Economics of Barge Operation on Inland Waterways, Central Thailand.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to provide a framework within which the economic costs of the various modes of transport common in Thailand can be compared. The concepts and various methods of arriving at transport costs are first summarized; one of these methods for determining water transportation costs put forth by U.N. experts is then applied after a modification of some factors in order to reflect the real cost situation in Thailand. These computations are based on an empirical study of both the towboat and commerical barge industries in which the operating costs of the various components of each system are determined. After comparing the operating costs of water transport derived from this study with those obtained in other studies for land transport modes, it is concluded that barge transport is from five to seven times more economical than truck transport and about twice as economical as rail transport. This conclusion is based solely on the advantages derived from the suitability of the geographic situation and the operating costs of the waterway transport system itself. It does not derive from comparisons of development and maintenance costs involved in the various modes of transport nor does it include secondary and social benefits, although these secondary and indirect costs and advantages are discussed and some cost figures are computed. If figures for these costs and benefits were to be included, the economic advantages of waterway transport would be even more pronounced. (Author)