Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) costing US$268.6 million came on stream in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on Thursday, facilitating direct shipments between Vietnam and other parts of the world.

Cai Mep, Vietnam - After almost five years since the establishment of the company in January 2007, Cai Mep International Terminal Co., Ltd (CMIT) was today officially opened by HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark and Mr. Ngo Thinh Duc - Vice Minister of Transportation HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark is visiting Vietnam from November 28 - December 1 on the occasion of the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam.

The operators of HCM City ports are unhappy with the city's ban on heavy vehicles during certain times of the day, and warn the severe losses this is causing could force some of them to close down.

Authorities of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province will need to review a seaport zoning plan to avoid scattering investments, and develop the marine industry if the province works toward becoming a modern port area, according to experts.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta has few ports considering the number of river systems there, meaning the transport needs of the country's main rice growing area are not met.

The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VRC) is planning to launch container transport by train from Hai Phong Port to Hanoi and Lao Cai Province to reduce the load on the road system, reported the Saigon Times Daily.

A joint venture between Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) and Japan's Molnykit has received a licence to build two wharves and a container warehouse at Lach Huyen port in the northern region.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to remove Saigon River ports from the city inner has run into big waves. Under Decision 791/QD-TTg the deadline for Ho Chi Minh City to remove ports on Saigon River to the city outskirts was 2010. Affected ports were Tan Cang, Saigon Port, Ba Son shipyard, Ben Nghe and Tan Thuan Dong ports and some others. However, just Tan Cang was removed to Cat Lai and Cai Mep area.

On November 1, 2011, Tan Cang - Cai Mep International Terminal (TCIT) – a joint venture of Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP), MOL (Japan), Hanjin (Korea), Wanhai (Taiwan), held a maiden call celebration for Cosco Malaysia 014E/W of S.E.A service (South China/U.S. South West Coast Express Service) at TCIT.

Provinces in the central region of Vietnam all have the sea. They, therefore, strive to construct seaports to boost economic growth and create a good image. However, the seaport system here is massively invested but remains of small scale while actual demand is low. In the first six months of 2011, the volume of goods transshipped via seaports from Nghe An to Hue only reached three million tonnes, while that transshipped via Hai Phong seaport hits 8.8 million tonnes.