A probe into how seven natural gas vehicle (NGV) buses were damaged at Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri will be concluded "as soon as possible", Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) officials said yesterday.
They were found with broken back lights and windows during customs clearance on Saturday night.
According to acting PAT director-general Sub Lt Songtham Chantaprasit, CCTV footage was being reviewed to determine what happened to the buses. He said the buses were damaged at different times.
"It is difficult to confirm whether the damage to the buses was accidental or deliberate," he said.
"An initial examination by Laem Chabang officials has revealed the buses were not properly secured in their containers, meaning they could have been damaged in transit."
The seven vehicles are part of a 4.261-billion-baht procurement plan for 489 buses to be delivered to the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) this year.
The contract specifies 100 must be delivered by the end of March, with the rest to follow within 180 days.
The procurement deal was won in December by a joint venture comprising Scan Inter Plc (SCN) and Cho Thavee Plc (CHO), called CN-CHO.
The BMTA earlier scrapped a 3.3-billion-baht deal last April with Bestlin Group after customs accused the firm of trying to evade import taxes.
Around 50 buses have already arrived from China, according to CN-CHO sources.
The damaged buses were reportedly found when the consortium was preparing to release the first 10 buses.
Sub Lt Songtham said yesterday different parties were being held responsible for the damaged buses.
According to him, three buses were "already damaged" before they reached Pier C3 at Laem Chabang.
These buses had broken back windows so the owners of the ship which transported them will be held accountable, he said.
The back windows of two other buses were later found to have been broken at the port, Sub Lt Songtham said, adding the PAT will compensate the consortium for the damage.
The two remaining buses were found to have damaged back lights as they were being released from Laem Chabang.
The PAT, in a statement, said those responsible for transporting the buses will be held responsible.
CN-CHO chief Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai yesterday shrugged off the need for a further investigation, citing he "just wants the buses delivered on time".
"It's a small matter, and we will not press further charges against anyone, following the PAT's statement," Mr Suradech said yesterday.
"There has been damage to seven buses and the port has agreed to pay compensation for two."
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the PAT will have to improve cargo handling procedures to avoid other buses being damaged.
