Haiphong to kick off four container terminals in early 2022

The Lach Huyen international gateway port complex in Haiphong

The Ministry of Transport has just issued Document No.11169/BGTVT-KHDT to Haiphong City National Assembly Delegation to answer their proposal on investment in the next terminals at Haiphong’s international gateway port.

This came as earlier via Dispatch No.277/BDN dated August 30, 2021, Haiphong city's constituents presented that Haiphong's international gateway port has put into exploitation two container terminals which have reported effective operation, so that they expect the Ministry (MoT) and relevant management agencies to facilitate the implementation of further projects at the city's international gateway port, employing cutting-edge technology and modern IT applications to boost the port’s competitiveness in the region and the world.

In light of MoT's response Document 11169, the first two terminals (No.1 and 2) at Lach Huyen Port, invested by Saigon Newport Corporation with modern loading and unloading equipment, were put into operation in May 2018 with an annual designed capacity of about 1.1 million TEUs.

The volume of goods flowing into these two ports in 2019, 2020, and the first nine months of 2021 were 353,632 TEUs, 659,684 TEUs, and 520,000 TEUs, respectively.

The investment policy of terminals No.3 and 4 was approved by the prime minister via Decision No.1323/QD-TTg dated October 9, 2019 who assigned Haiphong Port JSC as the investor to implement the project at a total investment value of VND6.946 trillion($302 million).

Accordingly, the project aims to build two 250m long, 15m wide container terminals for ships up to 100,000DWT (equivalent to 8,000TEUs); a 250m long, 15m wide service berth accessible to vessels up to 3,000DWT (160TEUs); an embankment, cargo yards, roads system, ancillary works, and synchronous technical infrastructure on an area of ​​47ha.

The equipment assemblage would consist of six ship to shore (STS) container cranes for the main terminals; 24 rubber tyres gantry (RTG) cranes; two RSD and one container forklift; 50 tractors + trailers; among others.

Currently, the contractors for the design-construction package are being selected, with the final decision expected in December so that the project can be kicked off in January 2022. Terminal No.3 would be put into operation in December 2023 while terminal No.4 would be operational in June 2024, with the whole project being completed in 2025.

Meanwhile, the investment policy of terminals No.5 and 6 was approved by the prime minister in Decision No. 299/QD-TTg dated March 4, 2021.

On September 24, Haiphong Economic Zone Management Board granted a registration certificate to Hateco Group JSC to implement the project at a total investment value of VND6.425 trillion ($279 million) over ​​nearly 60 hectares.

The project will consist of two container terminals with a total length of 750m (375m each), accessible to vessels of up to 100,000DWT (equal 8,000TEUs); one service berth accessible to ships and barges with capacity of 48TEUs, along with associated port protection works, warehouse system, port service infrastructure, ship parking, and water area connected to Lach Huyen port channel.

The content is included in Vietnam's seaport system development master plan to 2020 with a vision to 2030, approved by the prime minister in Decision No.1037/QD-TTg in June 2014.

However, the newest master plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, which was approved by the PM in Decision No. 1579/QD-TTg dated this September, Lach Huyen port area would be accessible to container ships with carrying capacity of 6,000-18,000 TEUs.

To resolve the impasse, via Dispatch 277, Haiphong has proposed the MoT and Haiphong People's Committee to revise the planning schemes of terminals No.5 and 6 in compliance with the latest approved master by increasing the berth length from 375m to 450m to become accessible to vessels with carrying capacity from 6,000-18,000TEUs.

To support the four terminals, the MoT approved the investment policy of a construction project on building a road system from terminal No.3 to berth No.6 and connect it to the existing route linking to terminal No.2. The investment capital would be allocated from the medium-term public investment budget for 2021-2025.