"Chaiyachana" urges the government to increase budget allocation for dredging the Pattani Port channel to resolve the issue of large ships being unable to enter, highlighting that prolonged delays are causing economic losses in southern border fisheries sector.
On 6 Nov 2026 in Pattani province, Chaiyachana Dechdecho, party-list MP and deputy leader of the Democrat Party's southern faction, along with Sakdisit Khaothong, Songkhla MP from the Democrat Party, visited the Pattani Port area to meet with Anwar Salae, former Pattani MP from the Democrat Party. Chaiyachana stated that the main Pattani Port was constructed in 1994 with the purpose of serving as a cargo transport hub for both fishing and large commercial vessels. However, it currently cannot accommodate large cargo ships due to the problem of a shallow water channel, preventing vessels from docking as originally intended.
Chaiyachana explained that the Marine Department has allocated budgets for dredging the channel several times but has yet to fully resolve the problem. To dredge to a depth sufficient for large cargo ships, a budget of about 200-300 million baht is required, but only around 80 million baht has been allocated each time, which is insufficient to complete the dredging in one go.
"I urge the Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, as the government oversees the Ministry of Transport and Marine Department, to expedite budget allocation for dredging the Pattani Port channel so it can fully accommodate large vessels, both cargo and fishing boats. If necessary, consider using the central budget to urgently solve this problem, as it directly affects the economy and livelihoods of people in the area," Chaiyachana said.
The inability of large ships to use this port has caused Pattani province significant economic losses. For example, if cargo ships pass by but the port cannot accommodate them, local operators and the economy lose income opportunities. He called on the government, especially Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, who is directly responsible for the southern region, to promptly address the port issues and the hardships faced by fishermen. Allowing the problem to persist is equivalent to continuously destroying the economic opportunities of people in the area," Chaiyachana stated.