REPORT EXAMPLE (QUIZ II, SET B)

MEMO REPORT
To: Governor of Satun Province
From: Napat Beams, Analyst
Subject: February 19, 2007
Subject: The Pak Bara deep-sea port project

With your authorization, I have analyzed the plans to develop the Pak Bara
deep-sea port to be built on the south Andaman coast. Although the port will benefit
Thailand economically as a main outlet for exports to India, the Middle East and
Europe, coastal fishermen and environmentalists are against its development which is
now in its early stages. The analysis is followed by recommendations based on the
data collected from my interviews with several residents in the areas,
environmentalists and some engineers responsible for the port development.

Findings and Analysis

The following analysis indicates the advantages and disadvantages of this

project that will particularly benefit Southeast Asian nations and China:

Its advantages are many. The port will become Thailand’s main outlet for
exports to India, the Middle East, and Europe, bypassing ports in Singapore and
Malaysia. It will have 50,000 tons cargo capacity, container storage yards and a
separate pier to serve tourist boats to islands in the nearby marine parks. Shipping
goods from the port will be US$214 cheaper per container, and will shorten the
traveling time of cargo ships by five days. It will even more important than Laem
Chabang, the country’s largest port. The port will also perfect fit with China’s export
strategy. The port will also attract investors to invest in Satun.

Despites these advantages, the project has one major disadvantage. As it is

going to be in the Patra National Marine Park that has a chain of islands with waters
that are rich in marine resources that local fishermen depend on for their livelihoods,
the fishermen fear the marine ecosystem will be destroyed and the shrimp and other
local marine resources will disappear. Most of the district’s fishing vessels catch fish
and shrimp just off the coastline. Another potential disadvantage is that a bridge that
will stretch from the shore to the deep-water area of the port will obstruct the fishing
boats’ routes, forcing fishermen to navigate around the bridge to get from one side of
the bay to the other. This will double their fuel costs. Fish firms along the mangrove
forests across the district will be polluted with wastewater and air pollution created by
the industrial activities around the port.
 Recommendations
I would like to recommend the following actions based on this analysis which
are to be implemented by the Transport Ministry so that the disadvantages will be
minimal:

1. There should be more thorough feasibility study before going ahead with
its later stages to make sure the project does not have the potential impact
on the environment.
2. The fishermen should be informed of the benefits they will have from this
project and how the project will be carried out without affecting them.
3. A railway line between the port and Trang or Hat Yai should be built for a
better transport.
4. Wastewater and air pollution control machines should be used to control
all pollution around the port.
5. Fishermen who will be affected by the project should be sufficiently
compensated.

Conclusion
Your thorough implementation of these recommendations will
certainly help the project go ahead successfully without affecting the people in
the area and the environment. Those who are against the project will
understand its benefits and safety. Thailand will have the largest port that will
serve all countries in the Mekong region and boost its trade ties with all the
countries involved. There will be more investors attracted by the port
investing in Satun which will also benefit economically.

(601 words)