BANGKOK, Aug 5 (TNA) — The Marine Department plans to start electric passenger boat service late this year and hopes it will help ensure low fares for commuters.
Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate spoke of the project on the occasion of the 161st anniversary of the Marine Department.
According to him, the department will start electric boat service in the Chao Phraya river through Energy Absolute Co that will deploy its air-conditioned MINE Smart Ferry boats, each of which can carry up to 200 passengers.
One of the boats was completed. The company planned to build 15 boats within this year and 12 more within next March. The total of 28 electric boats will be operated in the Chao Phraya river. The service will begin within December.
Mr Atirat said that electric boats would help reduce air pollution and guarantee low fares.
Marine Department director-general Withaya Yamoung said the department also planned to launch electric passenger boats in Phuket, Krabi and Phangnga provinces late this year. The service would begin with 30 boats and the department planned to deploy about 200 electric boats in the tourist provinces.
He said that electric passenger boats were made from aluminum and were lighter than conventional wooden passenger boats. Operators could cut their costs by up to 40% by turning to lighter boats that would consume electricity instead of oil. That was why the new boats would result in low fares, he said. (TNA)
