Find solutions to solve difficulties for businesses logictics

​ICD Tan Cang Nhon Trach is one of the areas currently available for releasing the inventory for Cat Lai Port

Worried about the logistics disruption

Since July 30, Cat Lai Port has issued a document to suspend receiving containers because the number of containers here is very high, up to 127,000 containers. This congestion needs a timely solution. Cat Lai Port is the main port for enterprises to import goods and materials for production, but many businesses have suspended operations, so the receipt of goods is delayed. In addition, right at the port, the human resource to maintain the port's continuous operation has also decreased by about 50% due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, so there are only 250 people per day, especially the workers loading and unloading ships has been severely lacking. That forced Cat Lai Port to temporarily stop receiving ships, waiting for the release of goods on the yard, leading to the risk of disruption of operations as it happened at the ports of the U.S., Europe, and China in the recent epidemics. Although up to now, the operation of this port has stabilized, but in the face of the complicated situation of the epidemic, any unpredictable fluctuations can happen at any time.

For container shipping enterprises in the province, in addition to congestion at ports, the worry now is also the safety of staff who deliver and receive import and export goods from the factory to the port and vice versa as well as the convenient traffic on the road. Unlike manufacturing enterprises, they can conduct the “3-on-the-spot” model when ensuring the requirements for disease prevention, but freight enterprises cannot. The peculiarity of freight transport is that it has to be constantly rotated, dozens of drivers and delivery staff often have to move, so they have really worried for their colleagues about the risks of being infected at any time.

Find a solution to solve the problem

Facing the difficulties of Cat Lai Port as well as the general impact on businesses, the Ministry of Transport also sent a document to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the People's Committee of Dong Nai Province, requesting the two localities to participate in handling the difficult to release the cargo at the port.

Accordingly, in the coming time, in order to reduce the load at the busiest seaport in Vietnam today, the Ministry of Transport proposes to allow Saigon Newport Corporation to transport imported containers in general, including unsold containers of over 90 days to the stations for storage, customs clearance, delivery to customers and liquidation of backlogged goods at the Corporation's facilities, namely Tan Cang Hiep Phuoc port, ICDs Tan Cang Nhon Trach (Dong Nai), ICD Tan Cang Song Than (Binh Duong), IDC Tan Cang Long Binh (Dong Nai).

In addition, localities should consider giving priority to the labor force in the port production line; allow the number of workers needed in the port production line (if they do not live in a residential area that is under lockdown) to be allowed to go to the ports to work. Laborers residing in Nhon Trach District are allowed to travel via Cat Lai ferry to enter the port to work if they have a certificate of working at the port and a valid negative test certificate.

Following the recommendations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Transport, on August 7, the Government Office issued a written notice of the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, requesting the ministries and Ho Chi Minh City to continue to proactively direct relevant agencies and units to promptly handle problems and not let the cargo congestion happen at the port area any more.

For enterprises transporting goods, import and export services, it is very necessary to prioritize vaccination for drivers as well as reduce rigid regulations, creating more openness in operations. In Dong Nai, the Department of Transport has also allowed businesses to register a list of priority vaccination needs. Enterprises in the industry hope to soon be allocated by competent authorities to inject their workers.

                                                                                      Phan Anh