.[4]
Port of Chieng Saen
Chiang Saen is on the Mekong River across from Laos in Chiang Rai Province in north Thailand. Its role as a trade connection with Myanmar, Laos, and the southern provinces of China is expanding and new facilities are being planned 10 km away at the Mae Nam Kok estuary of the Mekong River.[5]
Port of Chiang Kong
Chiang Kong is a one-berth port on the Mekong River, across from Laos.[6]
Port of Ranong
Ranong is on the Kraburi River of the Kra Peninsula, across from Myanmar and near the Indian Ocean coast. Approved in 2003 as a PAT port, expansion is planned to serve the West Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea areas.[7]
See also
- Government of Thailand
- Transport in Thailand
- Port authority
- Port operator
- Port Authority of Thailand FC
