Eastern Maritime started as a shipping agency since its establishment in September 1971 at a small shophouse in Siphya Road, Bangrak District, Bangkok when Y.C. Chang, a founder and a Chairman of Singapore base Pacific International Lines (PIL), established a join venture with local Thai partners. The Company then had seven staff members and a capital of one million Baht. In those early years, business was restricted to shipping agency providing husbandry service for coastal break-bulk conventional vessels at Klong Toey port only.