Ministry of Transport agrees to upgrade and build new seaports in Nghe An

On the afternoon of October 17, the Provincial People's Committee had a working session with the working delegation of the Ministry of Transport led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Cong on maritime management in Nghe An province.

Attending the meeting were comrades: Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of leaders of departments, branches and sectors at the provincial level and Nghi Loc district, Cua Lo town. Photo: Thanh Le

Proposal for investment in seaport infrastructure

At the meeting, Nghe An province proposed that due to the huge demand for investment resources for seaport infrastructure, while capital mobilization is limited, some projects have not been implemented according to the set plan such as: Cua Lo deep-water port, construction of berths 6, 7, 8 of Cua Lo port, Dong Hoi port...

Currently, many large investors and powerful domestic and foreign economic groups have invested in Nghe An such as: VSIP, Hemaraj, TH True Milk, Hoa Sen, Masan, Mavin, Vissai, Sabeco,... Nghe An province is continuing to promote and attract large, branded domestic and foreign investors to invest in Nghe An province.

That shows that the need to invest and develop the seaport system is very necessary, creating favorable conditions for the circulation of goods for businesses.

In order to meet the socio-economic development needs of the province in the coming time, effectively exploiting existing seaports, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee proposed that the Ministry of Transport and Vietnam Maritime Administration consider early allocating funds to carry out the maintenance and dredging of the shipping channel in and out of Cua Lo port; prioritize investment capital to build breakwaters and channels into Cua Lo deep-water port to be deployed in 2020.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Cong speaks at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

At the same time, continue to carry out research on improving the channel for 50,000 DWT ships to enter and exit in the future; research on building and upgrading the breakwater north of Cua Lo port, 1.1 km long.

Allow the province to adjust the planning of Cua Lo Port according to the plan: Study the planning of the port in Cua Lo located on both sides of the national shipping channel, connected to the post-port logistics area in the Southeast Economic Zone.

Extend the Cua Lo port channel to Nghi Quang Dam, about 1km long (currently only reaching upstream of wharf No. 1 of Cua Lo port and managed by the Ministry of Transport and Vietnam Maritime Administration) so that ships can go inland; avoid storms and monsoons, and develop other ports in the area. The province also proposed that the Ministry study and invest in an anchorage area and storm shelter for large ships upstream of the channel.

Planning map of Cua Lo port, Nghe An to 2020, orientation to 2030. Photo: Thanh Le

Regarding Dong Hoi port, the province proposed that the Ministry of Transport consider and unify the policy and submit to the Prime Minister for permission to adjust the Dong Hoi specialized port area into a general port area.

Investment in Nghe An's seaport system

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy emphasized: In recent years, Nghe An province has focused on directing the review, adjustment and planning of maritime economic development, seaport system, and at the same time attracting many businesses to invest in seaport construction.

However, due to the huge investment resource requirement for seaport infrastructure, while capital mobilization is limited, some projects have not been implemented according to the set plan such as: Cua Lo deep-water port, construction of berths 6, 7, 8 of Cua Lo port, Dong Hoi port...

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy proposed that the Ministry of Transport pay attention and recommend to the Government to include the province's port infrastructure investment projects in the next public investment phase. Photo: Thanh Le

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy emphasized that to attract investment for socio-economic development of the province, investment in seaport infrastructure is very important.

Therefore, the province hopes that the Ministry of Transport will pay attention and recommend to the Government to put the province's port infrastructure investment projects into the next public investment phase or introduce resources to invest in the province's seaport system, especially Cua Lo port, invest in breakwaters; adjust Dong Hoi specialized port to general...

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Cong highly appreciated Nghe An province's recent focus on investing in building a transport infrastructure system, including a number of specialized wharf areas operating effectively, serving the province's socio-economic development.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa reported on the current status of the seaport system in Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Le

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Cong agreed with the proposals and recommendations of Nghe An province in investing in renovating, upgrading, and building new seaports to serve the maritime transport needs in the area.

In particular, agreeing with the policy of dredging the channel, upgrading the port, adjusting the planning to expand Cua Lo port to the South so that ships with a capacity of 30 to 50 DWT can enter and exit safely.

Regarding Dong Hoi deep-water port, the Deputy Minister of Transport commented: The research and adjustment from the specialized port project to a general port area is in line with the current development trend of the world.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Cong noted that during the process of implementing port investment and construction, relevant units need to conduct a comprehensive study of connecting traffic so that the transportation of goods ensures traffic safety, cargo safety, and environmental sanitation.

Seaport enterprises proactively study legal documents on the maritime sector to comply with regulations. Seaports need to innovate and upgrade equipment and technology to improve the efficiency of existing ports.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Cong assigned the Vietnam Maritime Administration to continue researching and advising the Ministry of Transport to submit to the Prime Minister recommendations and proposals for investment in renovating and upgrading the seaport system of Nghe An province.

According to the planning, Nghe An has seaports: Cua Lo port area, currently has 5 wharves, 3 warehouses and a 39ha storage yard, the total capacity of 5 wharves is 4.5 - 5.0 million tons/year.

The Vissai cement port in Nghi Thiet commune, Nghi Loc district has an area of ​​about 407.15 hectares. DKC petroleum port is a specialized port serving the import and export of petroleum for large ships up to 49,000 DWT.

The deep-water port north of Cua Lo port, with a construction scale of 1 wharf for 30,000 DWT ships and 1 wharf for 50,000 DWT ships, with a land use area of ​​about 20 hectares. The project is currently in the stage of completing legal procedures. Dong Hoi port has an area of ​​1,096.7 hectares (including land and water areas).