The NYK owned Northern Genius, with a nominal TEU (twenty foot equivalent container unit) capacity of 4,300 and dwt of 54,000 sailed up the 54kms new Soai Rap River channel following its opening earlier this year.
The Soai Rap channel has made SPCT the deepest Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) port, halving steaming time to two hours, saving on pilotage and bunker fuel. With a draft of 9.5 metres and a tidal rise of up to 3.4 metres, the channel has doubled the size of vessels that can access SPCT, allowing panamax vessels such as Northern Genius to safely berth just 15kms from the city.
DP World Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific Region, Rashid Abdulla, said: “The arrival of the Northern Genius so soon after the Xutra Bhum confirms the importance of SPCT in providing a vital trade route for the Vietnamese economy through the newly dredged Soai Rap River channel. It underlines the opportunities now available for customers allowing cargo to be moved more efficiently on the doorstep of the capital city.”
Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport Director, Tat Thanh Cang, said: “The new Soai Rap channel benefits the south of Vietnam boosting development of surrounding areas, providing business opportunities, access to overseas markets and creating jobs for local people. The arrival of this vessel shows industry interest in this important trade route and the capacity of SPCT to handle larger vessels than ever before.”