Bangkok port is also quite expensive to use, as the shipper will have to pay a
staggering 161.8 USD per container. Terminal handling charges (THCs)
represents 42 percent of the charges that are incurred at Bangkok port. ``Tea
money’’ represents roughly 13 percent of the local charges. The Port Authority
of Thailand has tried to eradicate ``tea money’’ but was unsuccessful as workers
adopted a ``go-slow’’ attitude resulting in major delay and congestion in the port
area during early 1999. THC has also come under the scrutiny of the Thai
Ministry of Commerce but without much success as liner operators did not
accept the lowering of their THC charge. The shipping lines were arguing that
since the various authorities were not able to stop ``tea money’’, this cost will
need to be included in their THC.