Decision No. 1741/QD-BGTVT dated August 03, 2011 of the Ministry of Transport approving the detailed master plan on the seaport group in North Vietnam (Group 1) through 2020, with orientations toward 2030

THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

Decision No. 1741/QD-BGTVT dated August 03, 2011 of the Ministry of Transport approving the detailed master plan on the seaport group in North Vietnam (Group 1) through 2020, with orientations toward 2030

Pursuant to the November 26, 2003 Construction Law; Pursuant to the June 14, 2005 Maritime Code of Vietnam;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 51/2008/ND-CP of April 22, 2008, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP of September 7, 2006, on elaboration, appraisal, approval and management of socio- economic development master plans, and Decree No. 04/2008/ND-CP of January 11, 2008, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2190/QD-TTg of December 24, 2009, approving the master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system through 2020, with orientations toward 2030;

Pursuant to Report No. 1694/TTr-CHHVN-KHDT of July 29, 2011, of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, and the minutes of the meeting of the Appraisal Council in June 2011, on the detailed master plan on the seaport group in North Vietnam (Group 1) through 2020, with orientations toward 2030;

At the proposal of the standing body of the Appraisal Council and the director of the Planning and Investment Department,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the detailed master plan on the seaport group in North Vietnam (Group 1) through 2020, with orientations toward 2030, with the following principal contents:

1. Scope of the master plan Group 1 consists of seaports in coastal provinces and a city in the northern region, including Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh provinces and Hai Phong city. These seaports’ zone of attraction embraces all the Northern provinces plus a certain volume of cargo transiting China.

2. Development viewpoints and objectives a/ Development viewpoints:

- To develop seaports to meet the cargo shipping need of the northern region, especially the dynamic economic triangle of Hanoi - Haiphong - Quang Ninh. The functions, role and size of each seaport must be rational and in line with the Prime Minister-approved master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system through 2020, with orientations toward 2030.

- To develop seaports rationally on the basis of fully utilizing natural advantages of the region; to gradually renew and upgrade facilities for exploiting seaports and navigable channels to suit the maintenance and regular repair need and capability; to develop the international gateway seaport of Haiphong seaward to be able to accommodate large-tonnage ships, mitigate difficulties in navigable channels, and create a motive force for the socio-economic development in the whole northern region.

- To develop seaports with complete infrastructure facilities including piers, water zones, navigable channels, maritime safety system, technical networks and behind-port infrastructure facilities. To pay special attention to linking seaports and the national transport system (roads, railways, internal waterways, etc.) and logistics service centers in the region; to develop seaports in synchrony and harmony with local and regional socio- economic development master plans; to incorporate and satisfy requirements of related sectors’ master plans.

- To concentrate resources on developing the international gateway seaport of Haiphong. To develop other seaports on the basis of rationally exploiting to the utmost existing infrastructure and making in-depth investments in order to raise their operating capacity. To develop newly built seaports, especially container wharves, on the basis of investing in modern loading/unloading technologies and applying sciences and high technologies to their management and operation.

- To closely combine seaport development with environmental protection, assuring sustainable development as well as security and national defense.

To gradually reduce and eventually stop transshipment activities within Ha Long Bay and the vicinity.

b/ Development objectives and orientations

- General objectives: To develop seaports in the North Vietnam (Group 1) in a synchronous and effective manner; to concentrate resources on developing the international gateway seaport of Haiphong; to develop the national and regional major general seaports (Hai Phong and Hon Gai) in a sustainable, intensive and effective manner in order to reduce cargo congestion and generate a momentum for development of seaport urban centers and coastal industrial parks and economic zones, contributing to vigorously promoting economic development of the whole region.

- Specific targets:

+ To ensure a port throughput in the planning periods as follows:

. 112 ÷ 125 million tons/year by 2015;

. 146 ÷ 176 million tons/year by 2020;

. 320 million tons/year by 2030.

+ To rally resources to complete investment in developing Haiphong international gateway seaport in Lach Huyen wharf area to be able to accommodate ships of up to 100,000 DWT, thereby facilitating the transportation of Vietnam’s imports and exports on long-range shipping routes and attracting international cargoes shipped through the region.

+ To renovate, and make intensive investment in raising the capacity of Haiphong seaport (Dinh Vu wharf area and Cam river wharf area), Hon Gai seaport (Cai Lan wharf area) and other local general wharves in order to effectively exploit existing infrastructure works, meeting the need for handling seaborne cargoes in each area.

3. Contents of the master plan

a/ Detailed planning of seaports in the group

Group 1 consists of Haiphong, Hon Gai, Cam Pha, Hai Ha, Van Gia, Mui Chua, Van Hoa, Diem Dien and Hai Thinh seaports.

- Haiphong seaport: This is a national and international gateway general seaport (class IA), which consists of Lach Huyen wharf area, Dinh Vu wharf area (including also South Dinh Vu area), Cam river wharf area and Yen Hung - Mac house lagoon wharf area, specifically as follows:

+ Lach Huyen wharf area: The wharf area can accommodate container ships of up to 100,000 DWT. General wharves will be located for general cargo ships of over 50,000 DWT. The projected cargo throughput by 2015, 2020 and 2030 will reach around 12.1 - 13.8, 28.2 - 34.8 and nearly 120 million tons/year, respectively.

+ Dinh Vu wharf area (including also South Dinh Vu area): To continue investing in building general, container and special-use wharves under planning for ships of up to 20,000 DWT which are not fully loaded to enter the area on high tide for cargo handling. The projected cargo throughput by 2015, 2020 and 2030 will reach 19.1, around 31 and around 42 million tons/year, respectively.

+ The Cam river wharf area: To limit the expansion of wharves in this area, especially those within the inner city of Haiphong city which will have their utilities transformed under the city’s planning. Wharves in this area will receive only intensive investments to maintain their effective operation to accommodate ships of up to 10,000 DWT. The projected cargo throughput by 2015, 2020 and 2030 will reach around 23.6, 20 and 18 million tons/year, respectively.

+ Yen Hung wharf area (Chanh river and Mac house lagoon): This area consists of general and special-use wharves in Yen Hung area along Chanh river for ships of up to 50,000 DWT and in Mac house lagoon area for ships of up to 10,000 DWT; general wharves will mainly be located on the right bank of Chanh river while special-use wharves will mainly be built on the left bank of Chanh river and Mac house lagoon area; the petrol and oil wharf area for ships of up to 40,000 DWT is planned for oil terminal B12 relocated from Hon Gai. The projected cargo throughput by 2015, 2020 and 2030 will reach around 5.3, 12 and 25 million tons/year, respectively.

+ Diem Dien wharf area: This area is a local general seaport (class II) which can accommodate ships of between 1,000 - 3,000 DWT and will have a cargo throughput of around 0.25 and 0.5 million tons/year by 2015 and 2020 respectively.

+ Hai Thinh wharf area: This area is a local general seaport (class II) which can accommodate ships of between 1,000 - 3,000 DWT and will have a cargo throughput of around 0.25 and 0.5 million tons/year by 2015 and 2020 respectively.

+ South Do Son wharf area: This is a potential wharf area to exclusively serve national defense and security.

- Hon Gai seaport: This is a national general and regional key seaport (class I), which consists of the main wharf area of Cai Lan and special-use wharves of Thang Long and Ha Long cement plants and Thang Long thermal power project, oil terminal B12 and the Hon Gai passenger ship landing. The Hon Gai seaport development must pay special attention to the environment of Ha Long Bay. These are specifically as follows:

+ Cai Lan wharf area: To continue building general and container wharves in a rational manner in addition to the existing wharves to accommodate ships of up to 50,000 DWT so as to bring into full play the advantages of the existing general wharf area. The projected cargo throughput by 2015 and 2020 will reach around 11 and 14-16 million tons/year, respectively.

+ Special-use wharves: To continue maintaining and building under approved projects special-use wharves of Thang Long and Ha Long cement plants and Thang Long thermal power project for ships of up to 15,000 DWT. To limit to the utmost the development of other special-use wharves in Cai Lan bay area in order to protect the Ha Long Bay world heritage.

+ To step by step relocate oil terminal B12 during the 2015-20 period.

+ The Hon Gai passenger ship landing: This is a place accommodating North-South tourist passenger ships and international passenger ships of up to 100,000 GRT. The number of landing stages will increase to meet practical needs.

- Cam Pha seaport: This is a special-use seaport having general wharves, specifically as follows:

+ Special-use wharves for coal: To continue maintaining and increase the operating capacity of Cua Ong coal wharf area for ships of up to 70,000 DWT (including also Hon Net transshipment area). The cargo throughput at these wharves by 2015 and 2020 will be around 23 and 28 million tons/year, respectively.

+ Cam Pha general wharves: If the environmental protection requirements are satisfied, the development of general wharves in Con Ong islet for ships of between 30,000 - 50,000 DWT may be studied.

- Hai Ha seaport: This is a special-use seaport having general wharves capable of accommodating ships of between 30,000 - 80,000 DWT to meet the cargo transportation needs of industrial establishments in Hai Ha economic zone. To develop this seaport according to the needs and investment capability of investors in the economic zone.

- Local general seaports: These seaports will be developed on the basis of existing infrastructure works and intensive investments in human resources and equipment for more effective operation. Specifically as follows:

+ Van Gia seaport: This is a local general seaport (class II), consisting of moored transshipment wharves for ships of between 5,000 - 10,000 DWT. The cargo throughput at this seaport will reach 1 million tons/year.

+ Mui Chua and Van Hoa seaports: These are local general seaports (class

II). Mui Chua seaport will accommodate ships of between 1,000 - 3,000

DWT. The cargo throughput at this seaport by 2015 and 2020 will be around 0.25 and 0.5 million tons/year, respectively. Van Hoa seaport will not be developed in the near future.

(The detailed list of sizes and functions of seaports in the group; positions and scopes of logistics centers are specified in the Appendix and the master plan dossier attached to this Decision, not printed herein).

b/ Planning of development of access channels

- Access channels of Haiphong seaport:

+ Lach Huyen channel section: By 2015, to accommodate fully loaded ships of 50,000 DWT and partially loaded ships of 100,000 DWT. By 2020, to consider dredging the channel section for ships of up to 100,000 DWT.

+ Ha Nam - Bach Dang channel section: To maintain the capacity of this channel section to accommodate fully loaded ships of 10,000 DWT and partially loaded ships of over 10,000 DWT. To study the possibility of upgrading the channel suitable to the dredging and maintai-ning capability and investment efficiency.

+ The channel section on Cam river (to Hoang Dieu wharf area): To maintain the capacity of this channel section to accommodate ships of 10,000 DWT which enter or leave the seaport on high water level;

+ The channel section on Chanh river (from Lach Huyen channel section to Yen Hung wharf area): By 2015 to accommodate general cargo ships of 30,000 DWT to enter or leave the seaport on high tide; by 2020, to study the possibility of upgrading the channel for ships of 30,000 DWT.

- Access channels of Hon Gai seaport:

+ Lach Mieu - Dau Trau - Hon Mot channel section: To maintain the operation of the channel at its natural depth.

+ Hon Mot - Cai Lan wharf channel section: For ships of up to 50,000 DWT in ocean voyages;

- Access channels of Cam Pha seaport: To maintain existing operation conditions for ships of up to 60,000 DWT in ocean voyages. To develop the channel on the basis of existing channel sections in subsequent periods to meet specific requirements of the seaport.

- Access channels of local general seaports: To continue annual dredging and maintenance of these channels to maintain their operation and ensure appropriate conditions for operating these seaports. To study the possibility of regulating and stabilizing access channels of Diem Dien and Hai Thinh seaports before considering appropriate upgrading of these channels.

c/ Priority projects through 2015

- Navigable channels:

To complete investing in port infrastructure works (navigable channels, breakwaters, etc.) of Hai Phong international gateway seaport in Lach Huyen.

- General and container wharves:

+ To build two departure wharves for container ships of up to 100,000 DWT in Lach Huyen.

+ To continue investing with capital of enterprises in three wharves (2, 3 and 4) in Cai Lan general wharf area to accommodate ships of up to 50,000 DWT.

+ General and container wharves in Dinh Vu and South Dinh Vu wharf areas.

- Special-use wharves:

+ The major special-use wharf for liquid goods in the northern region will be located in Chanh river area for step-by-step relocation of oil terminal B12.

+ Special-use wharves for maritime services, liquid and bulky goods will be located in Dinh Vu and South Dinh Vu areas.

- Port-linking infrastructure:

To build Tan Vu - Lach Huyen road linking Lach Huyen seaport with Hanoi - Haiphong expressway.

4. Policies, mechanisms and solutions for implementation

- To step up the mobilization of all social resources for investment in developing seaport infrastructure in the forms of PPP, BOT, BT, etc. To intensify investment promotion, encourage and create favorable conditions for all economic sectors at home and abroad to invest in developing seaports in the prescribed forms.

- To concentrate state budget funds on public infrastructure facilities (navigable channels and breakwaters for common use) connected to important seaports. Wharf infrastructure facilities will be built with funds lawfully mobilized from enterprises. All infrastructure and port-linking infrastructure facilities of seaports and wharves recommended by investors, including general wharves, will be built with capital raised by these investors themselves.

- To study and permit on a pilot basis foreign partners to invest in loading and unloading equipment and hire other entities to operate port infrastructure facilities invested with domestic capital (associated with transfer of advanced technologies).

- To further step up the administrative reform in the management of investment and operation of wharves toward simplicity and compliance with international standards. To enhance the state management in the course of implementation of the master plan on development of seaports in the group, paying attention to the master plan’s consistency and harmonious integration with regional transport network development master plans, construction master plans and socio-economic development general plans of localities and territorial areas having seaports.

- To step up the building of wharves and wharf areas for common use in economic zones and industrial parks so as to promote the investment effectiveness and use of natural resources in the coastline for building seaports. To reserve appropriate land areas behind seaports for building goods distribution centers with logistic functions.

- To further step up the administrative reform in the management of investment and operation of seaports toward simplicity and modernity; to study and apply on a pilot basis the model of “port management office” at seaports where conditions permit; to facilitate the location of working offices of maritime port authorities and specialized state management agencies in new port areas in order to ensure prompt state management at seaports; and to encourage investors in economic zones and industrial parks to invest in seaport infrastructure and port-linking infrastructure facilities.

Article 2. Management and organization of implementation of the master plan

1. The Vietnam Maritime Administration shall:

- Coordinate with provincial-level People’s Committees and related agencies in publicizing and managing the implementation of the approved master plan.

- Report to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and decision on addition and adjustment of functions and sizes of seaports and wharves.

- For potential seaports and wharves: Summarize and report on practical needs and proposals of investors and provincial-level People’s Committees to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and decision.

- Annually coordinate with local administrations and related agencies in inspecting the implementation of the master plan, reviewing and proposing measures to handle projects implemented not under the master plan, and reporting to the Ministry of Transport.

- Assign the Vietnam Maritime Administration to study a general and comprehensive mechanism for management and operation of Haiphong international gateway seaport in combination with development of infrastructure and provision of maritime, logistic, financial, banking and other related services so that the seaport can properly operate as an international gateway and fairly compete with other regional seaports.

2. Ministries, sectors and provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

- Direct investors in formulating projects to build, renovate and upgrade seaports and navigable channels in line with the approved master plan and in accordance with current regulations on construction investment management.

- Provincial-level People’s Committees shall base themselves on the approved master plan to closely manage and use for proper purposes land areas reserved for building seaports; arrange land areas for synchronous development of seaports and infrastructure facilities linked with seaports, service areas behind seaports, logistic and maritime service areas in order to assure favorable conditions for seaport operation; and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport in organizing harmonious traffic, ensuring that port-linking traffic does not conflict with urban traffic.

- Regarding the updating of wharf areas and wharves not yet specified in this master plan:

+ For wharf areas and wharves for different types of cargoes and built by different investors: Provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct functional agencies in working out and submitting detailed master plans to the Vietnam Maritime Administration for appraisal and reporting to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and approval.

+ For other wharf areas and wharves: Provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct investors or functional agencies in working out and submitting detailed master plans to the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Maritime Administration for study and updating in the detailed master plan on the seaport group, and manage these master plans.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 4. The director of the Office, the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Transport, the directors of the departments, the director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, and heads of related organizations and related persons shall implement this Decision.-

Minister of Transport
HO NGHIA DUNG