Sriracha, Thailand – On March 27, 2025, a second public hearing was held at the Ao Udom Community Pavilion in Sriracha District, to gather public opinions on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a pier extension project proposed by Sriracha Tugboat Co., Ltd. The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Panida Panthuchot, the District Chief of Sriracha.
Mr. Payont Srinote, Managing Director of Sriracha Tugboat Co., Ltd., provided an overview of the project. Established in July 1993, the company is located at 162 Moo 1 in the Thung Sukhla Subdistrict. It operates port facility services, including tugboat operations, firefighting systems, and marine oil spill response, catering to both Thai and international vessels. The company currently owns a fleet of 30 tugboats. Its existing pier was completed and became operational on January 31, 2024.
Following its operational success, Sriracha Tugboat Co., Ltd. plans to expand its pier services to accommodate general cargo handling, offering an alternative for other nearby port users and improving the efficiency of cargo loading and unloading. The proposed extension includes constructing an additional pier and a connecting bridge extending from the current pier’s endpoint. The project features a pier frontage of 287.50 meters and a total area of 9,884 square meters, encompassing the pier front, crane installation zones, office spaces, and safety facilities. The connecting bridge will measure 13 meters wide and 300 meters long, designed to support general cargo vessels exceeding 500 gross tons. These include sugar sacks, rice sacks, machinery, equipment parts, consumer goods, and other general cargo in containers. With a depth of 9.87 meters, the site is sufficiently deep, eliminating the need for dredging.
The project falls under activities requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as stipulated by the 2023 Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announcement. This regulation mandates an EIA for projects or operations that may affect the environment, outlining criteria, methods, and conditions for its preparation. The hearing aimed to present the draft EIA findings to the public, including community committees, village heads, fishing groups, and nearby government agencies, while collecting feedback and suggestions to refine the project moving forward.
