However, the country risks losing its competitive advantage if it cannot continue to accommodate these large vessels. For example, while it costs about 2,300 USD for a 20-foot container on a 60,000-ton ship to enter the port, the same container on a 200,000-ton ship costs just over 1,000 USD. This nearly 50% reduction in transport costs underscores the economic efficiency of larger ships.
Currently, Vietnamese ports handle more than 33 large ships of 24,000 TEU each month, reducing shipping lines’ average costs by 25-30% and boosting port revenue and operational efficiency. “Goods can go through mother ships straight from Vietnam to Europe and America, setting the stage for Vietnam to become a major transshipment point in the future,” said Mr. Cao Hong Phong, Deputy General Director of Gemalink Cai Mep International Port in Ba Ria – Vung Tau.
Despite these benefits, some seaports face revenue risks due to their inability to accommodate large ships. For instance, even after dredging to a depth of 15.5 meters, the channel from buoy 0 to the Cai Mep – Thi Vai wharf area still requires careful timing with tides to ensure the safe passage of ships over 200,000 tons.
Mr. Lam Pham Hai Diep, Deputy Head of Infrastructure Department at the Vietnam Maritime Administration, highlighted the challenges: “Some channels can’t be maintained annually due to insufficient funding and lack of suitable locations to dump dredged material, which limits the operation of large ships.”
“If we cannot receive large ships, areas like Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria Vung Tau will lose business to Singapore, increasing costs,” warned Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of Portcoast Port Design and Marine Engineering Consulting.
Vietnam has about 30 ship service lines directly connecting to the US and Europe, handling nearly 675 million tons of import and export goods annually. However, without urgent investment in upgrading deep-water port infrastructure to accommodate large and super-large vessels, Vietnam risks missing the opportunity to become an international maritime transshipment center, potentially losing trillions of dong each year in maritime fees.
@vtv.vn
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Source: Vietnam Insider