The volume of cargo piling up at Hai Phong Port has soared in recentmonths, following the Ministry of Transport's efforts to regulatetruck-loading procedures, as of April 1.

Statistics released bythe Hai Phong Customs Department showed that some 8,000 containers werestuck at the northern port at the end of July compared with only 4,600units at the end of last year.

The heavy traffic of inbound andoutbound container cargo put pressure on the port, while enterprisesalso suffered losses, a representative from Hai Phong Port said.

Theloading and unloading of cargo at ports has slowed dramatically sincecontrol over loading procedures was tightened from April 1. Under thenew regulation, containers must be divided into smaller parts fortransport to avoid overloading.

There is also a shortage of vehicles that are capable of transporting a whole cargo container.

TheHai Phong People's Committee on July 30 established a group chargedwith tackling the stockpile of cargo containers at the port.

The large stockpile had also raised concern amongst other ports in the country.

Accordingto Le Tuan Anh, Deputy Director of Sai Gon New Port, as quoted by TinTuc newspaper, weighing stations should be placed at reasonableintervals to prevent traffic congestion during the inspection ofvehicular weights.

On the issue of out-of-gauge cargo, whichcurrently requires a special shipping licence, an expert noted thatthese products should not be considered in terms of overloading.

Headded that transparency should be ensured in the granting of licencesfor shipping out-of-gauge cargo to ease the burden on enterprises.-VNA