Nguyen Thu, its general director, says the port has a target of handling four million tonnes, including 120,000 TEUs of cargo annually by 2010.

Three million tonnes of goods will pass through the port this year, up from one million tonnes in 2000.

Da Nang Port is comprised of Tien Sa and Song Han ports and can accommodate vessels weighing up to 40,000 tonnes and having a capacity of 2,000 TEUs.

The existence of several other ports in the central region was one of the reasons the quantity of goods shipped through Da Nang remained low.

To attract more shipments from outside the city, the port will invest large sums to upgrade infrastructure, improve loading and unloading facilities, and simplify administrative procedures through 2010.

It will include US$18 million investment to build a container terminal that could handle ships of up to 50,000 tonnes and 3,000 TEUs in the second phase of Tien Sa Port.

Tho Quang Port will replace Song Han Port, which will be used as a tourism and marine services centre from 2010.

And an inland container depot measuring 20 hectres will be built outside Da Nang Port to meet container demand after 2010.