Vietnam is estimated to require US$5 billion to build and upgrade its sea port network from now to 2012, forecast Tan Hua Joo, APL Vietnam managing director during a conference held Sep 19 in Hanoi.
Vietnam should establish a viable sea port system as soon as possible, recommended Tan Hua Joo, arguing that the country has become an official WTO member and listed among the U.S.’s top seven seafood importers and top three coffee providers.
Surpassing Thailand and Indonesia regarding apparel and footwear shipments to the foreign market, Vietnam is badly in need for an international standard seaport system, Tan Hua Joo stressed.
In the north, the ALP official said, Vietnam should develop Haiphong port into international port with 20-meter depth to accommodate huge cargo vessels.
In the central region, Vietnam should fully run existing ports of Danang and Quy Nhon.
In the south, the country should upgrade its overloading seaports including Cat Lai, VICT, Saigon, Ben Nghe, ICP Phuoc Long, New Port ICP and Cai Mep- Thi Vai.
APL is a subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, the world's eighth-biggest container shipping firm.
Across 24 coastal provinces and cities, Vietnam now has 266 seaports, of which nine establishments could be upgraded to receive 50,000 DWT cargo ships or 3,000 TEUs containers vessels.
Vietnam’s seaports are forecast to handle 200 million tons of goods by 2010 and 310 million tons by 2020, VietNamNet quoted a state official as saying. (Pioneer, VietNamNet)
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