Vietnam in major port expansion drive
Vietnamese ports are expected to handle some 200 million tonnes of cargo by 2010 and about 400 million tonnes by 2020, says deputy director of Vietnam Maritime Administration (Vinamarine).
Speaking at the Vietnam Business Forum on Tuesday, Nguyen Ngoc Hue said that it is likely that Vietnamese ports could handle “even more”.
Current statistics are encouraging as the country's handling capacity has risen some 16 million tonnes to 170 million tonnes of cargo from 154 million tonnes in 2006.
“One of our main disadvantages is that we have only a few ports that can receive ships of 50,000 tonnes or more. We need to be able to handle ships of 80,000 tonnes,” Nguyen said.
A government plan to boost the country's port developments has seen more than 10 foreign companies investing in Vietnamese port projects since January 2006.
One of these projects is the construction of Cai Mep-Thi Vai port, a joint venture between Saigon Port Co and three leading international companies – SSA Marine of the US, PSA International Pte. Ltd. of Singapore and A.P Moller - Maersk A/S of Denmark.
The project, which is expected to handle ships of 80,000 tonnes or more, is estimated to cost about $1.5 billion with the Vietnamese government and the foreign investors contributing around $400 million each.
Other projects include the construction of Soai Rap River - a joint venture between a partner in the UK and a HCM City-based enterprise - estimated to cost about $400 million, and the development of Vietnam International Container Terminal (VICT), a joint venture between a Singaporean partner and the Vietnamese Southern River Transportation Co.
Funds for port construction had previously come mainly from state budget and official development assistance.
Nguyen said Vietnam's Ministry of Transport is currently renewing port-development plans covering the period up to 2020, and tentatively up to 2030, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.
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| Vietnamese port's handling capacity has risen over the past year |
Current statistics are encouraging as the country's handling capacity has risen some 16 million tonnes to 170 million tonnes of cargo from 154 million tonnes in 2006.
“One of our main disadvantages is that we have only a few ports that can receive ships of 50,000 tonnes or more. We need to be able to handle ships of 80,000 tonnes,” Nguyen said.
A government plan to boost the country's port developments has seen more than 10 foreign companies investing in Vietnamese port projects since January 2006.
One of these projects is the construction of Cai Mep-Thi Vai port, a joint venture between Saigon Port Co and three leading international companies – SSA Marine of the US, PSA International Pte. Ltd. of Singapore and A.P Moller - Maersk A/S of Denmark.
The project, which is expected to handle ships of 80,000 tonnes or more, is estimated to cost about $1.5 billion with the Vietnamese government and the foreign investors contributing around $400 million each.
Other projects include the construction of Soai Rap River - a joint venture between a partner in the UK and a HCM City-based enterprise - estimated to cost about $400 million, and the development of Vietnam International Container Terminal (VICT), a joint venture between a Singaporean partner and the Vietnamese Southern River Transportation Co.
Funds for port construction had previously come mainly from state budget and official development assistance.
Nguyen said Vietnam's Ministry of Transport is currently renewing port-development plans covering the period up to 2020, and tentatively up to 2030, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.
Siti Adawiah | Fri Dec 7 05:40 GMT 2007