Khlong Toei District
After the Siamese revolution in 1932, instead of transferring cargo from ship to ship moored in the harbour bays of Ko Sichang and Bangkok, the government wanted to build a port. In 1934 they contacted the League of Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to advise on the construction of a modern harbour. There were two proposals for the location, the Khlong Toei District and Samut Prakan. Decision was made for the Khlong Toei District. A royal decree expropriated land for the construction of a port in Bangkok on 6 August 1935. Initially, this included almost all of the Yan Nawa District and was part of Bang Kho Laem District. Construction of the port and dredging of the Chao Phraya River started in 1938. Construction was interrupted due to World War II in 1940. At the end of the war, in 1945 the pier was only 1,500 m (4,920 ft) long and work on the construction of the port resumed with a loan from the World Bank. The first phase of the port was completed in 1947 and opened for the first time. Expanding of the port started, with also dredging of the navigator channels from the mouth of the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan Province to the Bangkok Port, a total distance of 66 km (41 mi).