World’s largest shipping line MSC docks at southern Vietnam port

Phuoc An Port, the largest seaport in Dong Nai province, on Thursday welcomed the first ship from MSC, the world’s largest shipping line, opening up significant opportunities for boosting international trade in Vietnam’s southern region.

The port, located in Nhon Trach district of Dong Nai - an industrial and FDI hub, held a ceremony to welcome the ship, named M/V MSC BEIRA IV, which arrived from Singapore.

Truong Hoang Hai, general director of Phuoc An Port, said that the ship carried more than 1,300 TEUs of goods, primarily garments, dyed fabrics, and electronic components.

"This marks a strategic milestone and a strong start to 2025, ushering in a new era for maritime transport and the port’s supply chain. With MSC's global scale and reputation, this event underscores the port’s commitment to continuous innovation and expanding its capabilities in the coming years," said Hai.

Hai also emphasized that this event marks a turning point for Phuoc An Port as it strives to reach new heights and hopes for a sustainable future.

The port spans 183 hectares and is situated on the banks of the Thi Vai river. As the largest port in the province, the port is conveniently located near key expressways, including the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, the Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway, and the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway.

The port is divided into port and logistics service areas. The port area covers 183 hectares, with a total wharf length of 3,050 meters, including six container berths and four general cargo berths, able to accommodate vessels of up to 60,000 DWT.

Phuoc An Port is part of the seaport system within the HCMC - Dong Nai - Ba Ria-Vung Tau region and its detailed planning was approved by the Prime Minister in August 2005.

With the ability to handle both container and general cargo, the port has the capacity to process 2.2 million TEUs (20-foot containers) and four to five million tons of general cargo annually. The Phuoc An Port project is being developed in three phases, with a total investment of up to VND 20,000 trillion ($787.2 million).

During the event, Nguyen Duong Hoai, deputy director of the Dong Nai Customs Department, expressed his excitement, noting that he had long awaited Phuoc An Port's ability to welcome the ship from the world’s largest shipping line.

“Phuoc An Port boasts modern infrastructure and is the largest port in Dong Nai province. Dong Nai Customs has also prepared its workforce and is ready to handle import and export procedures. The port’s operations will serve as a driving force for economic growth in Dong Nai and the southern region, particularly in logistics,” Hoai stated.

Currently, the port is implementing solutions to reduce carbon emissions by investing in green infrastructure and modernizing its clean energy equipment, with most of the operational systems transitioning to electrification.

Beyond internal efforts, the port works closely with shipping lines, logistics companies, and partners throughout the supply chain to create an international green transport corridor. This emerging trend helps strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnamese ports on the global trade map.