Ho Chi Minh City presents the Can Gio Port project for the second time, clarifying its impact on Cai Mep Port

By laodong.vn - 15/03/2024

Ho Chi Minh City – The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has just submitted to the Prime Minister the project proposal for the second time for the research and construction of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port, following the first submission in August 2023. This time, Ho Chi Minh City clearly analyzes the impact of constructing the Can Gio International Transshipment Port on the port area within the region, especially on the Cai Mep – Thi Vai port system (Ba Ria – Vung Tau).

The Can Gio Port will positively impact the Cai Mep Port.

Previously, after Ho Chi Minh City submitted the proposal, in September 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested Ho Chi Minh City to urgently clarify the arguments about the economic impacts and conflicts of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port (Can Gio Port) with existing seaports and the maritime port system as planned and approved by the Prime Minister.

Additionally, to evaluate the impact of the development of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port and its supporting infrastructure on the socio-economic development plan and the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.

Following the directive of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City reported organizing a conference to gather feedback on the proposal from the Ministry of Transport, related ministries and sectors, provincial People’s Committees in the Southeast region, Long An Province, experts, scientists, port management units, and relevant agencies and units.

To date, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has received 13 out of 16 feedback documents from 10 ministries, sectors, and 3 related provinces. Consequently, the city has completed the proposal for the research and construction of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port as directed.

Regarding the impact of the Can Gio Port on the regional seaport area (Group 4 seaports), for international transshipment cargo, according to the proposal, there is still room to develop new international transshipment ports in the Southeast Asian region, about 12.8 million TEUs in 2030, about 32.6 million TEUs in 2040, and about 52.3 million TEUs in 2050.

It is expected that the international transshipment cargo through the Can Gio International Transshipment Port will reach about 3.6 million TEUs (approximately 75%) by 2030 and 12.67 million TEUs (approximately 75%) by 2047.

"When the Can Gio International Transshipment Port attracts 3.6 million TEUs (accounting for about 28% of the additional demand in the Southeast Asian region), the remaining volume of 9.2 million TEUs represents an opportunity for the Cai Mep Port and other ports in the region," the proposal analyzes.

The proposal concludes that the forecasted international transshipment cargo through the Can Gio Port is consistent with the forecasted international transshipment cargo demand of the Southeast Asian region and does not negatively affect the development planning of the port areas in the region.

On the contrary, the formation of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port attracting transshipment activities to the Cai Mep - Can Gio area will have a positive impact on the Cai Mep area, attracting other shipping lines to establish transshipment operations at Cai Mep.

For Vietnam's import and export cargo, it is forecasted that the container cargo volume of Vietnam through the Can Gio International Transshipment Port is about 1.2 million TEUs, accounting for about 4% - 6% of the total cargo volume forecasted through Group 4 seaports; about 10.4% - 11.1% of the cargo volume forecasted through Ho Chi Minh City ports; about 7.7% - 9.6% of the remaining volume of container cargo import and export of Group 4 seaports.

"The formation of the International Transshipment Port at Can Gio will not significantly affect the current exploitation and development planning of Group 4 seaports, including Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria - Vung Tau ports," the proposal concludes.

At the conference to gather opinions on the proposal for the research and construction of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port (on October 19, 2023), experts, scientists, port managers, and related agencies and units expressed their opinions and shared the common viewpoint that the Can Gio Transshipment Port complements the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port system and elevates the entire Group 4 port cluster to a national and future international port center, enhancing the country's position; harmonizing national and regional benefits without conflict of interest.

Phase 1 exploitation of the Can Gio Port before 2030

According to the proposal, the location of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port is in the Con Chó islet area, Thanh An commune, Can Gio district. This location is at the mouth of the Cai Mep - Thi Vai river, in the Ganh Rai Bay, near the international shipping routes through the South China Sea, convenient for developing an international transshipment port.

The project is estimated to cover about 571 hectares, with the main wharf extending over 7 km, capable of accommodating the largest current container ships of 250,000 DWT (24,000 TEUs) as proposed by the MSC Group - one of the world's leading container shipping lines.

Based on the cargo demand, the Can Gio International Transshipment Port is expected to be developed in two phases.

Organize the investment, construction, and exploitation of the port in phase 1 before 2030 (investing in 2 main berths/7 main berths). Phase 2 (after 2030 - 2045) will continue the investment to complete all the remaining main berths.