Kiên Giang will dredge Rạch Giá Port’s entrance channels to ensure arrival and departure of vessels. — Photo baogiongthong.vn

KIÊN GIANG — The Ministry of Transport has agreed to fund VNĐ15 billion (approx. US$650,000) to dredge Rạch Giá Port’s entrance channels in the southern province of Kiên Giang to ensure navigability of vessels.

The Southern Việt Nam Maritime Safety Corporation was assigned to be the project’s investor, vietnamplus.vn reported.

The dredging project is expected to be completed in December, said Trần Văn Tại, director of Kiên Giang Maritime Port Authority.

According to Tại, Rạch Giá Port’s inlet is getting clogged, obstructing the arrival and departure of large vessels, especially high-speed passenger boats and ferries heading to Kiên Hải and Phú Quốc island districts.

Earlier, the provincial People's Committee approved a project to build Rạch Giá harbour with an area of 35ha, costing about VNĐ410 billion.

The project invested by the provincial Transport Department is in the design evaluation phase and is expected to be completed in 2023, ensuring smooth traffic and meeting the increasing demand of traffic from the shore to the islands as well as local socio-economic development needs. — VNS