The upgrade project includes building an anchorage area for ships to turn around and installing a drift signal system. The project aims to help increasing the port’s capacity in receiving large ships up to 50,000DWT instead of 30,000DWT ships, according to the Vinamarine.

Quang Ngai vice chairman Le Quang Thich said in his speech delivered at the ground breaking ceremony that the upgrading waterway would ensure safety for ships movements, shorten the time for cargo handling at the port, help speeding up the construction progress of other projects as well as contributing to the development of the economic zone.

The VND70-billion project, which is financed by the State budget, is scheduled to finish in the next four months. With the natural depth of 12-13.2 meters after dredging, the berth could serve large general ships up to 50,000DWT.

Nguyen Ngoc Hue, deputy general director of Vinamarine, said Dung Quat was planned for developing into a multi-purpose port complex, serving oil and gas industries, shipbuilding, and other heavy industries.

Under the master plan prepared by the Vinamarine, Dung Quat port complex includes a port for tankers of 80,000-110,000DWT at Viet Thanh bay, a general port with able to receive 50,000DWT ships on the left bank of the Dap river, and specialized ports for shipbuilding and steel factories. Beside, a container terminal will be built inside the Dung Quat economic zone for serving large ships of 100,000-150,000DWT.

The complex port is designed to have an annual throughput of 20 million tons of cargo by 2010 and 34 million tons by 2020. Last week, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung decided to adjust the master plan for Dung Quat economic zone, turning it into a complex for various industries from now until 2025.