The Port Authority is prepared to deal with the high Chao Phraya River level, issuing an announcement to control the speed of boats, tugboats, dredging the waterway, collecting water hyacinths, and increasing the efficiency of boating, making it convenient and safe.
Mr. Phuriphat Thirakulpisut, Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department for Safety, revealed that the Marine Department is currently preparing to cope with and monitoring the water levels in the Chao Phraya River, which may affect shipping. The Department will primarily oversee shipping in the river. During flood season or high tide, the Marine Department has issued an announcement regarding tugboats, which must be towed at an appropriate speed. At the same time, there must be a towboat (a tugboat) at all times. A normal tugboat is approximately 200 meters long. The towing boat must be skilled and must operate in accordance with the measures set by the Marine Department to ensure safety. As for the Chao Phraya Express Boat and electric boa
ts in the Chao Phraya River, speed is strictly enforced. Normally, the speed limit on the Chao Phraya River is no more than 30 kilometers per hour. At present, I would like to commend the passenger boat operators for their excellent cooperation, allowing the Marine Department to effectively manage water travel.
Mr. Phuriphat continued that in addition, the dredging of the waterway has been expedited to help make water drainage and shipping easier and more convenient. The elimination of water hyacinth is also an important issue that the Marine Department must take responsibility for. The area of ??responsibility is divided between the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning and the local government. The Marine Department is responsible for the Chao Phraya River, the Pa Sak River, the Noi River, the Lop Buri River, the Sakae Krang River, and the old Tha Chin River. If the water hyacinth is removed, it will reduce the number of obstacles to navigation and make navigation safer.
In the case o
f flooding in many areas and the direction of the water may change, the dredging plan must be adjusted to reduce the risk in the operation. The Marine Department has dredged the canal to open the waterway, allowing for boat navigation and drainage that is appropriate and sufficient for the increasing amount of water.
Mr. Phuriphat added that he would like to ask for the cooperation of the public to take responsibility for society and not construct things that encroach on the waterway or block the waterway for the benefit of the public. In addition, trees will be a part that will slow down the flow of water and make the water flow slower. Therefore, the Marine Department must consider all elements and everyone must cooperate to campaign to create awareness and a sense of responsibility in society together. It also helps to improve the quality of life of the public, in accordance with the ‘Smiling Chariot’ policy of Mrs. Manoporn Charoensri, Deputy Minister of Transport, who wants to expand the results to the
practical sector in a tangible way. It is a transfer of the policies of the government and the Ministry of Transport into practice, helping to improve the water transportation sector of the country to be convenient, economical, safe, environmentally friendly, and cover all the needs of the public, as the saying goes, ‘Water transportation for the well-being of the people.’
Source: Thai News Agency
