Vietnam’s most modern deep-water port welcomes first container ship

Hateco Hai Phong International Container Port (HHIT), Vietnam’s most modern deep-water port and the largest in the northern region, welcomed its first container ship, ESL Dubai, on Friday.

The ESL Dubai is 216 meters long and has a capacity of 319,000 DWT.

This marks a significant milestone, as the northern region now boasts a deep-water port capable of handling two large container ships, each with a capacity of 200,000 DWT, simultaneously.

Hateco Hai Phong Port, located strategically in the Lach Huyen area, is the northern region’s largest and most modern deep-water port. It serves as a direct gateway to international sea routes.

The port spans 73 hectares and features a 900-meter-long wharf, with depths ranging from -16.8 meters to -18.4 meters, allowing it to accommodate two large container ships (up to 200,000 DWT, ≥ 18,000 TEU) at the same time, with a maximum ship length of 400 meters.

The port’s berths No. 5 and No. 6, which are equipped with the latest technology, are Vietnam’s first "smart" port. These berths feature automated entrance/exit gates, semi-automated docks, and the ability to accommodate the largest ships in the world, including those sailing directly from locations as distant as the U.S. West and East Coasts.

Additionally, Hateco Hai Phong Port is outfitted with advanced technologies to enhance operations, such as STS cranes with a reach of up to 24 container rows, an e-RTG crane system, a NAVIS N4 port operation system, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, a 5G network, and 24/7 surveillance cameras.

The port also utilizes a fully automated gate system that integrates OCR and RFID technology to optimize productivity and ensure accuracy during operations.

According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration under the Ministry of Transport, the country’s seaport system was estimated to handle 864.4 million tons of cargo in 2024, up 14% from the previous year. Container throughput was estimated to reach 29.9 million TEUs, a 21% rise.

Currently, Hai Phong city's seaport system is the largest in northern Vietnam and the second-largest in the country. It serves as Vietnam's international gateway to the Pacific Rim, with 11.53 kilometers of wharves and more than 40 ports and 69 berths.

As of the most recent update from the World Shipping Council, Hai Phong Port ranked 33rd among the world’s busiest container ports, with a cargo throughput of 5.7 million TEUs in 2021.