Haiphong port is at the centre of the north-eastern group of seaports with the role of transit freight for 17 provinces in northern Vietnam, also covering provinces in southern China and northern Laos. In over a century of development, the port has played an important role in the prosperity of Haiphong and the key economic triangular Hanoi-Haiphong-Quang Ninh.
In 15 years of renewal, Haiphong port has recorded a stable development. The port has increased from 2.3 million tonnes of freight in 1992 to 10.5 million tonnes in 2004. With a workforce of 4,000 people, in 2004 the port maintained a per capita income of VND2.75 million a month, turnover of VND462 billion and profit of VND47 billion.
The port handles the biggest volume of freight in North Vietnam, with modern equipment suitable for all forms of world transport and trade. Cargo can be dispatched from the port to seaports all over the world by sea or by river, rail or road to other parts of Vietnam and southern Chinese provinces.
Regarding the modernisation of the port, Mr Ngo Bac Ha, Director General of Haiphong port said, “The port will continue its modernisation process in various forms; its own resources, mobilisation of shares to establish joint stock companies and ODA.”
In July 1996, implementing the plan of “seaward development”, the port started Phase 1 of the upgrading project with a total investment capital of US$40.6 million, building an international standard container port. Currently, Phase 2 is in process with Japanese ODA of US$126 million. When completed, the port will have a new channel 7.2 metres in depth suitable for 10,000 DWT ships. Chua Ve container port is also being upgraded to increase its capacity to 500,000 TEUs containers a year.
Phase 1 of Dinh Vu port is also under construction with an area of 80 hectares, next to Dinh Vu IZ. With 7 berths 1,400 metres long for 20,000 DWT ships, by 2010, Dinh Vu port will increase the capacity of Haiphong port to over 15 million tones a year. Since last May, two berths of Dinh Vu port have been operational.
Haiphong port has proposed the building of Lach Huyen main port to receive 30,000-40,000 DWT ships. Being the first equitised enterprise in Vietnam’s maritime sector, all the five member companies have maintained business efficiency.
H.T
Vietnamese
