Efforts to bring large ships into the seaport

According to statistics from the Vietnam Maritime Administration, over the past 5 years, the number of large tonnage ships entering and leaving Vietnamese seaports has been increasing. In 2019, the number of large tonnage ships entering and leaving seaports was about 4,538, and by 2023, this number was 5,474.

According to this agency, in the 2000s, the master plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system only directed the development of ships with a tonnage of up to 30,000 DWT.

To be able to receive large ships exceeding the design to enter and exit the port, port enterprises need to evaluate the infrastructure of bridges and ports, and develop a plan to ensure maritime safety during operation.

In order to effectively exploit the port infrastructure and the built shipping channels and to facilitate the production and business activities of port enterprises and enterprises operating in the tourism sector, to improve the productivity of goods through the port, and to attract international visitors to Vietnam, this agency has issued a document guiding maritime port authorities on the unified licensing of ships entering and leaving seaports.

Of which, ships with a capacity of up to 10,000 DWT/GT are subject to an overload factor of about 60%. Ships with a capacity of up to 20,000 DWT/GT are subject to an overload factor of 40%.

Ships with a tonnage of up to 30,000 DWT/GT are subject to an overload factor of 25% and ships with a tonnage of 40,000 DWT/GT or more are subject to an additional overload factor of 10%.

Maritime port authorities will organize the application and coordinate with maritime pilots to review and evaluate natural conditions at the time the ship is expected to arrive at the port; Combined with enhanced safety measures such as tugboat support and checking the ship's displacement (ensuring it is less than or equal to the ship's displacement according to the announced decision), ship length (consistent with the length of the wharf)... to review and decide on the mobilization of large tonnage vessels entering and leaving the port.

In recent years, the world's fleet has tended to increase in tonnage size to increase productivity and reduce shipping costs.

Grasping this trend, the Vietnam Maritime Administration said that the Ministry of Transport has issued a document guiding port enterprises to carry out the assessment of bridge and port infrastructure that needs to receive ships with a tonnage larger than the design.

Specifically, for vessels with a gross tonnage or gross tonnage greater than the designed tonnage of the vessel in the decision to announce the port but within the permitted limits, the Maritime Administration is responsible for directing the maritime port authority to inspect compliance with the prescribed conditions. If the conditions are satisfied, they shall be applied.

For bridges and ports that need to receive ships with a tonnage larger than the design, the Vietnam Maritime Administration will consider guiding investors to prepare a dossier to assess the infrastructure of the wharf, the ability of the shipping channel, the turning and anchoring areas for the proposed tonnage of the ship, and carry out renovations and upgrades (if any).

This structural assessment file is appraised by the Department of Construction Investment Management (for special and level I projects) and the Department of Transport (for level II projects or lower).

In case bridges and ports must implement investment measures for construction, renovation and upgrading, the Department of Construction Investment Management or the Department of Transport shall inspect and approve the acceptance results according to regulations on quality management, construction and maintenance of construction works.

Based on the results of the dossier appraisal or the acceptance document, the investor shall coordinate with relevant agencies to develop a maritime safety assurance plan and send it to the Vietnam Maritime Administration for consideration and approval.

For bridges and ports that need to receive ships with a tonnage larger than the design and larger than the approved seaport planning, after the Ministry of Transport approves the permit, port enterprises are allowed to research, renovate and upgrade existing ports to receive ships with a tonnage larger than the design. At the same time, a plan to ensure maritime safety during operation is developed.

Then, the Maritime Administration will review and direct the maritime port authority to organize and allow the mobilization of ships entering and leaving the port for exploitation.

Currently, this agency has issued a document requesting maritime port authorities to disseminate and provide specific instructions to investors and port management and exploitation units in the seaport water area that need to receive large tonnage ships entering and leaving the port.

The results of the implementation in the past time show that the operation of receiving ships with a tonnage larger than the design for exploitation has been approved and guided specifically and clearly by the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Maritime Administration, creating great convenience in implementing and evaluating the efficiency, safety and suitability of seaport infrastructure.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/no-luc-dua-tau-lon-vao-cang-bien-192240526125615565.htm