Increasing costs, reducing revenue, risks to traffic safety
Cua Viet is the only seaport in Quang Tri, with a scale of over 8.2 hectares, including three ports: two ports No. 1 and No. 2 (64m long, receiving ships with a load capacity of 2,000 tons), Hop Thinh port (100m long, receiving ships with a load capacity of 3,000 tons). Hung Phat Petroleum pontoon bridge (170m long) can accommodate ships with a load capacity of 40,000 tons. Currently, Cua Viet port handles a cargo volume of about 1.1 million tons/year.
However, the situation of silted up maritime flows is a major barrier for cargo transport businesses. The ports receive fewer cargo ships and heavy-duty ships that have difficulty moving, causing more time and costs to enter and exit the port.
Most ships are forced to reduce their payload when receiving goods, especially those that can only carry half of the designed capacity, not enough to cover operating costs. This has reduced the attraction of Cua Viet port to import-export and logistics enterprises.
According to Mr. Hoang Duc Chung - Director of Cua Viet Port Joint Stock Company, the silted shipping channel has caused the amount of goods exported through the port to decrease by 40%. Even during peak times, businesses are forced to move goods to Hue or Quang Binh, leading to increased transportation costs, putting great pressure on product prices, while reducing local budget revenue.
Information from the Quang Tri Maritime Port Authority said that the depth of Cua Viet maritime channel is only about 2.5m, much lower than the necessary standards for ships to be able to move safely. Previously, ships could carry more than 2,000 tons of goods, but now they can only carry 1,000 - 1,200 tons, reducing economic efficiency and increasing operating costs. This situation has forced many businesses to reconsider their transportation options, and some units have even withdrawn from Cua Viet port area. Not only affecting production and business activities, serious silting conditions also pose a potential risk to maritime safety. When a boat has to move in narrow channel conditions, the risk of getting stranded or colliding increases. This can cause great damage to property and affect the safety of crew members.
Long-term solutions are needed to overcome the situation of silting
Mr. Ngo Quang Vinh - Acting Head of the Safety Legal Department, Quang Tri Maritime Port Authority - said that the unit has sent a document recommending the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Maritime Administration to promptly implement the Cua Viet canal dredging plan. Maintaining the standard depth of the channel not only helps ships and boats to circulate smoothly but also creates conditions for import-export activities to develop, contributing to promoting the regional economy.
The silting situation in Cua Viet is not a new problem but has been going on for many years due to the impact of geographical factors, climate and natural flow. To completely solve this situation, it is not only necessary to conduct periodic dredging but also to study and apply solutions to sustainably control the filling.
With the important strategic position of Cua Viet port in the logistics chain of the Central region, the early implementation of dredging and anti-filling solutions not only helps improve the capacity of sea transportation but also promotes the socio-economic development of Quang Tri and neighboring provinces. Authorities need to have timely plans to ensure that maritime traffic is always maintained stably, creating favorable conditions for businesses and contributing to maintaining safety of waterway traffic.
