Nghe An: Fishermen are required not to anchor their boats at Cua Lo port after August 31, 2022

The announcement stated that Cua Lo port is a general international port, serving domestic and import-export goods. Every year, Cua Lo port receives thousands of ships loading and unloading goods with a total throughput of about 4-5 million tons. In 2021, despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Cua Lo port has made efforts to overcome difficulties and achieved positive results in production and business.

The volume of goods exported by container through Cua Lo port is only 200 - 250 containers/month. Photo: Quang An

However, Cua Lo port still faces many difficulties and problems. The volume of goods exported by container from Nghe An province is about 1,000 - 1,200 containers/month while at Cua Lo port it is only 200 - 250 containers/month. On the other hand, the time of goods passing through the port is unstable.

Fishing boats of fishermen still regularly occupy Cua Lo wharf as a place to anchor, hindering the exploitation of the wharf, maritime safety, security and order, and fire prevention at the port. In recent years, the central budget allocated to Cua Lo port according to the public investment plan for dredging the port channel is still limited. Currently, the shipping channel is only dredged to a height of -7.2m (large tonnage ships cannot enter).

In addition, Cua Lo Port is located close to a residential area, so during the exploitation process, it greatly affects the lives of households living nearby, so the port cannot carry out production and business activities 24/24 according to international practice.

Unloading goods at Cua Lo port. Photo: Quang An

After grasping the difficulties and problems at Cua Lo port and units, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee directed departments, branches and localities to synchronously implement the contents.

On the situation of fishing boats anchored at Cua Lo ports, Nghe An province requested the People's Committee of Cua Lo town to direct local branches and units to immediately classify ships and coordinate with the Border Guard, Police and Nghe An Fishing Port Management Board to propagate and request fishermen not to anchor at Cua Lo port, bring all small and medium-sized ships to anchor at Nghi Tan fishing port, and at the same time guide fishing boats of fishermen from other provinces to anchor at Cua Hoi fishing port, this content must be completed before the 2022 storm season (before September).

Closely coordinate with Cua Lo port to have flexible arrangements and ensure safe anchorage locations for large-capacity fishing vessels (over 15m long) due to unsafe waterways, so they cannot enter Nghi Tan fishing port, temporarily anchor at Cua Lo port in case of natural disasters, storms and floods and when there are no commercial vessels operating while Nghi Tan port has not been dredged.

Carry out investment, attract investment, speed up the construction progress of Nghi Tan fish market - Cua Lo town, to create conditions for fishermen to consume products when fishing boats anchor at the port; regularly ensure environmental sanitation at the fishing port according to regulations.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a document directing and guiding agencies, departments and branches of Cua Lo town to implement orientation and standardize the anchoring of fishing vessels inside and outside the area, and monitor the implementation of moving fishing vessels anchored at Cua Lo port to Nghi Tan fishing port.

The Provincial Police and the Provincial Border Guard Command arranged forces to coordinate with the People's Committee of Cua Lo town to conduct propaganda, requiring fishermen to bring all small and medium-sized boats to anchor at Nghi Tan fishing port to ensure science, safety, and efficiency.

Nghe An Fishing Port Management Board coordinated with Cua Lo Town People's Committee and relevant forces to guide and bring fishing boats of fishermen from other provinces to anchor at Cua Hoi fishing port.

Fishing boats anchored at Cua Lo port violate maritime safety. Photo: Thu Huyen

Regarding dredging the channel,Nghe An province directed the Department of Transport to preside over and coordinate with Nghe An Maritime Port Authority and relevant agencies to advise the Provincial People's Committee on a document requesting the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Maritime Administration to pay attention to adding funds for dredging the channel from Nghi Tan fishing wharf area to Cua Lo port channel to the annual dredging and maintenance plan of the Ministry of Transport to support large-capacity fishing vessels entering and exiting, overcoming the current situation of anchoring at Cua Lo port causing maritime insecurity.

The People's Committee of Cua Lo town conducts a survey and preliminary assessment of the channel elevation from wharf No. 1 to Nghi Tan fishing wharf, coordinates with the Department of Transport and related departments and branches to advise the Provincial People's Committee to report to the Ministry of Transport. Survey to advise the Provincial People's Committee on a plan to collect waste during the dredging process in accordance with regulations.

The Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone reviews the demand for filling materials in the areas in the Southeast Economic Zone, reports to the Provincial People's Committee a proposal on socialization to collect waste from the dredging process for fishing boats (from wharf No. 1 to Nghi Tan fishing wharf) as filling materials for projects in the Southeast Economic Zone.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment presides over and coordinates with relevant departments, sectors, localities and units to control environmental pollution during dredging of waterways...

Regarding the planning of dumping sites,The Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone works with units implementing site leveling work in industrial parks that have been approved by competent authorities, to unify the implementation of the recovery plan, combining port dredging and dumping at industrial parks under construction. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment advises on planning the location of the port's dredged waste dumping site in accordance with regulations. |

Regarding the relocation of households near the port fence and the construction of a road to the port,The People's Committee of Cua Lo town reviews and arranges resettlement areas for households near the port fence within the land acquisition and clearance scope of the road, and at the same time submits documents to competent authorities to speed up the progress of site clearance and resettlement for households, in order to serve the construction of the road.

Review the design, project scope and site clearance scope of the project connecting Highway 46 to Terminal 5 and Terminal 6 of Cua Lo Port to propose adjustments (if necessary and ensure safety), to ensure that the project does not increase the total investment to speed up construction progress, and submit to the Department of Transport for consideration and appraisal.

The Department of Transport speeds up the appraisal of the design and technical standards of the traffic route from National Highway 46 to Terminal 5 and Terminal 6 of Cua Lo Port, based on the contents of the Decision approving the Investment Project to save costs.

Regarding foreign ship support policy,The Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone studies and develops policies and mechanisms to support shipping lines in opening container shipping routes at Cua Lo port, promptly reports to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration, and submits to the Provincial People's Council.

Nghe An province also directed the provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper and business and exploitation units at Cua Lo port to strengthen propaganda work so that enterprises inside and outside the province can organize the transportation of goods through Cua Lo port; and propagate about the loss of safety and security when fishing boats anchor at Cua Lo port.