Investing in upgrading the shipping channel and turning basin in Chan May area to ensure safety for ships with a capacity of up to 70,000 tons.

With the goal of developing a synchronous and modern seaport system to meet the needs of socio -economic development, in recent times, Thua Thien Hue province has focused on investing in and putting into operation many seaport infrastructure projects and works, promoting efficiency, spreading and developing inter-regionally.

Recently, the investment project to build multi-purpose container terminals No. 4 and 5 of Vsico Chan May port has started construction at Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone (Phu Loc). This is a project that mobilizes and uses non-budgetary capital, invested by Vsico Maritime Joint Stock Company with a total investment of more than 1,678 billion VND. The project will build 2 interconnected wharves 540m long, ensuring the ability to receive general cargo ships up to 70,000 tons, container ships up to 4,000 TEU.

After completing berths 4 and 5, the total length of the wharves will increase to 1,450m. Along with the completion of phase 2 of the Chan May port breakwater project with a length of 750m, it will ensure the conditions to simultaneously receive all types of cargo ships, container ships, large and modern passenger ships in the world , increase the time of ship operation during the year (including the rainy season); create new momentum and spirit for Chan May - Lang Co Economic Zone, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.

After more than 20 years of establishment and development, Chan May port has now exceeded its design capacity by 50% (design capacity of 4.0 million tons/year but actual exploitation is 6 million tons/year). With an average annual growth rate of 25%, according to forecasts and planning until 2025, it is necessary to develop from 5 to 7 wharves with a total length of up to 1,930m, with a throughput capacity of 7.5 million tons to 13.8 million tons. The investment in the construction of berths No. 4 and No. 5 of Vsico Chan May port is a timely preparation step to seize opportunities, receiving the increasing amount of goods transported by sea in the following years.

Recently, the Vietnam Maritime Administration had a working session with the province on infrastructure management, transportation, planning and investment in seaport development. According to the planning and investment orientation for seaport development in the province, Phong Dien Wharf Area by 2030 will have a development scale of 8 to 12 wharves with a total length of 1,250m to 2,620m, and a throughput capacity of 6 million tons to 11 million tons.

According to the Provincial People's Committee, Phong Dien port is part of the Master Plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister . The Provincial People's Committee is calling for investment and organizing the selection of investors to build ports in Phong Dien Wharf Area. Currently, 4 investors have registered to participate and have submitted documents requesting approval of the project's investment policy according to regulations.

The Department of Planning and Investment said that for wharf No. 1 of Phong Dien port (Phong Dien wharf area), in August 2023, the consortium of Stavian VP Joint Stock Company, VP Silica Joint Stock Company and My Thuy International Port Joint Stock Company submitted a dossier requesting approval of the project investment policy. At the end of 2023, the Department of Planning and Investment issued a document on receiving and completing the dossier of Phong Dien port project, and the Provincial People's Committee also sent a document to the Ministry of Transport requesting consensus on approving the project investment policy.

Also at the end of 2023, the Provincial People's Committee agreed in principle to study the investment project of berths No. 2 and No. 3 of Phong Dien port (Phong Dien berth area). Accordingly, the policy was agreed for PTS Vien Dong Investment Joint Stock Company (investor) to study the project, with an area of about 400 hectares in Dien Loc and Dien Hoa communes, Phong Dien district. Of which, the ground area (rear of the access road) is about 13 hectares, the sea surface area is about 396 hectares.

Regarding Chan May Port Area, in terms of container ports, the overall development scale is from 8 to 10 wharves with a total length of 2,431m to 3,231m, throughput capacity from 16.1 million tons to 23.0 million tons and from 324,100 to 345,000 passengers. For passenger wharves according to the seaport group planning, passenger wharves are arranged to the west of the port area (potential wharves), with a proposed length of 750m.

The Provincial People's Committee proposed to the Vietnam Maritime Administration that investing in a specialized wharf for passenger ships is currently difficult to implement. On the other hand, Chan May Port Joint Stock Company has cooperated with the Roya Caribean passenger shipping line to receive passenger ships at Wharf No. 1 - Chan May Port until 2035. Therefore, the Provincial People's Committee proposed to plan Wharf No. 1 - Chan May Port as a dual-use wharf (cargo and passenger, tourism) but the most basic and priority is to serve passenger ships and cruise ships. At the same time, Wharf No. 1 should be extended to the North by about 60m, ensuring the total length of Wharf No. 1 to 420m, increasing the ship docking capacity from 70,000 tons to 200,000 tons when qualified...

In order to improve the capacity and efficiency of port exploitation in Chan May area, ensure maritime safety and security in the area, meet the requirements of effective exploitation of shipping channels, turning basins, and the efficiency of exploitation and business of ship owners and port enterprises, etc., Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Hai Minh requested the Vietnam Maritime Administration to promptly submit to the Ministry of Transport for approval of the detailed planning of land and seaport areas of Thua Thien Hue for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, to have a basis for implementing the next steps.

Propose that the Vietnam Maritime Administration report to the Ministry of Transport to supplement the dredging and maintenance plan for the Chan May port area in 2024 to a depth of -12m (nautical chart). Invest in upgrading the shipping channel and the Chan May port area to ensure safety for ships with a capacity of up to 70,000 tons, reducing the load entering and leaving the port in the period of 2025-2026. Renovate and upgrade the Chan May channel for ships with a capacity of up to 150,000 tons. Invest in the breakwater in the west of the Chan May port area in 2030.

The Provincial People's Committee requested the Vietnam Maritime Administration to direct and urge units to carry out dredging and maintenance of the Thuan An maritime channel (Hue City) according to the approved schedule. Research on dredging to expand and deepen the channel from the edge of the maritime channel to the fishing boat landing site so that when there is a storm or tropical depression, light-duty cargo ships can take shelter at Thuan An fishing port combined with a safe anchorage and storm shelter area.
Article and photos: HA NGUYEN