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Central Provinces to Tap Maritime Tourism Potential

Cửa Đại bridge in the central province of Quảng Nam. The province plans to upgrade part of its Kỳ Hà Port for cruise services to nearby islands. — Photo baodautu.vn

The central province of Quảng Nam plans to upgrade part of its Kỳ Hà Port for cruise services to nearby islands, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Đinh Hài has told Việt Nam News.

Hài said Kỳ Hà Port, which has been used as a major cargo port, will reserve a 20m pier for boat services linking the provincial islands of Chàm, Tam Hải with Quảng Ngãi Province’s Lý Sơn Island and Hàn River Port in Đà Nẵng City.

“We will also build a reception area and accommodations at the port and upgrade the cargo quay into a tourism service pier. The Kỳ Hà Port, which allows cargo ships with a capacity of 20,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage), can be used for cruise and speed boats over the summer holidays,” Hài said.

He said the province will co-operate with neighbouring Quảng Ngãi and Đà Nẵng and travel agencies in boosting tour boat services.

The province hosted 4.4 million tourists, 2.3 million of them foreigners, in 2016. It wants to increase the number to 5 million tourists in 2017 and 8 million in 2020.

The province also plans to upgrade Chu Lai Airport to handle 2.3 million passengers and 1.5 million tonnes of cargo by 2025, as well as launching sea routes from Kỳ Hà Port to Hong Kong and Singapore.

Boat service

Meanwhile, the island district of Lý Sơn has put into operation the first speed boat service between the island and Sa Kỳ Port on the mainland.

Vice chairwoman of the district’s People’s Committee, Phạm Thị Hương, said the 85-seat speed boat, owned by a private company, will help cut traveling time from the coastal area of Quảng Ngãi Province to the island from one hour to 25 minutes.

She said the Chín Nghĩa company invested VNĐ10 billion (US$442,000) in the project. A second boat is expected to go into operation next month.

Currently five cargo and seven passenger ships serve 1,500 commuters and islanders traveling from Quảng Ngãi to Lý Sơn Island each day.

Lý Sơn Island, 30kms off the coast, is home to about 21,000 residents. Most make their living fishing and farming garlic and spring onions.

The island is also a favourite destination during holidays, with 100,000 tourists visiting annually.

The district’s vice chairwoman said Mường Thanh Group also invested VNĐ40 billion ($1.8 million) to build a 260-seat cruise ship.

In 2015, the district also launched a new sea route connecting the island to An Binh Islet, about 5km away.

According to island authorities, 18 hotels, guest houses and home-stays provide accommodation for 1,000 tourists at present.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Bank of Việt Nam (Agribank) also built the first Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on the Island, while Tiên Sa Taxi put into operation the first public taxi service in 2015.

Source: vietnamnews.vn

Vietnam – Denmark signed the Undertakings on mutual recognition of certificates of competency for crew members of seagoing vessels under Regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention (24/02/2017)

In 10th February, Vice Minister of Transport -Nguyen Van Cong met with Under Secretary of State for the Danish Maritime Authority – Andreas Nordseth. Ambassador of Denmark to Vietnam –  Charlotte Laursen also attended the meeting.

At the meeting, Under Secretary of State for the Danish Maritime Authority – Andreas Nordseth emphasized the close relationship between Vietnam and Denmark. Besides, Mr. Andreas Nordseth suppose that both sides need to further promote their cooperation in the maritime field.

Both sides agreed to further promote cooperation in the maritime field

According to Mr. Andreas Nordseth, although the world economy have many dificulties which influence maritime transport activities but two sides still have many opportunities in cooperation in empowering Vietnam seaport in the region

“I wish that our cooperation in the maritime field will become deeper and more effective, especially in green development, efficiency in using fuel, training of human resources … “, said Mr. Andreas Nordseth.

Vice Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Cong stated that Viet Nam is known to have a favorable geographical location with the long coastline of more than 3,000 kilometers with 44 seaports and 253 harbours. Lach Huyen port in the North and Cai Mep – Thi Vai port in the South are capable of receiving ships of over 100,000 tons. The average growth rate of the logistics sector in Vietnam is from 16% to 20%. However, Mr. Nguyen Van Cong also noted that transportation in Viet Nam had to face many challenges such as the lack of capital investment in infrastructure development, inefficiency in applying science and technology and inadequacy in high-quality human resources. Therefore, Vietnam wanted to strengthen cooperation with other countries including Denmark.

Reviewing the cooperation between two sides, Vice Minister of Transport Mr. Nguyen Van Cong  appreciated the fruitful cooperation between Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), Sai Gon port and APM Terminals from Denmark in the Cai Mep International Terminal project. In 2016, the total output of vessels and barges through the port reached 1.2 million TEU, with the increase of 68% compared to the number in 2015. From 2014 to 2015, Vietnam Maritime University had partnered with Silkeborg Business School in implementing training programs based on advanced models, receiving Danish lecturers to teach in the university, student exchange …

Mr. Nguyen Van Cong affirmed that: “Denmark is a country with advanced transportation systems among European countries, especially in maritime field. We look forward to increase in exchanging and sharing information, looking for investment opportunities to reach the comprehensive and specific cooperation in the transport sector”.

Both sides have had very active cooperation in the maritime field

To further strengthen the cooperation between two sides in the maritime sector, Vice Minister of Transport Mr. Nguyen Van Cong suggested of signing a Memorandum of Understanding in fostering maritime relationship between the two maritime agencies in order to promote the political partnership, support trade exchange and economic cooperation between Viet Nam and Denmark.

He also proposed that two sides should maintain consultation, coordination and mutual support in international maritime forums such as the IMO, IMSO …; create favorable conditions for shipping enterprises of both sides to search for, exchange and gain more chances of cooperation.

Under the witness of Vice Minister of Transport Mr. Nguyen Van Cong and Ambassador of Denmark to Viet Nam Mrs. Charlotte Laursen, Deputy Administrator of VINAMARINE Mr. Bui Thien Thu and Under Secretary of State for the Danish Maritime Authority Mr. Andreas Nordseth signed the Undertakings on mutual recognition of certificates of competency for crew members of seagoing vessels under Regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention

During the visit of Under Secretary of State for the Danish Maritime Authority – Andreas Nordseth, Vietnam Maritime Administration and Denmark Maritime Authority signed the Undertakings on mutual recognition of certificates of competency for crew members of seagoing vessels under Regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention in order to facilitate seafarers working on board of both countries flagged vessels.