Huge potential to be exploited
Hai Phong has a dense river system and convenient connections with provinces and cities in the Red River Delta and key industrial zones. The inland waterway network is nearly 2,700 km long, accounting for about 40% of the total length of inland waterways in the country, providing outstanding natural advantages for water transport.
Assessing the dual benefits of developing inland waterway logistics, Mr. Le Manh Cuong, Permanent Vice President of Hai Phong Logistics Association, said that inland waterway transport is considered a green and environmentally friendly mode of transport. Compared to road transport, waterway transport consumes less fuel per unit of goods, significantly reducing carbon emissions and other pollutants. This is important in the context of Hai Phong aiming for sustainable development and net zero emissions by 2050, as demonstrated by the city rising to the top position in the Provincial Green Index (PGI) rankings in 2024. In addition, the rapid increase in container and truck traffic on roads leading to and from Hai Phong port is putting great pressure on transport infrastructure. Developing inland waterway transport will help shift a large amount of goods from road to waterway, reduce vehicle density, limit traffic congestion and accidents, and extend the life of road traffic works. Some businesses promoting the development of inland waterway logistics in Hai Phong include Macstar Coastal Container Transport Joint Stock Company, Pan Hai An Company Limited...
Regarding businesses operating in this field, Mr. Ta Manh Dung, Deputy Director of GreenAI Connection Joint Stock Company, said: Previously, the cost of transporting a 40-foot container by road from Hai Phong port to industrial parks in Ninh Binh usually fluctuated around 4.5 million VND. If using inland waterway transport via river, this cost is significantly lower, about 3.4 million VND for a 40-foot container. However, after the policy of reducing 50% of port infrastructure usage fees was applied from the beginning of 2023, the cost of inland waterway transport from Hai Phong to Ninh Binh decreased by about 230,000 VND for each 40-foot container. This brings the total cost of water transport to below 3.2 million VND, creating a large difference and attractive enough for customers to switch to using waterways more. This reduction not only helps businesses save costs but also contributes to reducing pressure on road traffic.
Realizing potential
It is known that recently, enterprises in the Hai Phong Logistics Association (HPLA) have been actively proposing solutions and coordinating with functional agencies to remove difficulties and promote the development of inland waterway transport. HPLA emphasized the importance of synchronous planning of logistics centers and satellite warehouses linked with ports and industrial parks to optimize the supply chain.
To develop inland waterway logistics sustainably, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thi Huong Giang, Deputy Head of the Port Construction Department, Faculty of Construction (Vietnam Maritime University) said that despite its many potentials and obvious benefits, inland waterway transport in Hai Phong still faces a number of challenges. Waterway infrastructure is sometimes not synchronous, lacking effective cargo collection and transit points. Enterprises also need to invest in fleets, modern loading and unloading equipment and improve management capacity. The city needs to continue investing in upgrading and dredging waterways, building more dry ports, modern inland waterway wharves, synchronously connecting with seaports and industrial parks, continuing to maintain and expand preferential policies on fees and taxes, supporting enterprises to invest in means and technology. Strengthening cooperation between Hai Phong and neighboring provinces to form an effective inland waterway logistics network, connecting production centers with seaports is also a long-term solution in addition to promoting the application of information technology in transport management and operation, cargo tracking, and optimizing inland waterway logistics processes.
It can be seen that developing inland waterway logistics is not only an urgent solution to reduce road traffic and protect the environment, but also a strategic lever for Hai Phong to realize its goal of becoming a national and international logistics center. With the consensus of the government, businesses and associations, the great potential of inland waterway transport in Hai Phong will certainly be fully exploited, bringing sustainable values to the city's socio -economy.
THU HANGSource: https://baohaiphongplus.vn/kinh-te-xanh-tu-logistics-thuy-noi-dia-415901.html
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