The Ministry of Transport of Thailand has released a route map for its national shipping line. The route is part of the country's plan to connect the Southern Economic Corridor with a land bridge linking Chumphon on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand to Ranong on the Andaman Sea, which will serve as a transit port connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

According to Thailand Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, a feasibility study has suggested that domestic and international shipping lines are needed to connect transport in the Gulf of Thailand. An international shipping line and an eastern line could cover regional shipping to the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the People's Republic of China, he said.

A western line to provide freight service for Bay of Bengal Initiative Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries is set to be completed in the second quarter of 2022. BIMSTEC countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

• Ministry unveils shipping routes along east corridor