Navy Keeps Sattahip Submarine Dock Project on Track

The Royal Thai Navy has insisted that construction of its submarine maintenance dock at Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri remains on schedule, despite reports of a payment dispute involving private contractors connected to the project.

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Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyaphan said the submarine maintenance dock project, awarded to China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) with a budget of more than 900 million baht, is progressing as planned. He said the project has reached a stage where the navy has proposed revisions to certain contract details to the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence.

According to Rear Admiral Parach, the proposed changes include reducing some portions of the work and adjusting the contract value to better reflect current operational requirements and circumstances. The navy expects that once the revisions are approved, the contractor will be able to complete and deliver the project within the required timeframe.

The project forms part of preparations for the navy’s planned S26T Yuan-class submarine operations. The maintenance dock and associated support facilities are being developed at Laem Thian Port within Sattahip naval base, Chon Buri.

Separately, a navy source said phase one of the submarine pier project, also undertaken by CSOC, has already been completed and delivered. However, phase two, which was contracted to Port and Marine Co for implementation between 2022 and 2026, was terminated after the company encountered liquidity problems.

The source said construction of phase two had reached approximately 50 per cent completion before the contract was cancelled. As a result, the navy has begun the process of selecting a new contractor to continue the remaining work.

The development follows reports highlighting contractor-related financial issues linked to parts of the wider submarine infrastructure programme. The navy maintains that these issues have not affected the overall progress of the maintenance dock project.

The Bangkokpost reported that approval of the proposed contract revisions will be a key step in keeping the project on schedule. The navy expects the facility to be completed in time to support the planned delivery of the submarine in 2029.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Bangkokpost 31 May 2026