With the rapid development of the shipping industry, VIMC not only focuses on improving port infrastructure but also promotes fleet development and international cooperation.

At the summary conference of the Ministry of Transport, Vietnam National Shipping Lines (VIMC) proposed breakthrough strategies and solutions in the coming period to bring the Vietnamese maritime industry to the open sea.

With the rapid development of the maritime transport industry, VIMC has not only focused on improving port infrastructure but also promoting fleet development and international cooperation. These efforts not only help to remove current bottlenecks but also lay the foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam's maritime industry in the future.

Big ships need big channels: dredging is the bottleneck

The continuous increase in ship size and cargo volume has put great pressure on Vietnam's maritime infrastructure system. Currently, cargo volume through Vietnamese seaports has reached 30 million TEUs, far exceeding the forecast 10 years ago. Meanwhile, Singapore - the largest transit port in the region - is handling about 37 million TEUs. With the current growth rate, VIMC leaders believe that Vietnam is fully capable of surpassing Singapore in the near future.

However, the biggest challenge at present lies in dredging channels. According to information from the Vietnam Maritime Administration, dredging projects need to be implemented quickly to meet the requirements of large ships. However, the budget for this activity is still limited and has not received due attention. At the same time, ports also need to apply the “open port” model, integrating customs systems to reduce clearance time, facilitate inter-port cargo transportation and increase competitiveness.

To address these bottlenecks, VIMC has focused its greatest resources on strategic deep-water port projects. A typical example is the Can Gio international transit port project, which is expected to become a new symbol of Vietnam’s maritime industry.

With its strategic location, Can Gio port not only shortens the transportation process and significantly reduces logistics costs of domestic goods, but also opens up great opportunities for Vietnam to participate more deeply in the global supply chain.

VIMC General Director Nguyen Canh Tinh shared: “We are looking forward to the Prime Minister approving this project and requesting Ho Chi Minh City to soon complete the procedures for selecting investors. This will be an important step to elevate the Vietnamese maritime industry, competing equally with major seaports in the world.”

When put into operation, Can Gio port together with Cai Mep-Thi Vai port cluster will become a port complex that helps improve the competitiveness of Vietnam's maritime industry, re-routing the maritime map of the current and future region of Inner Asia. Not only that, this port cluster also helps Vietnamese goods reduce their dependence on transit through Singapore, creating direct international shipping routes from Vietnam and significantly increasing the competitiveness of domestic goods in the international market.

Fleet development strategy and international cooperation

In parallel with upgrading port infrastructure, VIMC also aims to rapidly develop the national fleet through a cooperation strategy with the world's largest shipping lines. In this way, VIMC not only takes advantage of its partners' existing customer base and market, but also rapidly expands its transportation network and enhances its competitiveness. International cooperation not only helps Vietnam access advanced transportation technology but also ensures efficiency in transportation operations. This is a strategy with a simplified solution to handle practical problems as quickly as possible.

Mr. Tinh further emphasized: “We aim to develop a strong fleet, not only to meet domestic freight transport needs but also to serve international routes. This is an important step to bring Vietnamese goods directly to the world without having to transit through other countries.”

Over the past year, VIMC has achieved remarkable results, including port cargo throughput reaching 145 million tons, an increase of 27% compared to 2023, and maritime transport output reaching 20 million tons, exceeding the plan by 22%. However, VIMC emphasized that this is just the beginning for bigger plans in the future.

“We will not stop at the current numbers. With support from the government and ministries, VIMC will continue to implement breakthrough projects to realize the goal of bringing the Vietnamese maritime industry to the regional level.”

Aspiration to elevate the position of Vietnam's maritime industry

Not only stopping at economic goals, VIMC's strategies also aim to actively contribute to the overall development of Vietnam. Deep-water port projects not only create jobs but also promote the development of supporting industries, thereby improving the quality of life for people. With strategic vision and high determination, VIMC is continuing to write the development story of Vietnam's maritime industry, turning aspirations into reality and affirming Vietnam's position on the world maritime map.

At the end of the discussion, Mr. Nguyen Canh Tinh shared: “To realize this strategy, we really need strong support from the Government and ministries. In particular, policies and mechanisms to encourage the development of large enterprises such as strong decentralization to representatives of equity capital and giving autonomy to enterprises are prerequisites for Vietnamese corporations to reach out to the world. We believe that, with the support of the Government and ministries, VIMC will not only achieve its business goals but also contribute to raising Vietnam's position in the global value chain.”

Market Life Electronic Magazine