Central Da Nang city's authorities have approved the VND7.585 trillion ($288 million) investment project to develop the Cua Lo shipping channel.
The project will involve constructing a 6.58km navigation channel, with a width of 140 metres and a design depth of 13.2 metres.
It will also include a maritime signalling system and a pilot boarding and disembarking area capable of accommodating vessels of up to 50,000 DWT.
The development is expected to improve maritime access to the East Sea for the Central Highlands, southern Laos, northeastern Cambodia and Thailand. It will directly serve Chu Lai Open Economic Zone and surrounding areas, while supporting economic restructuring in Da Nang.
Cargo throughput along the route is projected to reach 7.5–9 million tons annually by 2030, 14 million tons by 2040 and 22 million tons by 2050.
The project will be implemented under a build-transfer (BT) contract. Construction is scheduled to run from the fourth quarter of 2026 to the fourth quarter of 2028.
Once operational, the channel is expected to lower logistics costs and attract further investment to southern Da Nang and the wider central region.
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