Bangkok Port closure fuels $8m lawsuit

Bangkok: The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) and its union may have to shell out over $8m in compensation to companies affected by the closure of the Klong Toey Port in Bangkok last week due to a strike by union members in support of anti-government protests.

Although the port has resumed normal operations, The Bangkok Post had reported that the Exporters and Importers Association have launched a 300m baht ($8.6m) civil lawsuit for losses sustained during the work stoppage targeting the PAT labour union, with the PAT itself and the state agency's board of directors are the second and third defendants ''The decision was based on the actual damage caused to our business by the strike,'' the paper quoted Thongyu Khongkant, secretary of the Land Transport Federation of Thailand as saying. ''The figure is our extra expense for fuel for transporting cargoes from Bangkok to Laem Chabang.'' Shippers are estimated to have paid an additional 2,000 baht for each of the 4,000 containers that had to be moved 120 kilometres southeast from the port in Klong Toey to Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri. The PAT's legal affairs office is reported to be in negotiations with the parties involved in the lawsuit to resolve the situation. The PAT union may also face action by the Office of Consumer Protection Board as the Imports-Exports Transport Association has announced its intention to file a complaint for suspention of services without “appropriate reasons”.
Read More