According to the recently approved plan, the seaport system will be upgraded to meet the increasing demand for social-economic development; ensure national defence, security and maritime safety; as well as enhancethe competitiveness of the economy.
The seaport system is expected to handle 1,140 to 1,423 million tonnes of cargo, including 38 to 47 million TEUs of container cargo, and transport about 10.1 to 10.3 million passengers.
Priority will be given to upgrading infrastructure of international gateway ports such as Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong and Cai Mep Port in Ba Ria – Vung Tau. Meanwhile, appropriate mechanisms and policies will be studied to improve the international transhipment port in Van Phong, Khanh Hoa Province.
According to the planning, Vietnam has two special seaports including Hai Phong and Ba Ria – Vung Tau, 15 seaports of first class, six seaports of second class and 13 seaports of third class.
According to Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Xuan Sang, a new point in the seaport planning is that besides two special seaports of Hai Phong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, an additional four seaports are also defined as special potential seaports, including Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa and Soc Trang.
The planning also puts contents of the Vietnam Maritime Code 2015 into practice while clearly defining the role and development orientation of the inland container depot system as support for the seaport system.
