The Hai Phong International Container Terminal (HICT) in the northern port city of Hai Phong was inaugurated on May 13 and received the first ship.
The HICT, a joint venture between Saigon New Port, Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines, Wan Hai Lines of Taiwan (China), and Japan’s Itochu Corporation, is the first deep-water port in the north of Vietnam.
With two 750m-long wharves, the terminal is capable of receiving vessels up to 14,000 TEU. The goods output through the port is estimated at 1.1 million TEU per year.
Construction of the 45-hectare port began on May 12, 2016 with a total investment of US$321 million.
According to the Saigon New Port, the HITC has a favourable location as it connects most of inland waterways and coastal roads to Quang Ninh and northern provinces. It also links to feeder terminals New Port 128, New Port 189, ICD New Port – Hai Phong and ICD New Port Ha Nam as well as the northern and central key economic zones and southwestern China.
The terminal is expected to help reduce sea transportation costs as well as logistics costs for enterprises, increase the competitiveness of Vietnam’s goods, and motivate the development of the deep-water port system and logistics activities in the northern region, thus contributing to fostering the nation’s socio-economic growth.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested Hai Phong city to create all favourable conditions to promote the efficiency of the terminal, especially in terms of transport infrastructure and human resources.
He also asked for better coordination between the terminal management company and other major ports in central Da Nang city, Ho Chi Minh City and the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
The infrastructure system in Hai Phong has seen major upgrade during recent years, with the HITC being one of the biggest investments.
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