Vietnam: Soai Rap Dredging Project Phase 2 Inaugurated

The second phase of Soai Rap River dredging project was inaugurated on June 21. The project will allow larger vessels to navigate through the Soai Rap channel and ease the access to Ho Chi Minh City’s Hiep Phuoc Port and the relocated ports along the Saigon River.

The 54 km route begins from the Soai Rap River and ends at Saigon Premier Container Terminal (SPCT) in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone.

The second phase costs VND2,797 billion, of which Belgium financed EUR76 million and the remaining VND642 billion was from the city budget.

The Soai Rap River dredging scheme encompasses Tien Giang, Long An, Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. It is expected to accommodate the city’s rising demand for cargo transport.

The dredging project is divided into three phases. The first phase will dredge the river to a depth of 9.5m for handling ships of 30,000 to 50,000 tonnes. The second and third phase will dredge to a respective depth of 11 and 12m for ships with capacity of 50,000-70,000 tonnes and over 70,000 tonnes.