The Government has approved the proposal of Hải Phòng City’s People’s Committee to build two new container terminals at Lạch Huyện International Gateway Port in northern coastal Hải Phòng City. — VNA/VNS Photo

HẢI PHÒNG – The Government has approved the proposal of Hải Phòng City’s People’s Committee to build two new container terminals at Lạch Huyện International Gateway Port in northern coastal Hải Phòng City.

In the document 366/TT-VPCP issued on September 22, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc approved the city committee’s proposal which allowed Hải Phòng Port Joint Stock Company under Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), to implement the construction of terminal No3 and No4 at the port.

The terminals, with total investment capital of VNĐ6.9 trillion (US$296 million), will have a total length of 750 metres and have the capacity to handle vessels of up to 100,000 DWT (8,000 TEU).

The construction of the container terminals No3 and No4 aims to replace Hoàng Diệu terminal, which will be removed to allow construction of Hoàng Văn Thụ and Nguyễn Trãi bridges and the development of urban area as planned.

Hải Phòng Port JSC will build a barge terminal for domestic cargo containers where 100-160 TEU barges can dock. The city also plans to develop a logistic centre for commodity handling, storage, processing and distribution at Lạch Huyện Port.

Nguyễn Cảnh Tĩnh, acting general director of Vinalines said the construction of the two terminals would be a strategic step of Vinalines in achieving the goal of accommodating 30 per cent of cargo at ports in the country by 2020. It would also help the company and Vinalines play key roles in the sea transport, seaport and maritime services.

The construction project needs capital of VNĐ 6.9 trillion. Of that, 45 per cent will come from the company’s fund and the rest from credit loans.

Currently, Lạch Huyện International Port has completed two container terminals No1 and No2 and put them into operation in May. The two terminals have the length of 375 metres per terminal and can serve cargo vessels with the capacity of 50,000 DWT (6,000 TEU).

Phúc said the construction of these ports should be carried out quickly and legally, ensuring the development of the city’s maritime sector.

He asked the Ministry of Transport to work with the city’s People’s Committee and relevant authorities and units to continue studying and adjusting the master plan of seaports of Lạch Huyện Port to connect it with other modes of transport in the city, and work with the city’s infrastructure development plan and accommodate large vessels.

Earlier, the Ministry of Transport approved a master plan for seaports in the northern part of the country by 2020.

Under the master plan, Lạch Huyện Port is on the list of investment priorities to serve ships of up to 100,000 DWT. By 2020, it is expected to have nine terminals with a combined length of 3,000 metres. – VNS