"The council supports the port's plan to expand its capacity as this will save on operating costs, compared to shipments to Laem Chabang Port," chairman Suchat Chantranakrat said yesterday. The port in Klong Toei is located near the central business district and the final destinations of shipments, he said.

To accommodate more cargo traffic, Bangkok Port also needs to improve its efficiency in serving shippers, he said.

The council's support follows the port's desire to increase the capacity limit to 1.5 million TEUs.

The port plans to spend Bt400 million this fiscal year to procure more cranes, which will increase its container handling capacity to match Laem Chabang Port on the Chon Buri coast.

The port will also turn some of its vacant land - which in the Thaksin Shinawatra era was earmarked to be developed into a shopping complex - into a container depot.

Through these projects, Bangkok Port could handle the equivalent of 1.5 million TEUs each year. The investment plan is waiting for Transport Ministry approval.

Limits have been placed on Bangkok Port's capacity since more activities at the port would mean more trucks coming in and out, which could worsen road traffic and air pollution.

Suchat said the council was also concerned about the lack of a national logistics strategy. Today, its members will join with exporters at the Commerce Ministry to sound out their opinions. The views will then be repackaged and submitted to the government on February 7, when Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont meets with the private sector.

"There, we will raise many issues with the government. One of them will be about the logistics strategy," he said.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation