The Fisheries Department of Thailand, seeing the possibilities of the material
in a country where wood was increasing quite rapidly in price, provided the meane to
build a small vessel at the Rayong Marine Fisheries Station on the eastern coast of
the Gulf of Thailand. Cost of materials was to be provided from the budget and the
labour from the staff of the fisheries station. Initial cost estimates indicated that
the maximum size of vessel which could be built in the station within the limits of the
budget was a vessel of 16 m (52'6") LOA.