Vessels at Hai Phong Port in Hai Phong city. (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Ports across the country were busy welcoming the first cargo ships and containers of 2016 on January 1.
Cai Lan Port in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh received seven vessels and handled approximately 260,000 tonnes of goods in total on the first day of the year.
At the wharfs operated by Quang Ninh Port JSC, five ships carrying about 150,000 tonnes of commodities were unloaded while 50,000 tonnes of maize and 6,200 tonnes of ore aboard ships from Liberia and Hong Kong were handled by the Cai Lan International Container Terminal Ltd., Co. (CICT).
In 2015, ports in Cai Lan area welcomed hundreds of ships and handled more than 11.5 million tonnes of goods. They strive to process nearly 13 million tonnes of commodities this year.
According to the provincial Department of Transport, some 275 cruise ships left Tuan Chau Port to take about 4,800 passengers around Ha Long Bay by 12:00 a.m.
In the neighbouring city of Hai Phong, the first batch of iron and steel, over 22,200 tonnes in weigh, was unloaded from Hong Kong’s 185.7-metre XIN QUANG vessel, which arrived at Hai Phong Port on late December 28.
Last year, the port unloaded 32 tonnes of goods, earning 2.5 trillion VND (111.17 million USD) in revenue. It expects to handle more than 35 tonnes of goods for a revenue of 2.7 trillion VND (120 million USD) in 2016.
Meanwhile, nine ships landed at Da Nang Port in the central city of Da Nang the same day, including 700-Teus MIA SCHULTE container ship of Maersk Line from Singapore.
In 2015, Da Nang Port handled 6.4 tonnes of goods and 258,000 TEUs of containers, up 6.5 percent and 15.7 percent year-on-year, respectively. It also welcomed 52,000 visitors and crews from 58 cruise ships.
The port plans to start work on the second phase of Tien Sa Seaport this year. Once operational in early 2018, it will bring the total capacity of Da Nang Port to 10 million tonnes per year.-VNA
