In the first four months of 2008, the cargo throughput, especially the import cargo passing the Vietnam’s ports in general and Ho Chi Minh City ports in particular has increased dramatically. The import turnover of the country reached USD 29,360 billion, up 71% year on year. On the other hand, due to the domestic financial situation and strict regulation of the banks on the loans as well as the high interest rates, a lot of importers have been incapable of disbursing and picking up their cargo at the port. The aforementioned situation has led to the heavy congestion in all the ports of Ho Chi Minh city in March and April, especially on early days of May, after two public Holidays on April 30th & May 1st. The statistics figures show that, in the first four months, the volume of import laden containers has reached a 43.1% year-on- year increase at Cat Lai port and the average import container dwell time increased at approximately 35%.
In that circumstance, SNP has worked out the solutions to reduce the congestion at Cat Lai port and deal with the operation difficulties. On May, 7 2008, the meeting between SNP and the chief representatives of shipping lines in Ho Chi Minh City was held. The shipping lines shared a lot of experiences as well as contributed the valuable suggestions prior to, during and after the Meeting. In the meeting, SNP’s representative presented the remedies to stabilize the operation and improve the productivity for vessel dispatch. The solutions have focused on the main issues including the berth arrangement, policies for the empty laden inbound and outbound containers, intensify the transportation capability. SNP will store the empty containers in the surrounding depots, limit the empty storage in Cat Lai and Tan Cang, apply the free of charge transportation from Cat Lai to Tan Cang and ICDs, move all the stuffing/ un-stuffing activities out of Cat Lai port. In the coming time, SNP will collect the storage of the laden inbound containers directly from consignees. SNP also works with the customs to move the inbound laden containers staying for more than one month or the containers under the customs detention at Cat Lai Port to Tan Cang.. Saigon Newport has also presented the longterm plan of the company for
the equipment and vehicle investment, CY enlargement and speeding up the construction of the new berths in Cat Lai and Cai Mep.
The shipping lines have contributed a lot of valuable suggestions to SNP. They promised to closely co-operate and support SNP in implementing the solutions and policies for the purpose of easing the situation and having smooth operations. Two sides have also agreed to hold the meetings quarterly between the representatives of the shipping lines/ agents and SNP to exchange the updated information and sharing the opinions for the purpose of better mutual understanding, improving the service quality to satisfy the shipping lines’/ agents demands.
