Logistics firms are worried transport of cargo to and from seaport will be disrupted. — Photo courtesy of VICT

HCM CITY — Logistics firms are worried transport of cargo to and from the Vietnam International Container Terminals will be disrupted by the lockdown of HCM City’s District 7 where it is situated.

Tân Thuận Đông Ward and a part of Tân Thuận Tây Ward and Bình Thuận Ward in the district have been locked down since 6pm on July 8.

A major logistics firm said paperwork and other procedures related to COVID-19 testing for container truck drivers to enter the port are inconsistent.

Besides, ships cannot dock for loading and unloading, goods owners cannot enter the port for customs procedures and there is a shortage of workers for loading and unloading due to travel restrictions.

Saigon Port Joint stock Company, which operates Tân Thuận Port, Tân Thuận Đông Port, Bến Nghé Port One-Member Limited Company, and Vietnam International Container Terminals (VICT) have called on the city and District 7 administrations and other relevant departments and agencies to find a solution.

They want the authorities to allow them to proactively implement measures such as issuing letters to workers confirming they are working at the port so that they can pass through the District 7 health quarantine and control stations, customers to submit a work order to the stations to visit ports and drivers of container trucks to make a medical declaration to pass.

Trương Nguyên Linh, deputy general director of the First Logistics Development Joint Venture Company, which owns and operates VICT, said there is an ongoing problem related to employees and drivers furnishing a negative COVID-19 test certificate since it is expensive.

Speaking to Tuổi Trẻ Online, a spokesperson for the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), said not only VICT but also Tân Thuận Đông and Saigon Port are facing difficulties, and isolating seaports like residential areas is unreasonable since it would greatly affect supply chains.

VLA has written to the departments of Transport, and Industry and Trade to resolve the difficulties faced by ports and logistics companies. — VNS