Global marine terminal operator DP World has welcomed the official start of dredging of the Soai Rap River in Vietnam, saying it would bring customers faster access to market, lower costs and easier transportation.
The Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Government Department of Transport is undertaking the USD 134 million project, and yesterday held a special ground breaking ceremony, attended by HCMC Chairman Mr Le Hoang Quan amongst other senior government authorities, and senior DP World, Than Thuan Industrial Promotion Company (IPC) and shipping lines representatives.
The ten month project, which will see the dredging of a 54 kilometre long section of the river, will make the navigation channel available for commercial operation in Q4 2013. The channel will be deepened to a 9.5 metre draft to handle 50,000 to 70,000 gross tonnage ships.
Peter Wong, Senior Vice President and Managing Director DP World, Asia Pacific Region said:
“ We are delighted to witness the start of this project. The deepened channel will be of great benefit to our customers who will be able to transport their products in larger ships and reach markets more quickly thanks to the new channel capacity.
“It will also contribute to the development of the economic zones of HCMC and the South Economic Focus area, providing a new major transport artery for trade to develop and grow. The Saigon Premier Container Terminal (SPCT) was designed with this project in mind and we look forward to its completion.”
Work is being carried out by a partnership of international and local dredging contractors. Compared with the existing 85 kms Long Tau channel, the new channel is four times wider at 150 metres and will cut navigation time by two hours, and is just 15 kilometres from the centre of HCMC.
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Press Release, November 26, 2012