Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 31 kicked off the construction of the Van Phong international transshipment port in the southern central province of Khanh Hoa.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (1st L) co-launches the construction of the Van Phong international transshipment port in the southern central province of Khanh Hoa on October 31

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Dung praised efforts by the project contractor – the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) and the Khanh Hoa provincial authorities for preparations to build the port.

As the only international transshipment port to be built under the national port development plan towards 2020, Van Phong is of critical importance for the socio-economic development as well as for security and national defense.

It will greatly contribute to the national industrialization and modernization course and facilitate Vietnam ’s integration into the world, the PM said, adding that it will be a growth engine for the Van Phong economic zone in the future.

PM Dung ordered the investor, constructing units, management agencies and Khanh Hoa provincial authorities to coordinate in the implementation of the project as well as in the proper relocation of local people. He also called on prospective investors to join in infrastructure projects for the local economic zone.

During the first phase of the project, two large wharves with a total length of 690 meters will be built on an area of 42 hectares.

When the first phase is completed, the port will be capable of accommodating container ships with a capacity of 9,000TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) each. The port will also be able to handle cargo of 710,000 TEU a year.

According to Vinalines, the project will undergo four phases and upon completion by 2020, the port will have 37 wharves with a total length of 12,590 meters, capable of handling cargo of between 14.5 and 17 million TEU a year.