Sattahip to Songkhla car ferry service set to begin by March 2021, Prachuap Khiri Khan misses out for now
A major new ferry service is set to begin operations to and from the eastern seaboard and the far south of Thailand.
Run by Seahorse Ferry Co Ltd the new service will connect the Chuk Samet port in Sattahip run by the navy with the southern terminal in Songkhla.
The 600 km journey will take 20 hours and there will be one journey per day.
Foot passengers, cars and cargo will be allowed.
The service could start as early as this month, certainly before the end of the first quarter, reported Bangkok Business News.
The plan is part of the ambitious schemes to connect the south with the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Withaya Yamuang, the chief of the harbor department said it would be the longest ferry route in Thailand beating those operated in Surat Thani.
It will satisfy growing needs for cargo and tourism, he claimed.
The road trip from Songkhla is 1,000 kms.
A ferry service from Sattahip to Bang Saphan, Prachuap Khiri Khan has been delayed because of problems with road transport in Prachuap so they are pressing ahead with the longer service first.
The service will leave Sattahip at 2 pm and reach Songkhla at 10 am the next day.
The return service also leaves Songkhla at 2pm and will reach Sattahip at 10 am.
There is capacity for 500-600 people, 80 truck-trailers and 20 cars.
No prices were reported by the media who said that the only hurdle remaining was the issue of safety.
As soon as this is resolved the service will begin either this month or next.
The company has said that if take-up is 60% of capacity they will add a second ferry.
The navy has upgraded the Sattahip port that will be able to cater to over 1,200 people a day.
This is part of plans to upgrade several ports.
Source: Thaivisa from Bangkok Business News
