Cua Viet stream is increasingly scarce

Leaders of Quang Tri Maritime Port Authority informed that Cua Viet waterway has been increasingly silted up recently, causing difficulties for ships traveling on the waterway.

Currently, the channel depth is only about 2.5m and only meets the needs of ships with a capacity of about 1,500-2,000 tons entering and leaving the port to load goods. While according to the design, the channel depth is about 5m and can accommodate ships with a capacity of about 3,000 tons.

Recently, ships entering and leaving Cua Viet port to load goods have had to reduce their load (Illustration photo).

"The number of ships entering remains steady, but ship owners and cargo owners must negotiate with each other to reduce the load and accept compensation for damage costs. Because if ships enter other port areas, high transportation costs will also cause difficulties for cargo owners," said a representative of the Quang Tri Maritime Port Authority, adding that this also poses a potential risk to traffic safety when ships navigate on the waterway.

Mr. Hoang Duc Chung, Director of Cua Viet Port Joint Stock Company, said that by the end of 2023, the amount of sediment in the channel in the area was very large, making it difficult for ships to enter and exit. In early 2024, the company requested permission from the Provincial People's Committee and the Maritime Administration to carry out emergency dredging and was approved. However, the company was only able to dredge a part of the channel, allowing ships to temporarily enter and exit the port.

"Up to now, ships have been able to enter and exit the port, but usually have to reduce their load by about 30%," said Mr. Chung.

In early May 2024, the Northern Maritime Safety Corporation issued a maritime notice, announcing the section of the channel from buoy number 0 to buoy pair number 3 and 4 of the Cua Viet maritime channel, within the 60m wide bottom of the maritime channel, limited and guided by a maritime signaling system with a depth of only 3m.

The channel section from buoys 3 and 4 to the turning basin, within the 60m wide bottom of the navigation channel, is limited and guided by a navigation signal system with a depth of 2.5m.

Notably, the shipping channel also has a shallow strip with a depth of 2.3-2.4m, on the right side of the channel, extending about 75m (from upstream of buoy number 3 about 120m to upstream of buoy number 3 about 195m). The widest area encroaches on the channel about 10m.

At the turning basin location, there is also a shallow strip with a depth of 3.4-4.9m, from the downstream area of ​​wharf No. 1 to the downstream area of ​​wharf No. 2 of Cua Viet port, the widest area encroaches on the turning basin by about 10m.

Watercraft operating on the Cua Viet - Quang Tri waterway are advised to follow the correct waterway route, follow navigation signals and pay attention to shallow areas.

A representative of the Vietnam Maritime Administration informed that Cua Viet waterway has been included in the maintenance plan for the period 2024-2025, implemented with the State budget.

The project aims to dredge the channel to a standard depth of -5.6m with an estimated dredged material volume of more than 162,000m3. The estimated dredging cost in 2024 is about 2 billion VND. Currently, the project has been approved by the People's Committee of Quang Tri province for the location of dumping dredged material on the shore.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/luong-cua-viet-ngay-cang-khan-can-19224052015523806.htm