Haiphong International Container Terminal welcomes first vessel

Haiphong International Container Terminal was opened by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

On May 13, Haiphong International Container Terminal Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Saigon New Port (51 per cent) and Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines (WHL), and Japan’s Itochu Corporation (ITO), organised the launching ceremony of HICT and welcomed the first ship to the port.

With two 750m-long wharves, HICT is capable of receiving vessels up to 14,000 TEU. The goods output through the port is estimated at 1.1 million TEU per year.

The first container handled at HICT

Covering an area of 45 hectares at Cat Hai Island, Haiphong City’s Cat Hai district, the construction of the terminal was kicked off on May 12, 2016 with the total investment capital of $321 million. This is component B under the Hai Phong international gateway port construction project.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the Ministry of Transport to co-operate with other ministries and relevant authorities to develop a synchronous transport system for HICT, connecting it to Lach Huyen port.

“Besides, the authorities need to improve the quality of domestic waterways and railways in order to create smooth cargo transportation from the country’s economic centres to HICT, improving the competitive capacity of Vietnamese seaports,” the prime minister added.

In addition, PM Phuc asked the HICT board of management to co-operate with other international seaports in Danang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Ho Chi Minh City, among others.

The first containers on their way from the port

According to Saigon New Port, HICT has a favourable location as it connects most inland waterways and coastal roads to Quang Ninh and the northern provinces. It also links to feeder terminals New Port 128, New Port 189, ICD New Port-Hai Phong, and ICD New Port Ha Nam, as well as the northern and central key economic zones and south-western China.