Vinalines to Start Building Key Seaports Early 2008

Vietnam National Shipping Lines Corp (Vinalines) will start to build a series of important seaport projects this year to gradually raise the country’s loading capacity to 250 million tons of cargo in 2010 and 550 million tons in 2020, said the corporation general director Mai Van Phuc.

 

Vinalines plans to kick off construction of Van Phong international transit seaport in central Khanh Hoa province in January 25 to handle 400,000 DWT cargo ships and Lach Huyen deep water seaport in northern Haiphong city in mid 2008 to handle 100,000 DWT ships.

 

The state-run corporation will upgrade the country’s seaport system from north to south such as to build wharfs No. 2, 3, and 4 of Cai Lan seaport in northern Quang Ninh province to receive 40,000 DWT ships and five wharfs in Dinh Vu seaport to receive 20,000 DWT ships.

 

In the first quarter of 2008, the country’s top shipping company will ink a contract with the U.S. SSA Holding International Vietnam to build two container stations in Cai Mep - Thi Vai seaport.

 

Vinalines also plans to join hands with Maersk A/S of Denmark to build seaport for 100,000 DWT ship here, noted director Mai Van Phuc without mentioning about the investment and other details.

 

The country's Department of Marine earlier that Vietnam will need US$5 billion to build and upgrade its seaport systems from now to 2010. (Labor)