Laem Chabang Port News

Thai power producer Gulf Energy Development Pcl on Thursday said its consortium had signed a deal worth 30.9 billion baht ($927 million) with the country's port authority for construction and operation of container terminals.The firm, among the country's largest private power producers, is owned by Thai billionaire Sarath Ratanavadi and has been investing billions of dollars to expand its infrastructure business."Gulf will use accumulated experience in developing and managing large-scale infrastructure projects in Thailand and overseas to develop the port…

Hutchison Ports Thailand (HPT), the largest container terminal operator in Thailand, has officially opened Terminal D at Laem Chabang Port, , the most advanced deep-sea container terminal in the country.Dr. Pailin Chuchottaworn, Deputy Minister of Transport, presided together over the official opening of Terminal D at Laem Chabang Port. Alongside the Deputy Minister of Transport, representatives from government agencies, the private sectors and other distinguished guests were also in attendance.One of the most notable features of the new terminal is that it will be the first and only terminal at the Port to feature remote control technologies.Terminal…

Hutchison Ports Thailand (HPT) recently welcomed M.V. ONE Columba, the largest vessel to ever call Terminal D at Laem Chabang Port. HPT’s new Terminal D played host to Ocean Network Express’ (ONE’s) M.V. ONE Columba.The vessel was met by delegates of Terminal D in the morning of 24 Nov, and the vessel departed Laem Chabang Port one day later. M.V. ONE Columba, with a total length of 364 meters and a total gross tonnage of 145,647 tons, it is the largest container vessel ever to call at Laem Chabang Port in Thailand. The vessel was met with new remote-controlled quay cranes and remote-controlled rubber tyred gantry cranes that HPT used to discharge container boxes from the vessel to the yard with fast…

Marubeni Corporation started a joint feasibility study with PTT Public Company Limited, Thailand`s national petroleum and petrochemical company, which aims at implementing LNG refueling to ships in Laem Chabang Port, the largest industrial port in Thailand. The regulation of exhaust gas will be tightened from 2020, and since LNG is an environmentally friendly fuel, ships that use LNG for fuel (LNG fueled ships) are expected to increase. In Laem Chabang Port, where more than 8,000 ships arrive and leave annually, a third expansion plan is being implemented with the demand for LNG bunkering expected to grow in this area due to increased exports and the tightening of environmental regulations.

Chinese cruise ship "Ocean Dream" , anchored off Laem Chanang port in Sri Racha for over a year, sank into the sea today, raising fear by Thai environmental authorities that it could cause pollution in the sea. Ocean Dream capsized on Saturday while anchored around 2 miles off Laem Chabang port located in Sri Racha on Thailand’s east coast. Local news reports the vessel had been abandoned by the owners for over a year. Local fisherman saw the vessel was taking on water, the authorities at Marine Department’s Marine Safety Centre were then contacted. Authorities immediately coordinated with the Chinese owner to stabilise the vessel back to its position, and were working out a plan to have it fixed soon.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced the signing of a Joint Venture Agreement with SahaThai Terminal Co.,Ltd., a container terminal operation company in Thailand, to establish a new barge terminal operation company in Bangkok. The new company, called Bangkok Barge Terminal Co., Ltd. (BBT), will have its head office in Bangkok. Due to shallower water depth at the Bangkok river port, Laem Chabang port which locates about 90km downstream has become the main gateway port of Thailand with its capability in accommodating many liner services with larger containerships. Consequently, container transport between Laem Chabang and the outskirts of Bangkok by land transport via truck and rail, as well as waterway transport via barges now play important roles.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that on Sunday, February 1, 2015, the MOL-operated car carrier Astral Ace found drifting castaways near Malay Peninsula in the South China Sea, and was able to safely rescue two Malaysian and three Indonesian fishermen.  At 11:25 (all times were in local time) on February 1, 2015, the Astral Ace, sailing from the port of Singapore, to Laem Chabang Port in Thailand, found drifting fishermen – their fishing boat was half sunk, and immediately began the rescue operations.  At 12:15 of the same day, five drifting fishermen were rescued.  At 16:10 of the same day, the members were turned over to the Malaysian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center.

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES), its subsidiary, MES Technoservice Co., Ltd. (STS) have retrofitted latest hybrid system to the existing five units of RTGs with two months erection period at site and successfully handed over to Leam Chabang International Terminal Co., Ltd. in Leam Chabang Thailand in this August. This retrofitting job has been ordered followed by the successful energy saving performance on one unit of RTG retrofitting, which was our first unit of retrofitted hybrid system in the overseas market, in LCIT in the year 2013.

Thailand’s Unithai Shipyard and Engineering said it has expanded operations to support the steady growth of offshore operations. The company has opened a new branch in Songkhla province, one of the busiest offshore markets in the region. The new branch will be fully equipped to fulfil clients’ needs for their offshore operations, such as in ship repair, warehousing, berthing, workshops, equipment and tools. The new facilities comprise a 60-meter berthing quay with a five-meter draught for small repair and the loading and discharging of cargo, and an 800-square-meter covered warehouse.

Unithai Shipyard & Engineering (UTSE) first in Thailand to be recognised by classification society for quality of its diesel engine repair work. The shipyard has been certified by Class NK for achieving a high-quality standard in repairing and reconditioning marine diesel piston crowns and cylinder covers. The company has collaborated with Azuma Group in Singapore, renowned as a specialist in reconditioning and repairing engine components, to provide technical support for a full range of engine-refurbishment services, including onboard inspection, welding, heat treatment, machining and chroming. UTSE say that this unprecedented recognition is a tribute to its steadfast commitment to delivering the best-quality service to its customers.

Jumbo Shipping’s heavy lift vessel Daniella has completed her 11th and final voyage for the Pluto LNG project in Dampier, Australia. Between October 2008 and October 2009 she transported 256 pieces of equipment for this project, including pre-assembled structures and pipe racks weighing up to 240 tonnes. HLV Fairlift has completed 12 voyages and will start the final phase of another 5 shipments. The Pluto LNG project in Dampier is developed by EPC-contractor Foster Wheeler WorleyParsons (FWW) for Australian energy major Woodside.

Thailand’s shipping agencies and the private sector plan to meet by the middle of next month to work out an action plan to develop and promote shipbuilding in Thailand. The Bangkok Post reported that the Industry Ministry had drawn up an action plan, but proposals needed to be substantiated. The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) proposes that the Board of Investment (BoI) promote shipbuilding in Thailand, namely ships between 5,000 tons and 100,000 tons, and grants the industry special status, so it can enjoy the greatest promotional privileges. These include tax breaks of up to eight years and exemption from import duty on machinery.