Can Tho Port Constantly Improving Service Capacity

Can Tho Port Joint Stock Company was jointly invested by the Government, the Ministry of Transport, Can Tho City and the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) to become an integrated international container port in 2002. During over 37 years of operation, Can Tho Port has always achieved good growth and diverse commodity sources. The port now employs over 200 local people and pays nearly VND10 billion of taxes a year.

Competitive advantages
Can Tho Port Joint Stock Company has two branches, namely Hoang Dieu Port and Cai Cui Port. Cai Cui Port, which is 55 nautical miles from Dinh An Estuary, is capable of accommodating ships of up to 20,000 DWT.

Hoang Dieu Port, 65 nautical miles from Dinh An Estuary, can serve ships of up to 20,000 DWT.

The port is located in the middle of Mekong Delta - the largest agricultural and aquatic producer in the country and a major consumer market with more than 18 million people. With a prime location, within a radius of 200 km, Can Tho Port can be connected to commodity production centres, industrial parks and large consumption centres in the region through interlinked road systems and interlaced waterways. With 300 km, commodities from Can Tho Port are easily transported by various means and modes to national import and export ports in Cai Mep - Vung Tau and Phnom Penh Port via national highways and the Mekong River.

After many stages of development, Can Tho Port is the largest port in the Mekong Delta. Covering 42.18 ha with a relatively complete infrastructure system, the port has 667 metres of wharfs with the most modern infrastructure system in the region. In 2016, it served 2,075,838 tonnes and 19,366 TEUs. To better serve its customers, Can Tho Port has cooperated with Vinalines’ member companies like Vinalines Container Shipping Company (VCSC) and Vinalines Hai Phong Branch to establish a closed logistics service chain for importers and exporters to use door-to-door services, thus helping them reduce time and costs. It has also simplified freight management procedures to better serve businesses. Most recently, Can Tho Port has provided a package of services for customers carrying construction materials and agricultural products on north - south routes.

In addition, with a complete infrastructure system, Can Tho Port has been selected to stevedore equipment for key projects that influence local economic development such as Bac Lieu wind power project (in 2015 - 2016), Can Tho Bridge, Song Hau Thermal Power Plant and Long Phu Thermal Power Plant (in 2017). Besides, Can Tho Port stevedores construction materials for infrastructure development in Can Tho City and neighbouring provinces and cities.

Towards an integrated international container port

With a strategic location in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho Port was planned by the Government of Vietnam to be the largest seaport in the Mekong Delta and a national general port as a core component of the 6th seaport group out of seven seaport groups developed according to the master plan for Vietnam seaport system development to 2020, with a vision to 2030, approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 2190/QD-TTg dated December 24, 2009 and adjusted in Decision 1037/QD-TTg dated June 24, 2014. In particular, Cai Cui Port was built into a general international container terminal for the Mekong Delta region in order to transport containerised cargoes in the region to national ports, Cambodia and Mekong subregion countries.

To date, Cai Cui Port has completed the first phase and started the second phase. The port is calling for investors for this phase. Mr Nguyen Van Phuong, General Director of Can Tho Port, said that the Mekong Delta is the key producer of rice, aquatics and fruits in Vietnam. However, due to limited waterway transportation, many agricultural, forest and aquatic products are now transported by road to Ho Chi Minh City. This mode costs an extra US$10 per tonne of cargo. Therefore, the second-phase expansion of Cai Cui Port is very important and practical as it helps Can Tho City and Mekong Delta provinces boost waterway trade with domestic and foreign markets thanks to lower transport fees. This port also helps ease burdens on Cat Lai Port.

Can Tho Port will continue to expand warehouses, yards and wharfs and invest in more cranes and scanners in 2017-2020 to better serve container handling for customers, he said.

Minh Xuan