According to Vinalines, the project owner has accelerated preparations and procedures for a ground breaking in October. Vinalines has finished work on the sandbar at the construction site for the start-up phase of the Van Phong port project. The corporation has short-listed contractors for the main package of the project and has submitted the project’s technical design to appropriate authorities for approval.

Last month, the Prime Minister took decisive action to speed up construction. According to the decision, Vinalines will have the right to assign contractors to build key structures and commission management consultants.

Many senior experts and scientists suggested that with the natural depth of 16.5 meters at Dam Mon Wharf, Vinalines should develop two berths for large ships up to 15,000 TEUs instead of berths only serving 6,000-9,000 TEU ships. The scientists said after many “sleeping” years, Van Phong Port needed sufficient investment to become an international transit port. Simply, the port should be able to receive the world’s biggest cargo ships.

In respond to these suggestions, Duong Chi Dung, chairman and general director of Vinalines, writes to say the port’s design is being adjusted.

In the report, Dung said the start-up phase of Van Phong’s first two berths was delayed because under the previous plan approved by the government the wharves were designed to receive ships of 6,000 TEUs.

Vinalines has asked permission to adjust the technical design for the two wharves to make the new port capable of receiving 9,000 TEU ships. Vinalines has submitted a new design to the Government for approval, Dung said.

The total investment capital for the first two wharves of Van Phong Port is estimated at over USD200 million. After building the first two berths, Vinalines will build others capable of handling 12,000-15,000 TEU ships and with a long-term vision for new wharves receiving container ships of up to 18,000 TEUs, the largest ship the world has ever seen.