HCM City proposes int’l transit terminal built in Can Gio district. (Photo: cafe biz)

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) is collecting opinions from relevant ministries and agencies on supplementing and adjusting the master plan for developing Vietnam's seaport system in the period of 2021-30, with a vision to 2050.

The project is also being proposed as one of the priority infrastructure projects to be implemented by 2023.

According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, scenario planning is developed in line with the spirit of the Politburo's resolutions on socio-economic development of regions and localities, meeting the development targets of each region and each locality.

The adjustment of the master plan is necessary to ensure compliance with the National Master Plan and the country’s current socio-economic development needs.

When the Can Gio international transhipment port is completed, seaports in HCM City will meet the criteria for the classification of special seaports according to the new provisions of the revised Vietnam Maritime Code in 2015.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, two seaport systems in HCM City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province are targeted to become the special seaports of the southeast region, serving as international transhipment points or international gateway ports.

With a total investment of about 6 billion USD, the project is being studied by the Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) - the world's second-largest container shipping company.

The project has a designed capacity of 15 million TEUs. The two sides are working hard with foreign partners to finalise plans for investment and operations.

This project is a complement to the Cai Mep-Thi Vai seaport system, not a competition to weaken the existing seaport system.