Ships face difficulties due to siltation at Phan Thiet estuary

The project to dredge the Phan Thiet estuary channel (Binh Thuan) was established a long time ago, but due to the lack of a dumping site, it has remained "inactive". This has caused the estuary channel to be silted at an alarmingly high level, posing a potential safety risk.

Fishermen and transport businesses are worried.

In mid-February 2025, Giao thong Newspaper reporters recorded that at Phan Thiet transport port (Phan Thiet city, Binh Thuan province), there were high-speed boats and hundreds of fishing boats anchored waiting for high tide to go out to sea.

The silted estuary poses a danger to ships and boats going out to sea. (In the photo: Ships and boats anchored at Phan Thiet fishing port).

Standing at the port at low tide, with the naked eye one can easily see a sandbar stretching hundreds of meters at the end of the Ca Ty River at the estuary. This is a sandbar that has existed for many years due to sedimentation, rising higher and higher in front of the port area.

According to fishermen, every time they set sail, fishing boats have to wait for the tide to rise, not daring to take risks because they are afraid of damaging the boat or breaking the propeller when the channel is too shallow. In addition to waiting for the tide to rise, speedboats departing have to pay an additional fee to hire a tugboat to take them out to sea.

Representatives of high-speed ferry companies operating on the Phan Thiet – Phu Quy route said that the departure schedules of high-speed passenger and cargo ships are currently completely dependent on the tide, and it is not possible to depart quickly. The main reason is that the shipping channel at the estuary has been silted up for many years.

The ship cannot run at full load.

There are currently 5 high-speed boats operating on the Phan Thiet – Phu Quy route. All of these high-speed boats have large capacity, carrying hundreds of passengers per trip.

Phan Thiet estuary is silted up, narrowing the shipping channel, posing a safety risk.

A speedboat captain said that if the shallow channel is not cleared, it will continue to expand, making it difficult to ensure safe boat operation: "Many captains are 'running and trembling' even though the tide is at its peak."

According to Mr. Dinh Viet Cuong, Deputy Director of Commercial Port Company Limited (the unit managing Phan Thiet transport port), the current sedimentation of the shipping channel in the Phan Thiet estuary area is at an alarming level.

Mr. Cuong cited that in 2020, the Phan Thiet - Phu Quy channel was dredged to -8m, but now through an independent survey by the port, the channel depth ranges from -1.8m to -2m of water, not ensuring safe ship navigation.

In 2020, the waterway for 1,000 DWT ships was dredged by the Vietnam Maritime Administration (the waterway management unit). However, due to lack of regular dredging, it has remained silted to this day.

"The sedimentation is getting more and more serious, the sandbar is swelling right at the port entrance," Mr. Cuong said, pointing to the swelling sandbar in front of the sea.

To ensure safety, high-speed trains and cargo ships must carry less than their designed load. For example, ships that are allowed to carry 1,000 DWT can now only carry 600 - 800 DWT to avoid grounding and accidents.

Still waiting for dumping location

Mr. Do Van Thuan, Deputy Director of Binh Thuan Maritime Port Authority confirmed that Phan Thiet waterway and turning basin are currently suffering from serious siltation. According to the latest maritime announcement of the Southern Maritime Safety Corporation, the actual depth of Phan Thiet waterway is only about 0.6m and the turning basin is only 1.1m.

"The funding for the dredging project is available. However, the project cannot be implemented yet because it is waiting for the location of the dredging site from the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province to be introduced," said Mr. Thuan.

To ensure the maintenance of standard principles for designing maritime routes to serve ships entering and leaving ports safely, the Vietnam Maritime Administration has repeatedly sent documents and worked with the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province to request the introduction and approval of locations for dumping dredged material.

Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee has assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to preside with relevant units to agree on the location to receive dredged material (expected dredged volume of 200,000m3).

Most recently, on February 12, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment chaired a meeting with relevant units to agree on advising the Provincial People's Committee to decide on the location to receive dredged material.

After receiving approval from the Provincial People's Committee, the Vietnam Maritime Administration will take the next steps to implement dredging and maintenance.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tau-thuyen-gap-kho-vi-cua-bien-phan-thiet-boi-lang-192250220210931444.htm