Bangkok: The Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Federation of Thailand have initiated steps to address the traffic congestion at Laem Chabang Port. Mr. Sarawut Nuengjamnong, Secretary to the Minister of Transport, convened a meeting with the Land Transport Federation of Thailand, attended by key figures like Mr. Kriangkrai Chaisiriwongsuk, Director of the Port Authority of Thailand, and Dr. Thongyu Kongkhan, President of the Federation, to discuss tangible solutions to these issues.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sarawut highlighted that the severe traffic congestion at Laem Chabang Port significantly impacts the transportation sector and logistics system, notably affecting trucks involved in container delivery and pickup. These trucks face delays averaging 10-20 hours per trip, leading to increased and unnecessary costs for operators. Furthermore, many drivers exceed legally permissible working hours, posing health and safety risks. This situation necessitates urgent, systematic solutions to mitigate immediate challenges and establish a framework for long-term management. The following concrete solutions have been proposed:
1.) Area organization and traffic management: Designate 70 and 22 rai of parking for trucks awaiting pier access to prevent overflow onto public roads and install 12 mobile toilets for driver convenience.
2.) Coordinate with the Customs Department for temporary external storage of inbound containers to alleviate port congestion and ensure round-the-clock security personnel deployment.
3.) Implement a comprehensive Truck Queue system to prioritize truck movement, manage queues fairly, and reduce entry congestion. This includes preparing external areas for queuing trucks, developing a mobile application for real-time monitoring, and enhancing surveillance with CCTV systems.
4.) Develop a centralized database linkage system among ports, shipping lines, transport operators, and users to streamline goods and container clearance processes.
5.) Medium and long-term strategies involve promoting advance booking through online systems to regulate vehicle volume, studying infrastructure development like railway bridges or tunnels, and advancing the Smart Port system to improve resource and traffic management through automation.
Mr. Sarawut emphasized the Ministry of Transport’s commitment, alongside related agencies, to collaborate with various sectors in driving these medium and long-term measures. The overarching goal is to restore confidence in Thailand’s logistics system and mitigate the adverse impacts on entrepreneurs and truck drivers in the region promptly.