MSC TARGETS NEW VIETNAM HUB

Terminal Investment Ltd (TIL), the investment arm of Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), is targeting involvement in a largescale transshipment hub in Can Gio, to the south of Ho Chi Minh City.

TIL is planning to develop what will be the largest container port complex in Vietnam with partners Vietnam National Shipping Lines and Saigon Port.

Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Government, confirmed in a statement to Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam, that the proposal had been officially received.

The planned facility when fully developed will see up to 7.2km of quay line, water depth for ships up to 24,000TEU in size and a total throughput capacity of between 10 and 15 million TEU per annum.

Local media in Vietnam are reporting that the concept has been “greeted favourably.”

If the proposal is approved by the necessary authorities, construction could commence in 2024, with the opening phase operational four years later. The plans anticipate full build out being realised by 2040.

Can Gio port is based at the mouth of the Thi Vai – Cai Mep River in between Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces and upon completion would replace Cat Lai Port in HCMC’s Thu Duc City as the nation’s largest terminal. Cat Lai Port has a reported annual capacity of 6.4 million TEU per annum and is by far the dominant volume facility for the south of Vietnam.