Petroleum Technical Services Co (PTSC) signed an agreement to take over and operate Nghi Son Port in the northern province of Thanh Hoa yesterday. Under the agreement, the PTSC will receive Wharf No 1 and No 2 at the port, all assets, equipment, machines and labour force.

Yesterday 25 October, at the Phu My 1 Industrial Zone, Tan Thanh district, Petroleum Technical Services Company (PTSC) has launched the wharf No.1 into production. Mr. Tran Minh Sanh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee attended.

The Newport Company solemnly organizes the first Anniversary of Newport Pilot Company as first maritime pilot company of the Vietnamese Army and the Vietnam People's Navy ((27/10/2008 - 27/10/2009) and honourably receives the Souvenir awarded by the Navy Headquarters.

A great deal of praise has been heaped on Van Phong Bay, but after many false starts, it is still a rough diamond awaiting craftsmen with the talent to cut it. Once again, the hunt is on for foreign investors to speed the bay's development as a major transshipment port, reports Tuoi Tre newspaper.

The Maritime Transport Development Master Plan to 2020 with an orientation to 2030 has just been approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Decision 1601/QD-TTg dated October 15, 2009.

Work on the Van Phong deep-water port in the country's central region is fixed to begin October 31 at a cost of US$3.6 billion, said Vietnam National Shipping Lines Corporation.

The only road connecting the world to the Cai Mep deep-water port is already unusable despite undergoing a VND1 trillion (US$56 million) upgrade just last year.

As Vinalines and a Korean partner begin construction of wharves able to serve vessels carrying up to 11,000 standard shipping containers, commentators point out that important obstacles must still be overcome.

The Sai Gon Premier Container Terminal, a HCM City port whose first phase was recently built, on Friday received its first ship.

VIETNAM needs $20bn-$25bn in port investment over the next decade, most of which will have to come from private investment, according to Vietnam Maritime Administration (Vinamarine).