Friday, June 19, 2009
Vietnam prepares for 'massive' port developments
Hanoi: Vietnam plans to deepen its ports to take larger container ships under the country's 33-port shipping master plan, writes Portworld.com. The Ministry of Transport will submit the Vietnam Seaport System Master Plan, with an outlook to 2030, to the Prime Minister this month.
The plan aims to develop Vietnam's ports to integrate them into the world system, according to Nguyen Manh Ung, general director of Portcoast, which prepared the Master Plan. Increasing demand for large containers poses a challenge for Vietnamese ports, and without increasing capacity Vietnam would fail to attract investment, he said, adding that the seaport system must have infrastructure improved by simultaneously developing connecting roads, and water and electric power systems.
Saigon port had last month started construction of a new port called the Saigon-Hiep Phuoc port, with a total investment of more than $337 million on 100 hectares of land.
In the north, Haiphong port would from 2020 to 2030 develop its deep water port system, primarily southeast of Cat Hai Island over an area of 825 hectares.
On the Chanh River in Quang Ninh Region, a port with capacity of up to 50,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt), ship-building factories and maritime service zones are also planned.
Most modern seaport in Vietnam would be located in the south on the Thi Vai River, according to Nguyen Ngoc Hue, deputy director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration. [18/06/09]
