Gemalink terminal starts operation in Cai Mep, Vietnam

Gemalink, a joint venture between Vietnamese port operator Gemadept and French shipping company CMA CGM, officially started operations with its first commercial vessel call - the 13,800 teu, CMA CGM Corte Real, on 19 January.

The 165,375-dwt CMA CGM Corte Real vessel unloaded 8,200 teu.  Earlier on 30 December 2020 and 7 January 2021, the port received two pilot ships from CMA CGM.

The Gemalink port covers 72 hectares in the downstream of Cai Mep River in Phu My town of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

It is the biggest deepsea container port in Cai Mep, with 1,150m main berth and 370m feeder berth. The $330m-first phase includes 800m-main berth for mother vessel, 260m side berth for feeder on the 33ha area. The present port capacity, in the first phase, is 1.5m teu but after full completion the whole project capacity will be 2.4m teu.

Gemalink port, which had been in the pipeline for many years since the first terminals in Cai. Mep were inaugurated, says it has competitive advantage thanks to its location at the river mouth with the deepest draught for a turning basin, and the longest main berth for feeders to connect with Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta region.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, vice director of Gemadept, told Vietnamese media that the firm’s sound relationship with its partners will keep the port busy at its maximum capacity right from the first years of operation.