Quy Nhon Port in Binh Dinh, one of the country’s major general ports. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The construction of aseries of seaports in the south-central region is expected to drive itsmaritime economic development, according to local government leaders.
Luu Xuan Vinh, Chairman of the Ninh Thuan provincial People'sCommittee, said the 1.463 trillion VND (63.1 million USD), 108ha Ca Na Sea PortComplex, whose construction began last month in Thuan Nam district, would playan important role for the locality and region, fostering economic developmentand attracting investment.
In phase 1, it was designed to handle 3.3 million tonnesof cargo a year. It would have two wharves capableof berthing ships of up to 70,000-100,000 DWT and another with20,000DWT capacity.
One of the two former wharves would be completed by the endof 2022 and the other in October 2025.
The smaller wharf was scheduled to be completed in August2026.
"The port will help merchandise exports, contribute toattracting investment and serve the needs of production and processing projectsin industrial parks and industrial clusters in Ninh Thuan province and thesouth-central and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) regions,” Vinh said.
“It will play an important role in supporting thetransport of equipment for renewable energy projects such as wind and solarpower projects in the province.”
Neighbouring Binh Thuan province plans to build the Son Myinternational port in the commune of the same name in Ham Tan district.
It will have a specialised wharf for liquefied naturalgas (LNG) that can handle ships of up to 100,000DWT, an internationalpassenger wharf that can berth ships of up to 225,000 GRT and a general berthcapable of handling ships of up to 50,000 DWT.
Binh Thuan province also plans to build a specialised LNGport with a capacity of up to 170,000 DWT in Tan Thanh commune, Ham Thuan Nam district,to serve the gas-fired power plant in Mui Ke Ga.
Among the south-central provinces, Khanh Hoa has the largestnumber of ports: 16.
Hoang Dinh Phi, head of the management board of theprovince’s Van Phong Economic Zone, said Nam Van Phong Port in Ninh Hoa townopened recently to serve the south-central and Central Highlands regions.
It can dock ships of up to 70,000DWT now and 100,000DWT inthe near future.
Meanwhile, Bac Van Phong Port is under construction in DamMon, Van Ninh district. One wharf that can handle ships of to 50,000 DWT hasbeen completed.
Mai Dinh Vu, Chairman of Van Phong Port Company Limited, saidthough the port had yet to be completed, it had already received manyforeign ships. With a rising number of cargo vessels of 50,000-70,000DWTregistering to enter the port his company was seeking toincrease the capacity of the remaining two wharves to improve the port’sefficiency.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the south-centralregion will have five key ports.
Quy Nhon Port in Binh Dinh province is a major national portwith 18-20 million tonnes of goods passing through it annually. Vung Ro Port inPhu Yen handles 5.8 - 6.3 million tonnes a year. Ninh Thuan Port has a cargothroughput of 15.8 -17.5 million tonnes.
Khanh Hoa Port handles 15.9 - 18.6 million tonnes of goods ayear./.
VNA
