Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Secretary Le Thanh Hai and Deputy Ambassador of Belgium in Vietnam Geert Vansintjan initiated the second phase of the Soai Rap River dredging project on Saturday, June 21, reported vietnamnews.vn.
The 54 kilometer long route of the Soai Rap Waterway dredging project, with a total value of approximately $131.4 million jointly financed by the Vietnamese government and Belgium, has been divided into three phases.
The first phase that was completed earlier this year dredged the river to a depth of 9,5 meters allowing ships of 30,000 to 50,000 tons to reach ports in HCM City.
The second and third phase of the project will deepen the shipping channel to a depth of 11-12 meters making it safe for 70,000 ton ships from sea to enter the Saigon Premier Container Terminal–SPCT in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone.
Once completed, this project will undoubtedly generate social and economic benefits to the whole Mekong Delta. It will create employment and boost numerous business opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City as well as further port construction and operation in the Long’An and Tien Giang provinces.
NYK owned Northern Genius was the first vessel to sail up the new Soai Rap River channel. The vessel, with a nominal TEU (twenty foot equivalent container unit) capacity of 4,300 and dwt of 54,000 arrived on May 17th at SPCT terminal in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Dredging Today Staff, June 23, 2014