The Chino - Steam Navigation company Limited

The bank of Chao Phraya River near Songwat Road in the past

Five dialect groups of Chinese businessmen launched the first joint - venture business in 1908 through the establishment of the Sino - Siam steam navigation company limited to carry cargo as well as passengers on the route Bangkok - Hong Kong - Swataw - Haikow. Their service directly posed a thread to the rival German - owned company called Norddedscher Lloyd which had secured monopoly on the route Bangkok - Swatow at that time. Their Bussiness relied on the patronage of potential customers who had been earnestly persuaded to avail of the ship liner's service by chinese traders, owners of pawnshops, owners of shops offering postal service to send letter and money to China, operators of rickshaw service, among others. However, with the capital - intensive German company's strategy of fare undercut from 20-25 Baht to merely 5 Baht, the Sino - Siam steam Navigation company limited could not compete and, with the business in the red, they finally closed down in 1912

The pier of Chino-Siam Navigation Company Limited (Photographed Later)