Steamship : The Beginning of a New Age

It was toward the end of King Rama III's reign that junk trade began to lose out to western-styled steamship, an innovation of a new age that proved to enhance international cargo and passenger transports as well as helped lessen the traveling time. Steamships also signified an entry into the age where western power was making its presence felt globally. During the peak period of steamship, Thailand opted to mainly trade with the west, producing as well as exporting rice, teak and tin to world market. Through it, the country was able to generate an influx of revenue never before experinced in its history. However, despite the fact that Sine-Thai trade was getting less prominent, the number of Chinese immigrants arriving by steamship with the hope of finding jobs in Thailand multiplied, while new employment channels opened up, e.g. at rice mills, saw-mills and mines.
Chao Phraya Steamship, Thailand's first commercial steamship liner that started operating during King Rama IV's reign to provide service on the route Bangkok-Singapore.