Sustainable solutions to control sedimentation at Cua Viet port are needed.

QTO - Cua Viet Port currently has a scale of over 8.2 hectares, undertaking the function of importing and exporting goods. According to statistics, in the first 8 months of 2025, the volume of goods passing through Cua Viet seaport reached 1.3 million tons. Of which, exported goods accounted for 485 thousand tons, mainly wood chips and sand; domestic goods accounted for more than 850 thousand tons, mainly gypsum, sand, coal, clinker...

Cua Viet seaport area currently has 4 ports and 1 transshipment area, including: Cua Viet port includes 2 wharves, total length of 128m, allowing to receive general cargo ships with a tonnage of up to 2,000 tons, design capacity of 400,000 tons/year. Hop Thinh port includes 1 wharf, length of 140m, design capacity of 400,000 tons/year, allowing to receive general cargo ships with a tonnage of up to 5,000 tons (reduced load). Hai Ha petroleum port includes 1 wharf, length of 35m, design capacity of 30,200 tons/year, allowing to receive liquid cargo ships with a tonnage of up to 3,000 tons. Port No. 4 - North Cua Viet wharf area has a length of 70m, receiving passenger ships with a capacity of up to 200 passengers or parameters suitable to the port's receiving capacity. Transshipment area No. 2 at Cua Viet allows receiving general cargo ships with a capacity of up to 50,000 tons (full load) and 70,000 tons (partial load).

Since October 2024, Cua Viet seaport has been experiencing sedimentation, causing some local points to dry up, but up to now, this phenomenon has become increasingly serious due to the impact of geographical factors, climate and natural flows. According to the latest maritime notice, the depth of Cua Viet navigation channel at the shallowest point is only minus 2.7m (-2.7m), much lower than the design standard of minus 5.6m (-5.6m) for ships to move safely. The serious sedimentation situation is posing a potential risk to maritime safety, because when ships have to move in narrowed channel conditions, the risk of running aground or colliding increases.

Cua Viet Port is silted up, affecting the transit of goods - Photo: NK

In particular, the phenomenon of sedimentation has caused many difficulties for businesses operating in cargo transportation at the port. Previously, ships could carry more than 2,000 tons of cargo, but now they can only carry 1,000-1,200 tons, reducing economic efficiency and increasing operating costs of businesses. Obviously, the sedimentation of maritime routes is a major barrier for cargo transportation businesses. Wharves receive fewer cargo ships, large-capacity ships have difficulty moving, and it takes a lot of time and money to enter and exit the port. This has reduced the attractiveness of Cua Viet port for logistics and import-export businesses.

Currently, at Cua Viet Port, there are 4 enterprises operating in the business of warehouse, cargo, import and export services, including: Cua Viet Port Joint Stock Company, Hop Thinh LLC, Thanh Thanh Dat LLC and Tien Phong Joint Stock Company.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cua Viet Port Joint Stock Company Phan Ngoc Anh said that from the beginning of the year to August 31, 2025, the total volume of goods cleared through Cua Viet port only reached more than 280,728 tons of goods/560,000 tons as planned. Data from Thanh Thanh Dat Company Limited shows that in the first 6 months of 2025, the volume of goods through the port only reached 95,452 tons, reaching 44% of the plan. For Hop Thinh Company Limited, the total volume of goods imported and exported through Cua Viet port on average per month in 2024 reached 100,000 tons, but in 2025 it only reached about 25,000 tons/month.

Deputy Director of Quang Tri Maritime Port Authority Le Van Chau said that the silted shipping channel has significantly reduced the volume of goods exported through the port. The most recent dredging was in 2020, but under the impact of the weather, the silting situation has quickly recurred. In early 2025, businesses operating at the port applied for permission and paid for dredging themselves, but this is only a temporary solution to overcome some local shallow spots in the port area.

To overcome the sedimentation situation in the Cua Viet port area, the Vietnam Maritime Administration ( Ministry of Construction ) has decided to approve the Cua Viet navigation channel dredging and maintenance project with a total capital of more than 20.12 billion VND according to the plan for 2025. However, the bidding process encountered problems and the construction time at the end of the year was affected by the weather, so it was not completed on schedule. Therefore, the Vietnam Maritime Administration reported to the Ministry of Construction to request an adjustment of the construction time and completion in 2026. However, to thoroughly resolve this situation, not only periodic dredging is required but also research and application of solutions to control sedimentation in a sustainable manner.

With the important strategic position of Cua Viet port in the logistics chain of the Central region, the early implementation of dredging and anti-silting solutions will not only help improve maritime transport capacity, promote import and export activities but also promote economic development of the province, while maintaining waterway traffic safety.

Ho Nguyen Kha

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202509/can-co-giai-phap-kiem-soat-ben-vung-su-boi-lap-tai-cang-cua-viet-ca3370d/