TC-HICT welcoming 12,000 TEU – 132,000 DWT Vessel routing through Trans-Pacific to the West Coast of USA

Haiphong is the main gateway to the sea of the Red River delta and the northern provinces with diversified and rich potentials for marine economic development; the growth pole of the Northern key economic region with a strategic location for the regional and international integration.

Determining the important geographical location of Hai Phong, the French built Haiphong Port in 1874, which was the first large-scale project with 6 warehouses called “Ben Sau Kho” (today's Hoang Dieu port).

After Haiphong was completely liberated on May 13^th 1955, in order to satisfy the requirement of economic development in the new period, a series of new terminals have been built consecutively in the downstream of Cam River, closer to the open sea. Over 144 years, Haiphong’s terminal system has been constantly developing and growing. However, through the variability of time and sedimentation of Cam River and the expansion of the urban area, the initial terminals of Haiphong have not been suitable for the upsized trend of mother vessels. Especially, in order to export to America and Europe goods from industrial zones in Northern Vietnam must be always transshipped at an international transshipment hub in the region such as Hongkong, Kaohsiung, Singapore. This increases not only lead time, logistics costs but also risk of goods damage, risk of delivery failure in accordance with the contract when the shipment fails to connect the mother vessel at the transshipment hub, particularly during the peak season. 

Colonel Tran Khanh Hoang - SNP Vice Director takes speech at the ceremony
 

The birth of Tan Cang Haiphong International Container Terminal (HICT) marks an important milestone in the development of Northern seaport system in general and in Haiphong in particular. In order to form HICT, Saigon Newport Corporation (a Navy Force’s unit) established a joint venture with three partners: Mitsui O.S.K Lines (Japan), Wan Hai Lines (Taiwan) and Itochu Corp (Japan).

Thanks to the valuable facilitation and help of the Vietnamese government, Ministries and Central Departments; leaders and competent authorities of Haiphong city; partnership of the terminal investors; the strenuous efforts of HICT’s management and employees, the absolute trust and support of shipping lines and customers; shortly after its grand opening on May 13^th 2018, HICT continuously welcomes new services deployed by mother vessels with larger capacity and higher deadweight to accommodate at HICT:

On Apr 11^th 2019, HICT successfully welcomed the maiden call of mother vessel Northern Jaguar with a capacity of 8,814 TEU, deadweight of 108,731 DWT, LOA of 334m, routing on PN2 service. The PN2 service is operated by THE ALLIANCE between Hapag Lloyd, Ocean Network Express and Yang Ming Line on Trans-pacific route with regular call at HICT, which provides direct service from the North Vietnam to Tacoma (USA) and Vancouver (Canada). This service reduces the lead time from Haiphong to West coast of the USA and Canada from 25 days to 17 days compared with the previous route calling at overseas transshipment hubs.

First stevedored container 
 

On May 7^th, 2019, HICT has successfully welcomed the call of mother vessel Wan Hai 805 with a capacity of 11,923 TEU, deadweight of 132,000 DWT, LOA of 330m operated by the consortium between Wan Hai Lines (Taiwan), Cosco Shipping Lines (China), Pacific International Lines (Singapore) on CP1/ SEA/ AC5 service with regular call at HICT, which provides direct service from the North of Vietnam to West coast of the USA. This service has HICT – Nansha – Hong Kong - Yantian – Long Beach – Oakland – Yantian rotation, cutting down the lead time from Haiphong to west coast of the USA from 25 days to 19 days in comparison to the previous route calling at overseas transshipment hubs.

This fact again affirms the capability of accommodating large mother vessels and HICT’s position in the field of container terminal operator in Haiphong. It sets a milestone for development of container transportation via Trans-Ocean direct service not only from HICT but also from North Vietnam to the US and European ports without transferring at transshipment hubs. The deployment of this new direct service makes a complete change to the picture of port operation and sea transportation in North Vietnam, which significantly contributes to remarkable logistics costs reduction, competitiveness enhancement of Vietnam and Vietnamese enterprises, as well as generating a driving force for investment attraction, especially FDI.

Currently, HICT is accommodating 6 regular services per week, including 2 Trans-Pacific direct services, 2 Indian services and and 2 Intra-Asia services. HICT always ensures high productivity and high quality service; well cooperates with functional authorities to clear goods quickly which is highly appreciated by shipping lines and customers.

In the coming time, HICT will continue enhancing the high quality service in order to accommodate more mother vessels on Trans-Ocean direct services and on Intra-Asia services to connect the North Vietnam with the other continents as well as to welcome domestic vessels on domestic services which links the North, Central, South regions together, hence turning HICT into a major deep-water terminal hub in Vietnam and in the world.