Sea transportation of Vietnamese ports: capacity, not enough containers

Sea transportation of Vietnamese ports: capacity, not enough containers

Very few containerships have been moored in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area of ​​Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, although some modern seaports provide ocean freight with investments worth several billion dollars, Reported as the Vietnam News Brief Service.

Ports have been built in large numbers, but operational infrastructure has not yet developed, experts say.

According to the Vietnam Port Association (VPA), the total capacity of the ports in Ba Ria - Vung Tau is eight million TEU, while the actual demand is no more than 5 million TEUs.

Despite the excess capacity, the province has set up to welcome some new ports in 2012 and 2013, the VPA said.

According to the Department of Transportation, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has 53 seaports, of which 23 are in operation, while the remaining ones are expected to be completed soon.

The ministry also said that total investment in the port system in the province was more than $ 7 billion at the end of last year, while disbursements were $ 2 billion.

Contrary to the deep seaport density in the area, and the busy atmosphere at the construction sites of the new ports, most of the time can find gloomy air at the ports.

On the way to two deep-water ports namely Tan Cang-Cai Mep and CMIT, almost no container transports cargo in and out of the port. There are no cargo loading and unloading vessels at the port's cranes.

While container ports in Ho Chi Minh City are always packed with cargo ships and stacked containers, there are only a few containers scattered around Cai Mep - Thi Vai.
 

Container tractors at ports are also constantly being used, with ships coming to port for loading only two or three days a week, a man working for a deep-water port in Cai Mep-Thi Vai said.

The director of a container liner says that the fact that ports do not have many containers to handle does not only reduce the attractiveness of the ports to transport companies but also force them to cut charges to Attract the ship, this can lead to loss.

Industry insiders say another reason for the lack of attractiveness of ports is that transportation systems and port logistics services have been developed.

Route 51, the main road linking Cai Mep - Thi Vai area with its main transport system, has been degraded, with cracks and potholes on the surface.

However, Route 956 connecting National Highway 51 and other major seaports has not yet been completed. Even worse, the project of building roads connecting the ports is still not just a detailed plan.

Mr Luong Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Department of Transportation, explained: "This is because we have not completed the compensation for ground clearance and compensation due to lack of funds.

Due to inadequate road infrastructure, shipowners now have to use barges to transport containers to port. VPA Secretary General Kim Kim said, "This means of transport is not effective because it increases the charge for container owners.

"Ba Ria - Vung Tau only completed the construction of a seaport for sea transport, but did not pay full attention to the completion of road and logistics services," he noted.