HCMC – The Vietnam Ship Agents, Brokers and Maritime Services Providers Association (VISABA) has proposed establishing a waterway transport route from the Mekong Delta region to the deep-water ports of Cai Mep and Cat Lai through Quan Chanh Bo Canal.

Some 70-75% of the Mekong Delta region’s annual imported and exported cargo is transported to the ports in HCMC and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The majority of this cargo is now transported using road transport, while the port cluster in the Mekong region could not be fully exploited.

Currently, the waterway transport routes connecting the port cluster in Can Tho to Cai Mep and HCMC are mainly traveling through the Tien River – Vam Nao River, with a length of 367 kilometers, and Tien River – Cho Lach District – Mang Thit River, at a length of 235 kilometers, costing some VND7 million per TEU.

According to VISABA, the proposed waterway transport route, connecting the Mekong Delta region to the deep-water ports of Cai Mep and Cat Lai through Quan Chanh Bo Canal, which is 200 kilometers long, will help reduce the transport cost to VND3 million per TEU.

Besides easing road traffic congestion and logistics costs, the proposed waterway route is expected to reduce the need to dredge canals for heavily-loaded vessels in the Mekong Delta region.

Currently, the Mekong Delta region has many ports for waterway vehicles to load and unload cargo, such as Giao Long Port in Ben Tre Province, My Tho Port in Tien Giang Province, Mekong Port in Vinh Long Province, and Cao Lanh, Sa Dec, Phuoc Khang Ports in Dong Thap Province.