Da Nang is in need of support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to conduct the pre-feasibility study of the would-be Lien Chieu Port so that it can obtain the in-principle investment policy approval by functional national bodies and call for investors’ participation in this large-scale project as soon as possible.

Municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Le Quang Nam addressing the seminar.

The statement was made by municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Le Quang Nam at a seminar held on Tuesday which reviewed the final report on the Data Collection Survey on the Development of Lien Chieu Port project under the JICA sponsorship.

The Lien Chieu Port is one of the key projects that aim to turn Da Nang into a main logistics centre in ASEAN and the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) that links Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The survey reveals that the total volume of goods transported through the current Tien Sa Port over the past decade increased by about 13%. In 2019, the container cargo volume rose by 10.5 million tonnes, almost reaching the maximum capacity of the Port. Given the fast port development pace, the research and development of Lien Chieu Port is very essential.

Given such a high cargo volume growth rate, the Tien Sa Port will reach its maximum capacity in the next few years. Therefore, it is necessary to start the relocation of the cargo handling functionalities from Tien Sa Port to the would-be Lien Chieu Port from 2031 or 2041.

The Lien Chieu Port will be developed and operated according to progress steps, namely two terminals by the end of 2026, four by 2031, five by 2035, and six by 2038.

As for the subdivision planning under its master plan, the entire Lien Chieu Port project will cover a total area of about 1,285ha, an estimated population of about 19,000.

Besides, JICA has proposed land use plans in Lien Chieu port urban area with a focus on developing an about 12ha logistics site, a 24ha residential area, about 16ha commercial and service complex, and a 18ha venue for a square, green-covered parks, gymnastics and sports activities.

Under the Lien Chieu Port project, the shared infrastructure construction will feature coastal embankments, breakwaters, marine navigation channels, equipment used for loading and unloading operations, transshipment services and other kinds of technical infrastructure for an annual capacity of handling a combined total of 3.5 to 5 million tonnes of cargo.

The new port could receive cargo ships of up to 100,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) and container ships with loading capacities from 6,000 to 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs), plus 10,000 DTW liquid cargo vessels.

It is known that the shared infrastructure construction will be carried out during the 2021 – 2025 period at a cost of 3,426.3 billion VND funded by the national and municipal governments.

Of this, nearly 3 trillion VND will be funded by the national government, whilst the remainder will come from the city budget and its medium-term plans for public investment during the 2021 – 2025 period.

JICA Chief Representative in Viet Nam Shimizu Akira said his agency and the consultants jointly have developed the urban planning around Lien Chieu Port, traffic connection and terminal allocation plans and their feasibility, the efficient management and operation model of the Lien Chieu Port,  and appropriate investment plans which harmonise the interests of the parties.

Reporting by THANH LAN – Translating by A.T