Many "hot" issues at the business dialogue conference in the maritime sector

Dredging the channel helps the port increase output rapidly

At the conference, Mr. Nhu Dinh Thien, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Maritime Agents, Brokers and Services (VISABA), said that priority should be given to dredging key national waterways in key economic zones, especially the Hai Phong and Cai Mep areas.

Overview of the dialogue conference.

Specifically, in Hai Phong, it is necessary to periodically maintain the Ha Nam canal to ensure a depth of -8.5m, the Cai Mep channel to reach a minimum depth of -15.5m and study deeper dredging to ensure the capacity to receive super container mother ships of 25,000 TEUs or more.

"The Ha Nam Canal (Hai Phong) is an important gateway to the North with a high density of maritime vessels and a strong trend of increasing ship tonnage. On July 27, 2024, the Hai Phong maritime channel upgrade project, from the turning basin of Hai Phong International Container Port to Nam Dinh Vu Port, was completed, with a depth of -8.5m, ensuring the entry and exit of large tonnage vessels.

As soon as the maritime announcement was made, some shipping lines proactively restructured their routes so that ships could enter the exploitation area, operating on a much busier route. The project has created a breakthrough, eliminating the situation where cargo ships had to wait for the tide, contributing significantly to increasing the competitiveness of the Hai Phong port cluster...", Mr. Thien said.

Mr. Nhu Dinh Thien expressed his opinion at the conference.

VISABA representative proposed that the Ministry of Transport and Vietnam Maritime Administration accelerate the expansion of Ha Nam canal compared to the planning (from the current 80m to 120m), allowing ships to circulate in both directions to reduce pressure on shipping routes, cut logistics costs...

Mr. Phan Hoang Vu, Deputy General Director of SSIT port, said that along with the growth of the market, the output of Vietnam's import and export goods compared to the same period in 2023 increased significantly, reaching 19%. In Cai Mep area alone, by the end of September, the growth was up to 36%, with output reaching more than 4.7 million TEUs. This was thanks to the completion of dredging Cai Mep channel to -15.5m upstream of CMIT port from state capital, attracting many large vessels of up to 24,000 TEUs, draft up to 16m to dock.

SSIT port representatives proposed that the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Maritime Administration create a more favorable mechanism for port enterprises in Cai Mep to receive ships with insignificant differences in tonnage (reduced tonnage) compared to the announced tonnage. The reason is that current ships are designed in a variety of ways, with no fixed tonnage. This will create conditions for Cai Mep ports to be the destination of shipping lines, effectively utilizing the depth of the -15.5m navigation channel and the 700m wide turning channel of adjacent ports, including Gemalink, SSIT, TCTT, CMIT...

Mr. Phan Hoang Vu, Deputy General Director of SSIT port, spoke.

According to the representative of Saigon Port, the dredging of Soai Rap channel is currently facing many difficulties. This channel is very important, not only is it ready to share with Vung Tau channel, in 2022 and 2023, ships entering and exiting on the two channels Soai Rap and Long Tau are equivalent (about 9,000). However, in 2024, the number of ships entering and exiting Soai Rap channel will decrease, due to sedimentation, currently, there are places with only -7m, businesses on the route are operating with great difficulty.

Saigon Port representative suggested that there should be a funding source, possibly from the budget, from socialized sources combined with localities) to dredge and maintain this channel, ensuring a depth of -9m - 12m... At the same time, currently, dredging in front of ports in Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria - Vung Tau is facing many difficulties due to procedures and dumping locations. Saigon Port proposed that the Maritime Administration consider finding dumping locations, planning dumping locations with long-term strategies...

Proposal to adjust loading and unloading prices and inventory handling

According to Mr. Cao Hong Phong, Deputy General Director of Gemalink Port, with the green port trend, recently, shipping lines informed that they will bring methanol-fueled ships to the Ba Ria - Vung Tau port cluster in the second and third quarters of 2025.

In European and American countries, loading and unloading rates have been adjusted to meet the demand for green ports and to receive methanol-powered ships. Mr. Phong suggested that the Vietnam Maritime Administration should provide guidance to deep-water ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area on procedures, processes, and ways of dispatching ships to prepare for receiving methanol-powered ships with large tonnage (from 24 - 25 thousand TEUs) into the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area.

Mr. Cao Hong Phong, Deputy General Director of Gemalink Port proposed an opinion.

The representative of Tan Cang Saigon Corporation proposed to increase the speed of ships in Ganh Rai Bay area (Vung Tau channel) to 12 nautical miles/hour; there should be regulations on fishing corridors so that fishing does not cause unsafety in the shipping channel.

Also at Vung Tau channel (from buoy number "0" to CMIT port), some shallow spots have appeared. It is recommended to inspect and maintain dredging to ensure a minimum channel depth of -15.5m. Consider applying information technology to update channel depth for ports and shipping lines...

Many businesses also pointed out that the backlog of goods at ports is increasing and there is currently no fundamental solution. According to port businesses and VISABA, current legal regulations stipulate procedures for handling backlogs. However, for many years, the backlog of goods and container scrap at seaports has not been completely resolved.

For many reasons, the amount of unsold goods from North to South tends to increase gradually every year. Of which, Cat Lai port has the most backlog in the country. Customs has been notified many times but has not been able to resolve the problem and now the backlog is getting bigger and bigger. Many cargo owners also consider seaports as "yards" to store goods with no commercial value. If not thoroughly resolved, Vietnam will become the world's garbage dump.

Business representatives said that domestic container loading and unloading service prices are still low (about 50% of regional prices). Meanwhile, empty container loading and unloading prices at depots are sky-high.

Solve many problems once and for all

At the conference, Mr. Le Do Muoi, Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, acknowledged and highly appreciated the proposals and comments of business representatives.

Mr. Muoi said that the Vietnam Maritime Administration and the Ministry of Transport arrange dredging of waterways every year, but are currently stuck with dumping the dredged products. The Administration has worked with Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau but have not found a place to dump the waste. Only Tien Giang allows dumping (about 2 million m3). Some provinces give dumping locations as if it were a puzzle, because the cost of dumping is three times the cost of dredging. The biggest problem is the environmental impact assessment.

Director of Vietnam Maritime Administration Le Do Muoi answered delegates.

Responding to VISBA's proposal, the Director said that the expansion of Ha Nam Canal and other canals must be done according to the medium-term plan (every 5 years). However, in the 2021 - 2026 plan, there is no funding for this work, so the Department must review it because resources are limited and must be balanced for other projects.

The Saigon - Vung Tau channel will be dredged in early November, and there is already a dumping site. The Cai Mep channel has just been dredged and widened, and some locations at the river junctions are currently silted up. The channel center will be adjusted and included in the maintenance plan.

Regarding the large ship project, the Vietnam Maritime Administration has just submitted to the Ministry of Transport, in which it has compiled all opinions of enterprises on the problems and difficulties to propose a final solution. In particular, it encourages the effective exploitation of existing infrastructure to ensure safety and suitability.

"Regarding the backlog of goods at the ports, after working with port businesses, the Vietnam Maritime Administration has consulted and the Ministry has also sent a document to the Ministry of Finance. We have worked on it and proposed some solutions. The backlog of goods is really a pain. There are imported goods but cannot find a company to receive them because they have dissolved. Many imported goods have been there for 10 years, 20 years, and are no longer there, with no solution. It may be necessary to organize a workshop to invite units related to the backlog of goods to discuss a thorough solution...", Mr. Muoi said.

Regarding container loading and unloading prices, according to Mr. Muoi, the amendment of Circular 12 of the Ministry of Transport is a big step forward. Based on the actual situation, a suitable roadmap will be developed. In the immediate future, it is necessary to base on Circular 12 for port enterprises to apply loading and unloading prices, avoiding unhealthy competition.

"Currently, empty containers are difficult to manage. We suggest that ports count empty containers both exported and imported for strict management. Because currently, the cost of loading and unloading empty containers at deports is unreasonable. We will review the port areas to arrange them appropriately and must apply the prices of Circular 12," said the Director.

Regarding green ports today, the Director said that each country has its own roadmap and different plans. We have made decisions and criteria for green ports, and state management has a framework that meets international requirements but must save maximum for businesses and national interests are paramount. If there are criteria and standards that can be met, then do it immediately.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/nhieu-van-de-nong-tai-hoi-nghi-doi-thoai-doanh-nghiep-trong-linh-vuc-hang-hai-192241016203009072.htm