Study underway for new port in Yangon, CM says

26 July 2019
Study underway for new port in Yangon, CM says
The sun sets as cargo ships sail along Yangon river, in Yangon. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo/EPA

Yangon Region government chief minister Phyo Min Thein said that they were conducting a study and analysis for building a new port in Yangon River.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a Yangon Region Investment Committee meeting held on July 24.

“We are gearing up for building a new port at the mouth of the Yangon River. We are studying the waterway in Yangon River with assistance given by Netherlands. If we find the project feasible, we will submit it to the region legislative assembly,” CM Phyo Min Thein said.

Currently vessels with 167 metre in length, 9 metre in draft and 15,000-tonnage can enter Yangon port but the bigger vessels with 200 metre in length, 9-metre draft and 20,000-tonnage have to enter the new Thilawa port, according to a statement issued by Ministry of Transport and Communications.

“According to our study we found that there are no sandbars and shallows which can protect the vessels from strong current when exiting the mouth of the river. And there are no islands in the Gulf of Martaban facing the mouth of river. So, the vessels can face direct impact from storms. So, building a new port in Yangon River will be costly,” CM Phyo Min Thein added.

Currently about 250 vessels visit Yangon ports every month. The vessels with under 9-metre draft are entering and mooring at these ports in Yangon River depending on high tide and doing cargo handling works.

There are ports in Yangon, Thilawa, Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, Thandwe, Mawlamyine, Myeik, Dawei, Kawthaung, but Yangon port is the biggest and major port for cargo handling with nearly 90% of all exports and imports done there, according to records of the Myanmar Port Authority.