HCM City to relocate river ports

HCM City (VNS/VNA) - All ports along the Saigon River will be relocated by the end of the year to reduce pressure on transport in HCM City, according to a report from the Transport Ministry submitted to the Government.

The report reviews the results of a plan to relocate Group No 5 ports and ports in the Cai Mep – Thi Vai region.

Group 5 ports include ports in the southeastern region (HCM City and the provinces of Dong Nai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong) and ports on the Soai Rap River in Long An Province.

Since 2013, HCM City and the provinces of Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau have not licensed the construction of new ports and has not accepted investment for port expansion

In addition, efforts have been taken to relocate ports in HCM City.

Nguyen Xuan Sang, General Director of the Vietnam Maritime Department, said for the Port Group No 5, the Ministry of Transport and several agencies have made efforts to relocate the Ba Son Shipyard and ports along the Saigon River.

Last year, the Tan Cang - Saigon Port in HCM City’s Binh Thanh District was moved to Cat Lai in HCM City’s District 9.

The Saigon Port JSC has completed construction of major works of the Saigon – Hiep Phuoc Port project, so that it can handle vessels and cargo from Nha Rong – Khanh Hoi Port in District 1.

Port operations have been transferred to Saigon – Hiep Phuoc Port in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park in Nha Be District, and work on the relocation of the port is scheduled to be completed within the second quarter of this year, according to Sang.

Nguyen Van Cong, Deputy Minister of Transport, said the most difficult work of the relocation of ports along the Saigon River has been completed.

The relocation of these ports from inner districts helps distribute sources of cargo, and reduces congestion through traffic flow and better relocates port groups in HCM City, said Cong.

In addition to the relocation of ports in inner districts, the Transport Ministry has sped up administrative reform and the use of 4.0 technology to create favourable conditions for ports in Group No 5.

The Vietnam Maritime Department has also set up a representative office for Vung Tau Port Authority at Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) to facilitate one-door procedures.

Electronic data about Vietnamese seagoing vessels and crew is collected.

In an effort to simplify business conditions and remove barriers in business by 2020, the department has cooperated with the Customs Bureau to introduce five procedures for ships that enter ports on the national “one-door” website.

The department has also provided online public services on this website for ships entering, exiting and transiting at nine ports and other ports of Group No 5, said Sang.

As for the domestic routes, the department has maintained public online services with 25 port authorities across the country.

The administrative reforms have brought about significant changes, reducing time for vessels’ entry and exit to and from ports, creating favourable conditions for carriers, said Cong.

However, port inspection has not been carried out at the Cai Mep – Thi Vai region, and a number of inspection works were brought to offices in inner HCM City districts, causing a waste of time and money to carriers and port authorities.

The Maritime Department plans to further apply 4.0 technology to further simplify procedures and provide support to enterprises.-VNS/VNA