Project upgrading southern waterway logistics approved

The Ministry of Transport has approved a World Bank (WB)-funded project to upgrade southern waterway logistics corridors and has assigned the Management Board of Waterway Projects as the investor.

The project was approved by the Prime Minister in August 2022.

Capital for the project is estimated at VND3.9 trillion (over $163 million), including a loan of $106.96 million from the WB and non-refundable aid of $580,000 from Australia.

It aims to improve inland waterway and logistics infrastructure in Vietnam’s south by upgrading the East - West waterway corridor that links localities in the Mekong Delta, and the North - South waterway corridor that links localities in the southern region with the Cai Mep - Thi Vai Seaport in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

To be implemented to 2027, the project will renovate and upgrade the 197-km East-West corridor connecting major local rivers such as the Hau, Tra On, Mang Thit, Co Chien, Cho Lach, Tien, Vam Co, Can Giuoc, and Soai Rap, with canals such as Ky Hon, Cho Gao, La, and Nuoc Man. The corridor will allow self-propelled vessels of up to 600 tons and three-tier container ships to pass at any time of the day, while vessels of up to 1,500 tons can pass at hide tide.

The project will also repair and upgrade the 82-km North-South corridor through various rivers such as the Dong Nai, Nha Be, Long Tau, Dong Tranh, Tac Cua, Go Gia, and Thi Vai, and is expected to enable the free and safe movement of self-propelled vessels of up to 5,000 tons and four-tier container ships.