HCM City (VNA) - Tan Cang - Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City’s newly created ThuDuc city will temporarily stop accepting imports by businesses that have suspendedproduction so that it can clear a huge backlog of containers that havepiled up.

Inan announcement, the Tan Cang Sai Gon Corporation said the pileup hasbeen caused by firms reducing or suspending production since the city’slockdown began.

In the period,starting July 9, the number of trucks coming to the port to pick up cargo hasdeclined sharply, and the number of containers stuck has climbed to nearly100 percent of capacity.

The port isalso facing a shortage of employees, with the number halving to 250,exacerbating the pileup.

Nguyen PhuongNam, the corporation’s deputy general director, said customers who havesuspended production should stop importing goods through the port for the timebeing, though it would still receive them if the goods are already en route.

As forexports, oversized and excessively heavy goods and refrigerated cargo will alsonot be accepted until at least August 16.

Shippingcompanies have been told to persuade their customers to change the destinationto Tan Cang - Hiep Phuoc Port in the city’s Nha Be district or to Tan Cang - CaiMep International Terminal or Tan Cang - Cai Mep Thi Vai Terminal inneighbouring Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.

Thecorporation has called on shippers to provide the estimated number of containerswith imports and empty brought by vessels docked at its port in the next twoweeks so that it can proactively rearrange space.

If the numberof containers stockpiled reaches the port’s maximum capacity, the port willhave to stop receiving cargo.

Thecorporation has called on the city's Department of Customs to seek theGeneral Department of Vietnam Customs’ instructionsfor dealing with the backlog at the port.

Nguyen XuanSang, General Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, said his agencyhas proposed solutions to the Ministry of Transport to resolve theurgent problems at the port.

VMA had openeda hotline at 0903 772 683 to receive calls so that it could supportimport-export companies and goods owners with loading and unloading of goods atthe port.

It has alsoset up a command centre under the VMA, HCM City branch, to co-ordinate withport operators, shipping operators and other relevant agencies to quicklyhandle problems and ensure smooth operation of all ports.

It hasinstructed port authorities across the country to make plans to receive goodsto prevent a similar situation.

Ports handleabout 40 per cent of the country’simports and exports./.