Dredging the channel to welcome large ships to Hai Phong

The volume of goods is increasing rapidly, shipping lines tend to use large vehicles, requiring regular dredging and maintenance of the depth of shipping channels in Hai Phong.

The number of large container ships docking at Hai Phong seaport is increasing rapidly.

Fear of shallow water

In early 2024, Nam Dinh Vu Port Joint Stock Company spent nearly 70 billion VND from the enterprise's capital to implement the project of upgrading the Hai Phong maritime channel from the turning basin of Hai Phong international container port to Nam Dinh Vu port area ( Ha Nam canal) 10.5km long, lowering the depth from minus 7m to minus 8.5m.

However, after just over a year due to natural sedimentation, the current depth of the channel is only about minus 8m, affecting the exploitation plan, ship schedule and overall competitiveness of the area.

According to the calculations of the port operator, the channel depth is maintained at minus 8.5m, ships entering and leaving the port do not need to wait for the tide, helping to save 4-5 hours/trip, increasing the cargo load through the channel by at least 30%, equivalent to 4,000-5,000 tons/ship trip, contributing to increasing the output of the Dinh Vu area, especially on the Intra-Asia routes...

According to the representative of Nam Dinh Vu Port, in the face of the rapid sedimentation of Ha Nam canal, the enterprise coordinated with the Vietnam Seaport Association to send a document requesting the Ministry of Construction and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration to urgently dredge and maintain the Ha Nam canal to a depth of minus 8.5m.

Currently, Hai Phong's shipping channel, especially the Ha Nam, Bach Dang and Cam River sections, is seriously silted up. According to design standards, the Bach Dang section alone has a depth of minus 7 - 7.2m, but in reality, the channel depth is not as announced. The channel is shallow, making it difficult for ships to enter and exit the port, affecting the circulation of goods and the competitiveness of the city's seaport enterprises.

According to Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hai Phong Port Joint Stock Company Pham Hong Minh, in the face of rapid sedimentation and the depth not meeting the requirements for receiving large ships, in 2024, the unit proposed and was approved by the Ministry of Construction and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration to implement the dredging project to upgrade the channel section from upstream of Nam Hai Dinh Vu port to Dinh Vu port, 5.85 km long. After upgrading, the channel will reach a depth of minus 8.5m, deeper than the announced standard of minus 1.5m).

Previously, Vietnam Container Corporation used corporate funding to upgrade 3.7km of Hai Phong channel from upstream of Nam Dinh Vu port to Nam Hai Dinh Vu port area from a depth of minus 7m to minus 8.5m.

In 2025, Hai Phong seaport area aims to achieve cargo throughput of 112 million tons, an increase of 30 million tons compared to 2019.

Need to maintain stable channel depth

Deep channels help businesses receive ships conveniently, improving the competitiveness of Hai Phong seaport.

Hai Phong waterway route consists of 9 sections: Lach Huyen, Ha Nam canal, Bach Dang, Cam river, Vat Cach, Nam Trieu, Pha Rung, Cai Trap canal... with a total length of about 92.4 km. The 4 main sections are Lach Huyen, Ha Nam, Bach Dang and Cam river with a total length of 46 km. The channel into the port area of ​​Hai Phong is a one-way channel.

The maintenance and dredging of Hai Phong waterway is carried out annually. However, due to limited funding and the long length of the waterway, the maintenance and dredging is carried out in sections and routes.

In 2024, the maintenance dredging of Hai Phong waterway will be carried out for the Lach Huyen section (from buoy 0 to the turning basin in front of Tan Cang Hai Phong international container wharf) with a length of 20.7 km, width of 160 m, bringing the depth of the waterway to minus 13.5 m. The total dredging volume is about 1.8 million m ³ .

In 2025, dredging and maintenance of the channel will be carried out on the Cam River and Cai Trap Canal with a total investment of more than 13 billion VND to dredge the channel to a design depth of minus 5.5m, with a dredging volume of about 70,000 ^m3 .

A representative of Hai Phong Port Joint Stock Company said that the dredging project to upgrade the channel from upstream of Nam Hai Dinh Vu port to Dinh Vu port has been under construction since August and is expected to be completed in October.

After dredging, more than 5.85 km of the channel reached a depth of minus 8.5 m. The enterprise plans to welcome ships up to 55,000 DWT to Tan Vu port. To maintain the depth after the enterprise self-funds the dredging, the unit proposed the Ministry of Construction, the Vietnam Maritime Administration and the Hai Phong City People's Committee to develop a mechanism to regularly and stably maintain the channel depth.

Lach Huyen port area is aiming to become a regional and international transit port. According to the announcement of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, currently all 3 enterprises operating terminals from 1 to 6 (Lach Huyen terminal area) are capable of receiving large container ships and exploiting transoceanic shipping routes. However, the depth of Lach Huyen channel has only reached minus 13.5 m, 50 cm lower than the announced standard. This figure does not take into account the amount of sedimentation each year.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, General Director of Hateco Hai Phong International Container Port (HHIT), said that HHIT port is currently invested to be able to receive ships with a capacity of up to 200,000 DWT, and the wharf is capable of serving ships with a length of 400 m.

However, Lach Huyen channel is still a one-way channel, the depth is not enough to accommodate large ships as announced by the enterprise. Therefore, ensuring the announced depth of minus 14 m, even continuing to upgrade to minus 16 m and expanding Lach Huyen channel into a two-way channel. At that time, it will attract shipping lines to open transoceanic shipping routes connecting directly with Hai Phong.

PHAM CUONG - LE DUNG

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/nao-vet-luong-de-don-tau-lon-toi-hai-phong-522635.html