New transport logistics corridor for Vietnam
The Vietnamese authorities were assisted with a feasibility study and preliminary design for Vietnam Southern region waterways and transport logistics corridor project. PortExpertise consultant, Erwin Lock, recently presented his interim report. After some additional research, Vietnam authorities will soon present the final report to the World Bank in order to get funds for developing this port project.
The Worldbank makes USD 250 million available for improving the Mekong Delta Inland Waterway Network and for improving logistics costs for the import-export containerized supply chains of the greater metropolitan area of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
The plan is to move cargo from congested the Ho Chi Min City river port to the underutilized Cai Mep-Thi Vai deepwater port complex and improve the latter’s hinterland connections. The USD 1.8 billion costing port complex consisting of seven container terminals has been operating at just 15% of its designed capacity since it opened in 2009. Each terminal can handle about 1 million TEU annually, giving the port complex an annual handling capacity of 7 million TEU. Deficiency of container-storing spaces, insufficient designed capacity, and underdeveloped connecting roads and inland waterways along with low-quality logistics service have altogether curbed the soaring intension to transit cargos.
The tasks consist of collecting data, study the feasibility for upgrading the inland waterway corridors in the Mekong Delta, and advise on how to improve the logistics chain from the HCMC economic area to the CMTV port complex.
In more detail it means conducting relevant data collection, surveys and studies as required to identify priority interventions recommended for investmentin the waterborne supply corridors linking the port of Can Tho with HCMC and the transport logistics corridors connecting to CMTV port complex. Further it implies the preparation of feasibility studies, preliminary engineering designs, and bidding documents for detailed designs at a level consistent with the requirements of investment appraisal by Vietnamese laws and guidelines, as well as World Bank guidelines for the recommended priority interventions/corridors of the above two main investment components.