During the late 1980s, Thailand stood at the threshold of significant economic transition. As the country opened to international trade, there was a vital need for a modern deep-water port infrastructure. For DEME, this period coincided with a broader recovery across the global dredging sector following an extended downturn. And the contracts secured in Thailand would ultimately prove pivotal both to the nation’s maritime capacity and to DEME’s international expansion plans.

The centerpiece of this program was the construction of Laem Chabang, which was Thailand’s first deep-sea port. DEME dredged a 2.5-kilometer access channel to a depth of 14 meters, reclaiming substantial tracts of land, and contributing to extensive coastal infrastructure.

Therefore, what was once a modest fishing settlement rapidly developed into Thailand’s primary maritime gateway. Nowadays, Laem Chabang ranks as the leading port in Thailand. And DEME didn’t stop there. It also subsequently expanded the ports at Sattahip and Map Ta Phut, laying the groundwork for the region’s rapid industrialization and sustained growth.