The Cái Mép-Thị Vải port cluster in HCM City. Work begins on phase 2 of Gemalink deep-sea port project on April 17, which will boost the port's total capacity to 3 million TEUs per year upon completion. — VNA/VNS Photo Huỳnh Sơn

HCM CITY — Gemadept Corporation and its French strategic partner, CMA CGM, officially broke ground on the second phase of the Gemalink deep-sea port project on Friday (April 17).

The expansion, located within the Cái Mép-Thị Vải port cluster, represents an investment of approximately VNĐ6 trillion (US$236 million).

The project is scheduled for completion and commissioning by the fourth quarter of 2027.

Staying ahead of global maritime trends, Gemalink Phase 2 will continue to pioneer the "smart & green port" model.

The facility will be equipped with 100 per cent electric-powered cranes, including E-STS (Ship-to-Shore) and E-RTG (Rubber-Tyred Gantry) cranes, alongside cutting-edge technology aimed at meeting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

By utilising high-tech equipment and optimising loading productivity, Gemalink aims to bolster the Cái Mép-Thị Vải cluster’s position.

The cluster is currently ranked among the top 10 most efficient container ports globally by the World Bank.

Upon completion of both phases, the project will span 54.4 hectares with total investment exceeding VNĐ13.7 trillion ($520.3 million).

The total length of the pier will be extended to more than 1.4km.

Located in the core area of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Cái Mép Hạ, the port serves as a vital link between production, services, and logistics.

It is expected to contribute significantly to double-digit economic growth for the region and help elevate Việt Nam's logistics brand on the global stage.

Đỗ Công Khanh, deputy general director of Gemadept, highlighted the port's critical role in the ecosystem of both the corporation and CMA CGM – the world’s third-largest shipping line.

Gemalink is one of only 19 ports worldwide capable of receiving the largest container ships today, with deadweight tonnage up to 250,000 DWT (equivalent to 24,000 TEUs), he said.

Since Phase 1 began operations in 2021, Gemalink has handled 2,018 vessel calls.

Notably, nearly 70 per cent of these were ultra-large vessels ranging from 160,000 to over 232,000 DWT.

The port has reached a throughput of 6.5 million TEUs, maintaining consistent double-digit annual growth.

As global shipping lines shift toward larger, clean-energy vessels, the expansion to a total capacity of 3 million TEUs per year ensures the port can accommodate increasing cargo volumes and transshipment goods from across the region.

The groundbreaking ceremony also serves as a key event to celebrate the successful election of the 16th National Assembly and the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975–2026). — VNS