Tiếng ViệtJust last weekend, the construction of a billion-dollar “mega port” in Can Gio was mentioned twice. Previously, since the end of 2022, in the plan for developing the seaport infrastructure system in Ho Chi Minh City until 2030 by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the investment in an international transshipment container port in Can Gio was also a priority research item.
With all the necessary conditions, Can Gio needs determined efforts to promote the construction of a mega transshipment port to make an economic breakthrough not only for the city and the Southeast region but for the entire country.
Opportunities for an international transshipment port
Speaking about the importance of an international transshipment port, Mr. Nguyen Le Chon Tam, CEO of Saigon Port Corporation, stated that nearly 50% of international cargo transshipment activities occur in the East Asia region. On this route, from Europe to Asia and from Asia to the United States, all pass through the sea areas of Vietnam. The East Sea is a core interest in trade not only for a few countries but for the entire world. However, according to data from maritime consultancy firms, Vietnam only accounts for 2.5% of global cargo transportation.
Currently, Cai Mep – Thi Vai plays a good role in receiving large ships, but it only serves as a gateway and transshipment port for less than 5% of goods from Cambodia, with no international transshipment cargo. “Out of the 900 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) of global cargo transportation, transshipment cargo accounts for 30%. This is a market segment that the Vietnamese maritime industry has always dreamed of. Vietnam National Shipping Corporation has been researching and investing specifically in Van Phong Port for over 20 years with the desire to establish an international transshipment port, but it has not achieved the desired results. MSC shipping company bringing transshipment cargo to the port is realizing the goal of constructing an international transshipment port in Can Gio, which will create a transshipment center for mother vessels (with a capacity of 10,000 – 24,000 TEUs), and enhance container transshipment activities between other centers worldwide. This will improve cargo reception capacity while addressing the congestion issues at the current ports in Vietnam,” affirmed Mr. Nguyen Le Chon Tam.
Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, CEO of Portcoast Consultant and Engineering Co., referred to the international transshipment ports in Vietnam as not just the dream of a single enterprise but the aspiration of everyone involved in the maritime industry and connected to maritime transportation. With an international transshipment port, there will be numerous feeder routes distributing cargo, ensuring that maritime transport and inland waterway transport companies have opportunities for development. Therefore, starting from Master Plan 791 in 2005 and subsequent plans, efforts have been made to develop international transshipment ports in Vietnam. Resolution 36 in 2018 on sustainable maritime economic development strategies until 2030, with a vision to 2045, also continues to define the function of international transshipment. However, Vietnam has not been successful in achieving this over the years, despite Vietnam National Shipping Corporation’s construction of a port in Van Phong during the period from 2005 to 2007 with the intention of serving as a “bait.”
According to Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, certain conditions need to be met to establish an international transshipment port. The necessary conditions include proximity to international maritime routes, favorable natural depth, transportation connections, policy mechanisms, and conditions related to the development of the shipping fleet. With the sufficient conditions, the first and most essential requirement is to have shipping lines – the entities directly involved in global container transportation. “Vietnam has not been able to accomplish these things from the past until now
