Thailand is studying the possibility of founding a national shipping line to boost trade and competitiveness and is considering proposals on whether the line should be a state enterprise or a public-private partnership.

Thailand’s economy thrives on trade and is driven by exports. Some members of government believe that a national shipping line could lower costs for Thai exporters, boost capacity for shipments, and inter-connect coastal ports and regions of the Kingdom that private shipping lines rarely or never visit.

The Port Authority of Thailand has said it has already conducted a feasibility study on the creation of a national shipping line and handed it over to the Ministry of Transport, which will review it before sending it to the cabinet for consideration.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport said part of its role would be to decide if the project should be presented as a state enterprise or a public-private partnership. The latter option could also involve the Board of Investment to help garner financial support.

Local papers reported that the Port Authority prefers that the shipping line be created and run under a public-private investment model for “quick and flexible administration.”

Kriengkrai Chaisiriwongsuk, director of the Port Authority, said that while the shipping line would handle some international routes, initially it would focus on eight domestic routes rarely served by other shippers.

Thailand has two deep seaports, both located in the Eastern Economic Corridor: Laem Chabang and Map Ta Phut. Among the eight proposed routes are three that are currently not served by any private shipper.

Source: Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.