The operation of the expanded Quy Nhon fishing port helps improve its logistics services. Photo N.T

Overload of fishing port

Aiming to meet the actual needs and long-term development, the Ham Tu wharf was transformed into Quy Nhon fishing port in 2001 and it has been put into operation since 2003, creating advantageous conditions for fishermen inside and outside province to sell their products and  becoming an important bridges linking island communes and peninsula with the inner areas.

However Quy Nhon fishing port became overloaded only after a short-time operation.

 “Since Quy Nhon fishing port was put into operation, numerous of ships inner and outer province have moored at the pier to sell their products and take “ton” (fuel, food, ice water…),” said Huynh Van Hung, head of Quy Nhon fishing port Authority. “The ever-increasing demand for traveling and commodities exchange also makes the port overladen, particularly in the bumper crops.”

As designed, the Quy Nhon fishing port is capable of receiving 10 ships with 90 CV. But in the bumper crops, there are roughly 50 to 60 ships simultaneously anchoring at the port. The number of trucks also increases, causing the disorder in services for fishermen

“My ship sometimes returns  to Quy Nhon fishing port to sell products but only could draw alongside another ships instead of landing at the pier directly, causing difficulties when loading goods,” said Le Van Binh, an ship owner in Hai Cang Ward. “We sometimes have to wait for hours to disembark products. Though the port is located near my house and convenient for travelling to Central Highlands provinces where fish can be sold at higher price, we are still afraid of returning here to sell products”.

The overload at the berth and crowded vehicles ashore make difficult for services, particularly the public order and environmental sanitation.

The expansion of the port

Nguyen Huu Hao, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said, “The province’s fishery has strongly grown, especially offshore fishing. At present, the province has a total of 8,000 fishing vessels, including roughly 50 percent of offshore fishing boats, with the total capacity of approximately 400,000 CV, becoming one of provinces nationwide having the most powerful fishing fleet.”

“With the increase of the capacity and the promotion of offshore fishing activities, the province’s annual output reaches over 100,000 tons,” he added.

The fishery is developing while logistics services, particularly the fishing port system, don’t keep up with the development.

Binh Dinh has four fishing ports whose infrastructure was upgraded, including De Gi, Tam Quan, Nhon Chau and Quy Nhon. However, they only meet about 50-60 percent of the demand for logistics services.

Such a reality required the expansion of the Quy Nhon fishing port, aiming to better serve the fishery in Binh Dinh and neighboring provinces.

The construction of Quy Nhon fishing port was started on November 19, 2007. The expanded Quy Nhon fishing port worth 32 billion VND is designed to have some main items, such as a 315m-length wharf and 24 anchoring posts.

Some items have been completed so far, such as the land clearance, embankments and 24 anchoring posts. The remaining ones are expected to finish in the coming time.

Although the expanded Quy Nhon fishing port has been incomplete, the essential items for the fishery logistics services have been fully operational since June due to urgency of logistics services.

Since then the port capacity has increased threefold, meeting the demand of ships and creating favorable conditions for seafood purchase and carriage along the national highway No 19 to Central Highlands provinces.

The Quy Nhon expanded fishing port is expected to be fully completed at the end of 2010. At that time, the Quy Nhon fishing port will become an ideal destination with the best logistics services.

• Ngoc Thai