Quy Nhơn Port in Bình Định, one of the country’s major general ports. The development of a cluster of ports in the south-central region is expected to be a driving force for local economic development.— VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The construction of a series of seaports in the south-central region is expected to drive its maritime economic development, according to local government leaders.

Lưu Xuân Vĩnh, Chairman of the Ninh Thuận Province People's Committee, said the VNĐ1.463 trillion (US$63.1 million), 108ha Cà Ná Sea Port Complex, whose construction began last month in Thuận Nam District, would play an important role for the locality and region, fostering economic development and attracting investment.

In phase 1, it was designed to handle 3.3 million tonnes of cargo a year. It would have two wharves capable of berthing ships of up to 70,000-100,000 DWT and another with 20,000DWT capacity.

One of the two former wharves would be completed by the end of 2022 and the other in October 2025.

The smaller wharf was scheduled to be completed in August 2026.

"The port will [help] merchandise exports, contribute to attracting investment and serve the needs of production and processing projects in industrial parks and industrial clusters in Ninh Thuận Province and the south-central and Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) regions,” Vĩnh said.

“It will play an important role in supporting the transport of equipment for renewable energy projects such as wind and solar power projects in the province.”

Neighbouring Bình Thuận Province plans to build the Sơn Mỹ international port in the commune of the same name in Hàm Tân District.

It will have a specialised wharf for liquefied natural gas (LNG) that can handle ships of up to 100,000DWT, an international passenger wharf that can berth ships of up to 225,000 GRT and a general berth capable of handling ships of up to 50,000 DWT.

Bình Thuận Province also plans to build a specialised LNG port with a capacity of up to 170,000 DWT in Tân Thành Commune, Hàm Thuận Nam District, to serve the gas-fired power plant in Mũi Kê Gà.

Among the south-central provinces, Khánh Hòa has the largest number of ports: 16.

Hoàng Đình Phi, head of the management board of the province’s Văn Phong Economic Zone, said Nam Vân Phong Port in Ninh Hòa town opened recently to serve the south-central and Central Highlands regions.

It can dock ships of up to 70,000DWT now and 100,000DWT in the near future.

Meanwhile, Bắc Vân Phong Port is under construction in Đầm Môn, Vạn Ninh District. One wharf that can handle ships of up to 50,000 DWT has been completed.

Mai Đình Vũ, chairman of Vân Phong Port Company Limited, said though the port had yet to be completed, it had already received many foreign ships. With a rising number of cargo vessels of 50,000-70,000DWT registering to enter the port his company was seeking to increase the capacity of the remaining two wharves to improve the port’s efficiency.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the south-central region will have five key ports.

Quy Nhơn Port in Bình Định Province is a major national port with 18-20 million tonnes of goods passing through it annually. Vũng Rô Port in Phú Yên handles 5.8 - 6.3 million tonnes a year. Ninh Thuận Port has a cargo throughput of 15.8 -17.5 million tonnes.

Khánh Hòa Port handles 15.9 - 18.6 million tonnes of goods a year. — VNS.