Sihanoukville Autonomous Port
Encyclopedia
Sihanoukville Autonomous Port or Port Autonome de Sihanoukville (PAS) is a government agency
and state corporation of Cambodia
and Sihanoukville
that operates and governs the country's sole deep water port. Located in Sihanoukville, in Bay of Kompong Som on the Gulf of Thailand
in the south of Cambodia. The port was founded in 1960 with the construction of the Old Jetty, which has four berth
s.
The port has continued to build, adding several more berths, a container terminal
, a tanker terminal
and an industrial effluent treatment plant
. Currently there are 9 berths available for medium ships with a maximum draft of 8.5 metres. The total berth length is 1330 metres and the tidal variation is 1.4metres. The decking for the original pier laid in 1958 consisted of 137 pre-stressed concrete beams, each 35 metres long and weighing around 90 tons. The beams were constructed on site and proved so difficult to manoeuvre that a small railway was constructed to transport the beams from the fabrication site.
PAS' board of directors
is appointed by a variety of government ministries. It employs over 1000 people. In 2003, PAS acquired the remaining 70% of the Cambodia CWT Dry Port near Phnom Penh
. In addition to the 30% share already held, this made the state-owned Sihanoukville Autonomous Port the sole proprietor of the dry port. The port was reported to have been sold for 3.037 billion Cambodian Riel
(USD $823,000) in cash.
was only able to handle ships of up to 3000 tons in the dry season and 4000 tons in the wet season. Kampot was Cambodia’s only ocean port and deep-water access was impossible due to the need to navigate the Tuk Chhou River to access the port. The French colonial administration preferred to use Saigon for international trade and thus Cambodia’s access to the ocean was via the Mekong
and necessitated passage through Vietnamese territory. Independence from France for both Vietnam and Cambodia in 1953 highlighted the need for Cambodia’s own deep-water port.
A number of sites were initially considered for the new facility including – Kampot, the small outpost at Ream and Sre Ambel
. However, the deep waters off a rocky promontory near Koh Pos in Kampong Som Bay were finally chosen as the site for Cambodia’s first ocean port.
Construction began in 1955 with $12 million in funding from the French government and was completed in late 1959. The port was inaugurated in April 1960 by Louis Jacquinot
, the French Minister of State
.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
and state corporation of Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville , also known as Kampong Saom, is a province in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. This port city is a growing Cambodian urban center, located southwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. The province is named after King Father Norodom Sihanouk and grew up around the...
that operates and governs the country's sole deep water port. Located in Sihanoukville, in Bay of Kompong Som on the Gulf of Thailand
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:...
in the south of Cambodia. The port was founded in 1960 with the construction of the Old Jetty, which has four berth
Berth (moorings)
A berth is a location in a port or harbour used specifically for mooring vessels while not at sea.-Locations in a port:Berth is the term used in ports and harbors to define a specific location where a vessel may be berthed, usually for the purposes of loading and unloading.Most berths will be...
s.
The port has continued to build, adding several more berths, a container terminal
Container terminal
A container terminal is a facility where cargo containers are transshipped between different transport vehicles, for onward transportation. The transshipment may be between container ships and land vehicles, for example trains or trucks, in which case the terminal is described as a maritime...
, a tanker terminal
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
and an industrial effluent treatment plant
Waste management
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal,managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics...
. Currently there are 9 berths available for medium ships with a maximum draft of 8.5 metres. The total berth length is 1330 metres and the tidal variation is 1.4metres. The decking for the original pier laid in 1958 consisted of 137 pre-stressed concrete beams, each 35 metres long and weighing around 90 tons. The beams were constructed on site and proved so difficult to manoeuvre that a small railway was constructed to transport the beams from the fabrication site.
PAS' board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
is appointed by a variety of government ministries. It employs over 1000 people. In 2003, PAS acquired the remaining 70% of the Cambodia CWT Dry Port near Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. In addition to the 30% share already held, this made the state-owned Sihanoukville Autonomous Port the sole proprietor of the dry port. The port was reported to have been sold for 3.037 billion Cambodian Riel
Cambodian riel
For earlier Cambodian currencies, see Cambodian tical and Cambodian franc.The riel is the currency of Cambodia. There have been two distinct riel, the first issued between 1953 and May 1975. Between 1975 and 1980, the country had no monetary system. A second currency, also named "riel", has been...
(USD $823,000) in cash.
History
During the period of the French Protectorate and earlier Cambodia had no deep water port to facilitate international trade. The small port on the river at Phnom PenhPhnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
was only able to handle ships of up to 3000 tons in the dry season and 4000 tons in the wet season. Kampot was Cambodia’s only ocean port and deep-water access was impossible due to the need to navigate the Tuk Chhou River to access the port. The French colonial administration preferred to use Saigon for international trade and thus Cambodia’s access to the ocean was via the Mekong
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
and necessitated passage through Vietnamese territory. Independence from France for both Vietnam and Cambodia in 1953 highlighted the need for Cambodia’s own deep-water port.
A number of sites were initially considered for the new facility including – Kampot, the small outpost at Ream and Sre Ambel
Sre Ambel
Sre Ambel is a town in Koh Kong Province in south-western Cambodia. It is located along National Highway 4 and is 138 kilometres from Koh Kong ....
. However, the deep waters off a rocky promontory near Koh Pos in Kampong Som Bay were finally chosen as the site for Cambodia’s first ocean port.
Construction began in 1955 with $12 million in funding from the French government and was completed in late 1959. The port was inaugurated in April 1960 by Louis Jacquinot
Louis Jacquinot
Louis Jacquinot was a French lawyer and politician, and chief of Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré's office.Jacquinot was born in Gondrecourt-le-Château in 1898. Entering parliament in 1932, he later served for a short time as under-secretary of state for home affairs in Paul Reynaud's cabinet...
, the French Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
.
See also
- Government of Cambodia
- Transport in CambodiaTransport in CambodiaWar and continuing fighting severely damaged Cambodia's transportation system — a system that had been inadequately developed in peacetime. The country's weak infrastructure hindered emergency relief efforts and created tremendous problems of procurement of supplies in general and of...
- Port authorityPort authorityIn Canada and the United States a port authority is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure.Port authorities are usually governed by boards or...
- Port operatorPort operatorA port operator is port authority or company that contracts with the port authority to move cargo through a port at a contracted minimum level of productivity...