Thai National Shippers' Council

Background

The Thai National Shippers Council (TNSC) was established on Feb 5, 1994 by a legislative act, the Shippers’ Council Act, B. E. 2537, On June 4, the Council, a statutory board under the Ministry of Commerce, elected its first Board of Directors, and on August 31, the board held its first annual general meeting to approve the proposed Council’s rules and regulations. The TNSC officially commenced operation in September.

Before its formation, Thai shipper interest was represented by the Shippers’ Committee under the aegis of the Board of Trade of Thailand.

TNSC’s Vision

Leading Institute in Enhancing Competitiveness and Competency of Entrepreneurs through Logistics and Supply Chain.

TNSC’s Missions

• To provide information services on international logistics and global supply chain.
• To provide consultation and recommendations to exporters to help solve import and export problems.
• To manage and/ or organize training and human resources development on international logistics and global supply chain.
• To offer constructive views to the agencies concerned both in public and private sectors for the development and promotion of the international logistics and global supply chain.
• To take active roles in mapping out the national development plan on international logistics and global supply chain.

The 3 main functions of the TNSC are:

1. Centre for enhancing competency of exporters in the field of international logistics and global supply chain.
2. Problem – Shooting Centre for members and general exporters.
3. Data Warehouse on export economics and international logistics and global supply chain.

Services/Activities

According to the Council’s objectives as prescribed in Article 6 of the Act, TNSC’s roles and activities are:

• to promote and protect the interests of shippers;
• to cooperate with the public and private sectors in matters pertaining to ocean shipments;
• to represent the shippers in consultation, negotiation and in making agreement with ocean carriers, on matters pertaining to freight charges, surcharges, expenses and terms and conditions in ocean transportation;
• to promote efficiency and sufficiency in ocean transportation;
• to procure, preserve and disseminate data and information pertaining to ocean shipment;
• to conduct studies and research, and offer advice in solving problems on ocean shipment;
• to provide consultation and recommendation to the government for the development of ocean shipment; and
• to co-ordinate and co-operate with other foreign shipper organisations.
• Among these, the most important is to represent shippers in consultation, negotiation or in making agreements with ocean carriers, and thereby ensure that shippers are not being taken advantage of by carriers which collude as shipping conferences or rate agreement cartels to unilaterally increase freight rates and impose surcharges.

TNSC is also authorised to represent its members in consultation or negotiation with the public or private bodies on any matter relating to ocean shipment that affects the competitiveness of Thai exports.

Advancing shipper interest through co-operation

TNSC collaborates with public and private sector organisations within and beyond Thailand to advance shipper interest. In Thailand, it works with the Port Authority of Thailand, which has authority over the Bangkok Port and Laem Chabang Port, the Express Transportation Organization, the Harbour Department and the Customs Department, as well as private ports and terminals, inland container depots and containers freight stations.

Abroad, it works with its counterparts to achieve a better deal with shipping lines and shipping conferences or rate agreements. As Thailand is an ASEAN member country, the TNSC has maintained close relation with the Federation of ASEAN Shippers’ Councils (FASC). Being a founder member in the FASC, the Council has endeavoured to foster and develop mutual co-operation with other shipper councils in the region.

As shippers and shipowners are in complementary businesses, the TNSC has exchanged views on ocean shipment and maritime transportation with the Bangkok Shipowners and Agents Association and the Thai Shipowners Association. Such amicable meetings have generated better appreciation of each other’s problems.

Close contact with government

The TNSC has fostered close ties with various government authorities that oversee the development of Thailand’s export and maritime transport. It keeps the authority abreast of any difficulty it may face with foreign shipping lines, which transport over 90 per cent of Thailand’s seaborne trade. It has filed reports with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, as well as proposed suggestions on possible legal measures to protect shippers from various unfair shipping practices.

Information dissemination

The Council keeps members informed of developments on a regular basis via fax-modem. The information includes news, both domestic and international, that it gleaned from business newspapers, fax-news, journals and magazines which may have a bearing on the Thai export trade.