Vietnam’s Soai Rap River dredging enters second phase

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HCMCDredging of the Soai Rap River to allow large vessels to enter the Hiep Phuoc Port Complex in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, has officially entered its second phase.

The June 21 inauguration of the second phase of the dredging project was led by Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Secretary Le Thanh Hai, and Deputy Ambassador of Belgium in Vietnam Geert Vansintjan.

The channel dredging project was approved by the city’s People’s Committee in April 2012 with a total capital of VND2.8 trillion (US$131.4 million).

The 54-kilometer route begins from the sea and ends at the Saigon Premier Container Terminal (SPCT) in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone, according to local media reports.

Began last year, the three-phase dredging program is being co-financed by Belgium with an investment of EUR76 million (US$103.4 million) and HCMC with VND642 billion.

The first phase was completed earlier this year when the river was dredged to a depth of 9.5 meters so that ships of 30,000 to 50,000 tons could reach the city’s ports.

The channel has been installed with warning systems, marking buoys, and other devices for the safe navigation of vessels.

The second and third phase will deepen the channel to a depth of 11 meters to 12 meters to permit 70,000-ton ships passage from the sea to the SPCT.

Once dredging is completed, the Soai Rap River route is expected to hasten transit times to and from the city’s center to ease traffic and reduce environmental pollution, as well as yield social and economic benefits to the whole Mekong Delta.

Deputy Prime Minister Hai said at the event that the project is part of the national maritime economic development strategy for 2020 and is expected to accommodate the city’s rising demand for cargo transport.

HCM City is developing its waterways to link up to seaports in the Asian region.

Reports said that following the inauguration, at least five shipping companies have announced their interest in opening direct routes from HCM City to major markets.

Photo: Peter Nguyen