The Marine Department sought public opinion in Phuket on Thursday regarding its cruise terminal development project.
It has hired four agencies -- Southeast Asia Technology, Aurora Technology and Engineering Consultant, C C W and PricewaterhouseCoopers ABAS -- to study the large cruise-ship terminal project on the resort island in order to launch a master plan and come up with the right design.
Opinions from government agencies and the private sector were sought at a public hearing event held at a hotel in Muang district earlier in the day.
Sombat Hesakul, assistant to the project manager, said the meeting was held to get feedback on the master plan as well as on a study of the economic, engineering, environmental and social conditions, the environmental impact assessment (EIA), and another study of how the government and private sector would co-invest in the project.
He said the project will provide more channels for trade, investment and tourism and will generate income for local communities.
Cruise terminals come in two types -- homeport and port of call.
In Thailand, there are six ports that could potentially serve as a suitable terminal.
In addition to the deep seaport in Phuket, they are: Ranong port, Hua Hin Poeng port, Chian Wanit port, the southern port in Krabi, and Tam Malang port in Satun.
According to the studies, Phuket is the most suitable choice and also convenient for a quayside and passenger building.
As the terminal will be 300 metres wide and also rank as a deep seaport, the project must also conduct an Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA).
The consulting companies will also study other areas including port construction, extension, the use of a jetty and water-course dredging.
Moreover, they will conduct an EIA, according to the marine infrastructure regulations of the Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning Office, and other laws.