Project of New Entrance Channel to the Bassac River

Location: Duyen Hai and Tra Cu Districts, Tra Vinh Province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

Scale: In reality, 70–80% of the Mekong Delta’s import and export cargo has to be transported to Ho Chi Minh City, causing severe overload to the city’s transport infrastructure. Meanwhile, the existing navigational channel (Dinh An channel) can only accommodate vessels up to about 5,000 DWT, and only with tidal assistance. Furthermore, dredging works require very high costs due to rapid siltation.
Over 20 years, alternatives for a new navigation channel were studied. Finally, the option of a new channel via Quan Chanh Bo Canal into the Bassac River, recommended by SNC-Lavalin (Canada) and Portcoast, was approved by the Prime Minister of Vietnam in 2007 for its technical and economic feasibility.
The main components of the Project include: a one-way channel of 40 km (with a 9 km canal section) for vessels of 10,000 DWT fully loaded and 20,000 DWT partially loaded, breakwaters (2.4 km in length), 30 km of bank protection dikes, ferry system, navigation buoys and aids, etc.

Consulting services:

• 2004: Topographic survey; Geological, hydrographic and hydrological surveys (SNC-Lavalin as JV Leader).
  Client: Project Management Unit of Waterways (PMU-W) – Ministry of Transport (MOT).
• 2005–2015: Topographic & hydrographic surveys; Geological, hydrological and geophysical investigations; Feasibility Study & Basic Design; Mathematical modeling; Technical design; Detailed design; Construction supervision.
  Client: Maritime Project Management Unit No.3 – Vinamarine – Ministry of Transport (MOT).