Posted on August 17, 2026
According to the Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration, the Hai Phong maritime channel dredging project (Lach Huyen section) has received approval for the dredged material disposal site and a permit for submersion. The project is currently undergoing investment preparation procedures.
The project is included in the 2026 Maritime Infrastructure Maintenance Plan approved by the Ministry of Construction , aiming to ensure channel standards and facilitate safe and stable access for ships to and from the port. According to the plan, the total dredging volume in 2026 is expected to exceed 1.9 million m³, with a budget of approximately over 250 billion VND.
The project involves dredging the outer channel section from buoy “0” to the turning basin in front of piers No. 1 and No. 2 of Tan Cang Hai Phong International Container Terminal (TC-HICT). The channel section is 20.66 km long, with a channel bottom width of 160 m, and the standard for maintenance dredging of the channel bottom is -13.5 m (Nautical Chart System).
The Lach Huyen section of the Hai Phong maritime channel serves large vessels entering and exiting the Lach Huyen port area. To date, the port has received vessels with a deadweight tonnage of nearly 214,000 DWT (reduced load). This is also an international gateway port, receiving large container ships, connecting to long-haul routes to North America, Europe, South Asia, and intra-Asia routes.
According to the Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration, the volume of goods and vessels passing through the Hai Phong maritime channel in general, and the Lach Huyen section in particular, has consistently been high in recent times.
In 2025, cargo throughput at the port area is expected to reach approximately 19.1 million tons, equivalent to about 2.3 million TEU. In the first five months of 2026, cargo throughput at the Lach Huyen area is expected to exceed 10 million tons, with TEU volume reaching over 1.1 million TEU.
The number and tonnage of ships passing through the ports are also increasing. At TC-HICT port, in 2021 there were 709 ship calls, with ships having a tonnage of up to 132,550 DWT. By 2024, the number of ship calls increased to 962, with ships having a tonnage of up to 144,571 DWT. Recently, this port has also welcomed ships with a tonnage of over 165,000 DWT for cargo handling.
Meanwhile, from April 2025, berths 3-4 of Hai Phong port, with a total length of 750 m, and berths 5-6 of Hateco Group, with a total length of 900 m, will officially come into operation, contributing to a continuous increase in cargo throughput in the port area.
In the context of increasing cargo volumes and vessel traffic, maintaining maritime channels and ensuring smooth navigation is considered crucial for sustaining operational capacity and improving the efficiency of ports. Simultaneously, this also serves as a driving force for promoting trade and socio-economic development in the region and the entire country.
