Saigon Port - More than 160 years of formation and development - Vietnam National Shipping Lines Corporation - VIMC

From Saigon Port to Saigon Port Joint Stock Company.

In early 1860, after occupying Saigon, the French colonialists announced that Saigon port was reopened to foreign ships importing and exporting goods. By the end of the year, they welcomed a number of Chinese capitalists from Singapore to take on the contract to build a wharf on the Saigon River to export rice. From 1863 - after the Nham Tuat Treaty signed on June 5, 1862 in Saigon (King Tu Duc received the official signature on April 16, 1863 in Hue) between the Nguyen Dynasty and the French State (Napoleon III) and Spain (Isabella II) - Saigon Port officially became a commercial port under French rule, the largest in Indochina and the 7th largest port in France in terms of traffic volume. With the establishment of Saigon Port, the French colonialists turned Saigon into the center of an “Asian Mediterranean”, strategically located on the shipping routes connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Indian Ocean.

Saigon Port in 1868, view from Nha Rong Wharf (District 4) towards Bach Dang Wharf (District 1) – Source: Internet.

After the reunification of the country on April 30, 1975, Saigon Commercial Port was renamed Saigon Port according to Decision No. 28/TC of the General Department of Seaways (July 23, 1975). On May 12, 1993 , the Ministry of Transport , based on Decree 388/HDBT of the Council of Ministers, issued Decision No. 886/QD-TCCB-LD to establish Saigon Port State Enterprise, with the international transaction name SAIGON PORT, under the Vietnam Maritime Administration. From January 1, 1996, Saigon Port was under the Vietnam National Shipping Lines and on August 30, 2007, it was converted into a one-member LLC. From October 1, 2015, it was Saigon Port Joint Stock Company.

Restore production, overcome difficulties, boldly innovate and heroes emerge.

In the early days after unification, our country faced many economic difficulties. Saigon Port, like all other enterprises, had to operate under a centralized subsidy mechanism. The country was under embargo, and some of the port's facilities were in a state of disrepair. Most of the means and technical equipment were privately owned. However, the staff still tried their best to develop the port in its true sense to serve the security, defense, national construction and development of economic sectors of the socialist regime.

Huong River Cruise – Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper.

On May 13, 1975, the Song Huong ship with a capacity of 10,000 tons docked at Saigon Port carrying 541 Southern cadres back to their homeland. Following that was the Dong Nai ship from Hai Phong Port carrying hundreds of cadres and thousands of tons of goods to support the South. On June 7, 1976, the Port welcomed the 20,000-ton International ship from the Soviet Union carrying aid goods for our country to overcome the wounds of war and stabilize the socio-economic life of the newly unified country. Tens of thousands of ships entered and exited the Port, of which the largest ship was 30,000 tons, 200 meters long, safely docked at the wharf. During this period, the Port served well the campaigns to transport rice to the North, cement, and steel from the North to the South to serve the circulation of goods between the two regions. After that, Saigon Port received the Saigon and Cuu Long pilotage department and directly led the ship transportation.

Since 1977, the loading and unloading teams have been merged back to the port. From now on, the port has operated comprehensively according to its assigned functions and tasks, constantly improving the quality of loading and unloading and receiving goods, effectively serving the construction and economic development of the southern provinces and the whole country. The throughput in 1976 was 1.1 million tons (the throughput in 1974 was 1.35 million tons).

The activities of Saigon Port gradually became more organized, in accordance with the policies and plans of the Party and the State. In response to the feelings and aspirations of the employees, with respect and pride in living and working on the historical land - where Uncle Ho left to find a way to save the country on the ship - the 2nd Congress of Saigon Port Party Committee in 1980 passed a resolution to make June 5th every year "Traditional Day of Saigon Port Workers". Since then, this event has become a great source of spiritual motivation, adding strength to the employees to persevere in overcoming all difficulties, bringing the enterprise to modernity.

Perspective of the model ship Amiral Latouche Tréville and the historic Nha Rong Wharf – Source: Saigon Port.

Many advanced examples have appeared, the most typical of which is the "Knight at Sea" - Ship CSG-240. From 1980 to 1984 alone, the ship's crew promoted and applied 25 valuable initiatives, benefiting the public fund by more than half a million VND. After 15,000 hours of operation, the ship has never had to undergo a major overhaul, even though it was over 40 years old at that time. Ship CSG-240 has participated in many important towing, sea towing, and rescue activities, bringing in hundreds of millions of VND in revenue in the mid-80s. In 5 years, the fleet has been recognized as a socialist labor force, awarded many certificates of merit, certificates of merit, and excellent emulation flags by the Government Council, the Ministry of Transport, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs of the Soviet Union, the Ministry of Communications and Posts of Cambodia, etc.

By 1985, the CSG-240 Ship Collective was recognized by the State Council as a Labor Hero unit.

Also at this time, the “hero on the water” – Hero of Labor, Chief Pilot Ton Tho Khuong – was known to friends and teammates in the maritime industry nationwide for his immortal, unprecedented feats such as bringing a fifty thousand-ton ship into Nha Be River; bringing the Fuchik ship, a modern means of sea transport from Vung Tau to Thieng Lieng and then to Nha Be; bringing a new generation of Soviet Roro ships with great length and difficult to maneuver to safely dock at Tan Thuan port. At that time, with his talent and creative working spirit, Chief Pilot Ton Tho Khuong and his students soon signaled to the world that Saigon Port had enough capacity and international level to organize the pick-up and drop-off of goods for foreign ships.

Throughput in 1986 exceeded the 2 million ton mark for the first time and reached 2.3 million tons, double that of 1976.

Labor Hero: Saigon Port, Pilot Ton Tho Khuong and Ship CSG-240 – Source: Saigon Port.

Since 1986, following the Party's policy of innovation, Saigon Port has gradually shifted to a socialist business accounting regime. In this spirit, the Port has eliminated a series of intermediate management forms and established member enterprises, giving initiative to each enterprise director. Departments have also been streamlined, ensuring effective management and operation. In the period of 1989-1991, the superiors allowed self-financing, the Port boldly applied new forms of operation, innovated production and business mechanisms, paid salaries according to labor costs in the form of contracts, etc. As a result, Saigon Port has completed its assigned tasks, ensured its budget obligations, made profitable business, gradually improved the lives of employees, accumulated capital, and developed the business scale to become increasingly larger. Since 1992, newly accumulated capital and loans from various sources have been invested in upgrading and modernizing the wharf, piers and technical equipment. In addition, the Port has trained and retrained its staff to adapt to new technological processes, gradually modernizing and promptly meeting production and business requirements. By 1996, the throughput through Saigon Port had an impressive increase, reaching 7.3 million tons, more than 3 times higher after ten years of continuous management innovation, technical and technological improvements, and increased production and business efficiency.

Proud to be a worker at Saigon Port - where Uncle Ho left to find a way to save the country on June 5, 1911 - Saigon Port always strives to excellently complete its tasks and was awarded the title of Labor Hero by the President in 1996.

Modernization, international integration.

With investment from the State and international sponsorship, an investment project to upgrade and modernize most of the infrastructure and advanced cargo handling facilities for the two affiliated ports, Nha Rong and Khanh Hoi, with a total capital of 40 million USD, was implemented from 1997 and ended in early 2000.

At the same time, Saigon Port also used more than 300 billion VND from self-funded capital and budget capital to complete the construction of the production control center building, 400 meters of container wharf, Tan Thuan 2 bulk cargo port and general port in Can Tho. With the largest investment projects up to that time, Saigon Port's loading and unloading capacity was increased to 16 million tons/year. From 2001 onwards, the Port has exploited about 11 million tons of cargo each year. In particular, in 2009, Saigon Port's throughput set a record of 14 million tons of cargo.

Nha Rong – Khanh Hoi area is bustling with ships and goods – Source: Saigon Port.

Currently, Saigon Port still plays the role of a leading general commercial port in the Vietnamese seaport system with more than three thousand meters of wharf located along the Saigon River and a fairly complete warehouse and equipment system according to advanced technology processes in the port exploitation industry, and has been granted ISO 9001:2000 certificate by BVQI (Bureau Veritas Quality International - now Bureau Veritas Certification) in 2004 for container exploitation and service provision. This is the only port in our country that can receive and handle cargo at the same time for more than 30 ships. The human resources team inheriting the rich tradition and experience from many generations of predecessors today are even stronger due to being trained and nurtured by the formal, modern educational environment that is on the rise in the country and especially participating in training courses of the most prestigious agencies and organizations in the global maritime field such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and countries with developed maritime industries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, etc.

Joint venture ports of Saigon Port in Ba Ria – Vung Tau – Source: Saigon Port

Implementing the national marine economic development strategy, Saigon Port has been utilizing its internal resources and effectively linking with the world's strong maritime corporations such as PSA - Singapore, SSA Marine - USA, Maersk A/S - Denmark to build 03 modern ports in Cai Mep - Thi Vai area of ​​Ba Ria - Vung Tau province with 2,000 meters of wharf length that can receive ships up to 80,000 DWT, loading and unloading capacity of more than 3.5 million TEU/year, total investment of 800 million USD. The position of Saigon Port has changed a lot. Currently, Saigon Port is playing a key role in the Vietnam Seaports Association - VPA, has assumed the responsibility of Chairman of the Southeast Asian Seaports Association - APA, and is a trusted partner of the world's leading maritime corporations.

Preserving the brand – Promoting corporate culture

Now, each employee at Saigon Port is more responsible for the company, for colleagues, and for customers. Negative phenomena such as avoiding the heavy to seek the light, stealing goods, extorting customers, bureaucracy, power abuse, etc. have gradually faded into the past, replaced by industrial style, service manners, behavior, and responsibility to the community that are increasingly more cultured. The company has steadfastly overcome difficulties and grown up thanks to the rapid growth and self-affirmation of the leadership and management team of the company. The leaders of the government and organizations at all levels are united and unified in steering the Saigon Port ship through the storms and reaching out to the open sea. The company is facing fair competition with domestic enterprises as well as international corporations with modern production levels in today's challenging seaport market with the recognition of customers, partners, friends both domestically and internationally for its service quality, service culture, and steady development.

The acts of sharing and wholehearted support of businesses when customers are in difficulty have gradually created a very friendly and responsible Saigon Port. "Taking customers as the center" has now become a cultural term at Saigon Port because it includes "Productivity, quality, economic efficiency, improving the lives of employees and fighting negativity". Saigon Port's responsible contributions to society are the results of the employees' labor, excellently completing political tasks and planning targets entrusted by superiors. Those are instant noodle packages, shirts, houses of love, love, roads, schools, ... that Saigon Port has shared with our compatriots across the country.

Charitable social work – Source: Saigon Port.

The Party, the State, and socio-political organizations have given Saigon Port worthy awards, which in themselves are standard cultural symbols recognizing efforts to contribute to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

For nearly 50 years, Saigon Port has been producing and doing business effectively, taking good care of the material life of its employees and fulfilling its social obligations, building a suitable organizational structure, a transparent and reasonable internal management mechanism, which has the effect of encouraging and motivating the positivity and creativity of its employees. The unit has built a collective of united and cooperative workers, with a spirit of mutual love and support, sharing the achievements of the enterprise, sharing difficulties, working together to build the enterprise to develop more and more, considering the enterprise as its big family. Saigon Port has been following the right direction, guidelines and policies of the Party and the State, strictly abiding by the law, having ethics and culture in business, respecting customers and being conscious of protecting the environment, being friendly with nature.

These achievements are the corporate cultural values, the typical brand of Saigon Port - the Labor Hero Collective in the renovation period.

Sustainable development with Ho Chi Minh City and the country.

Looking to the future, Saigon Port has been mobilizing all resources, seizing opportunities, strongly promoting its potential, maintaining and further enhancing the brand name "Saigon Port" - one of the leading important seaports of Vietnam right in Ho Chi Minh City with more than 160 years of formation and development. Continuing to actively contribute to the activities as well as the sustainable development of the Vietnam Seaport Association.

According to the development orientation of Ho Chi Minh City as well as the national maritime industry, on May 16, 2009, Saigon - Hiep Phuoc Port in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City was also started construction with an area of ​​100 hectares, a total wharf length of 1,800 meters, a throughput capacity of about 18 million tons of goods/year, the size of ships entering and leaving the port is up to 50,000 DWT, a total investment of 3,000 billion VND. Currently, Phase 1 has been completed with 800 meters of wharf and is being put into operation. In parallel, the Hiep Phuoc Logistics Service Area Project has been assigned to Saigon - Hiep Phuoc Port Joint Stock Company to continue implementing. The Nha Rong - Khanh Hoi International Passenger Terminal Project in District 4 is being deployed to prepare documents to apply for investment policy. Especially for the Can Gio International Transit Port Project, the Board of Directors of Saigon Port issued Resolution No. 46/NQ-CSG to establish the Can Gio International Transit Port Investment Project Preparation Board; the investment proposal has been submitted and is being appraised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Port coordination Can Gio International Transit Port (SIGP) – Source: Saigon Port

Promoting the existing good tradition, Saigon Port's staff join hands, unite, and are determined to excellently fulfill the assigned responsibilities, actively contributing with the Vietnam Seaports Association, Vietnam National Shipping Lines, Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country to successfully implement Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated October 22, 2018, of the 8th Central Conference, Session XII, "On the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam's Marine Economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045". At the same time, effectively serving the development of Ho Chi Minh City, worthy of being a "Historical and Heroic Port", where the footprints of President Ho Chi Minh - left to find a way to save the country so that the Vietnamese people could be free, Vietnam could be independent, unified, integrated with international friends, and develop sustainably for the happiness of the people.

Each port worker through many generations has the right to be proud because they have contributed more or less to create the cultural values ​​of Saigon Port through specific actions, with a warm heart, intelligence, knowledge, experience, skills, and professional expertise. All strive to complete and support colleagues, excellently fulfill their responsibilities for an increasingly prosperous Saigon Port, soon standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading seaports, for the prosperity and happiness of themselves and their families. So that in the future, future generations will always be proud when mentioning their fathers and brothers - those who used to be Saigon Port Workers.

Source: https://vimc.co/cang-sai-gon-hon-160-nam-hinh-thanh-va-phat-trien/