Approval of pilot program to receive international passenger ships at Saigon – Hiep Phuoc port

The Ministry of Construction requires enterprises participating in the pilot to take full responsibility for receiving international passenger ships at Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port area if any incidents occur.

The Ministry of Construction has just approved the policy of allowing a pilot program to receive international passenger ships at Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port area, according to the proposal of Saigon - Hiep Phuoc Port Joint Stock Company.

In addition, the Ministry assigned the Vietnam Maritime Administration to be responsible for guiding investors to implement related contents in the research project to improve the exploitation capacity of public maritime infrastructure and existing port infrastructure issued by the Ministry of Transport in Decision 1731/2024.

In particular, the Ministry of Construction noted that the department only allows ports to receive ships when ensuring passenger safety, construction structure, maritime safety, maritime security, fire prevention and environmental protection.

Comply with the instructions of the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration and relevant agencies during the process of carrying out procedures and receiving international passenger ships entering and leaving the port.

In addition, the company takes full responsibility during the pilot process of receiving international passenger ships at Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port area if any incident occurs; does not require the Ministry of Construction to invest in or upgrade the shipping channel or turning area.

At the end of 2024, the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) also approved the policy to allow Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port to receive the international passenger ship Viking Orion. This ship has a tonnage of 3,640DWT, a length of more than 228m, a width of 28.8m, and is capable of carrying more than 1,400 passengers and crew.