Partners Set Up Coal Transshipment Hub in Vietnam

An alliance of three partners will position a Floating Transfer Platform (FTP) in South Vietnam capable of discharging and loading all bulk carriers up to and including 210,000 dwt Newcastlemax.

The partners, including Vietnam’s coal importer Welhunt, bulk carrier shipping firm Oldendorff Carriers and Vietnam-based logistics provider Haivan, said that this platform “will be the first and only multi-user facility in Vietnam.”

Able to work at a discharge rate of up to 25,000 metric tonnes per day, the FTP is specifically designed to handle growing coal imports.

The Floating Transfer Platform positioned in Vietnam has two cranes, hoppers and conveyor belts and will be able to tranship the coal from large ocean going vessels into shallow draft barges. By using the largest and most economical vessels, the coal can be sourced and transported from any port around the world.

The barges will deliver the coal directly to the jetties across Vietnam and potentially other nearby markets in an environmentally friendly manner, Oldendorff said.

Vietnam is currently facing a significant challenge to receive and export growing volumes of bulk cargoes due to shallow ports and relatively poor port infrastructure. Coal imports in particular have grown more than 100% per year from 2010 to 2017 and the total volume of coal imported is projected to reach 60 million tonnes per year by 2025.