The new terminal will extend over 350 metres in length and have a draft of 14.5 metres. Its container berths and storage yard will add one million TEU, tripling SAP's current capacity. Future expansion would include additional container berths and a rail terminal, reports the Phnom Penh Post.
"We welcome this expansion plan for Sihanoukville's port. Once it's completed we'll realise huge benefits, especially in our ability to compete on cost for both imports and exports," said CAMFFA president Sin Chanthy.
According to spokesman of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works Va Sim Soriya, construction of the new container terminal was expected to begin in 2017 and finish by 2022.
"Currently we are only able to handle small ships, so we need to transfer cargo shipments onto big ships at neighbouring ports, which costs a lot," he said. "The port expansion will play an important role in facilitating import and export shipments, and will reduce the cost of logistics, making us competitive with the international market."
Mr Soriya said the government is currently looking to secure funding for the project from the Japanese government or its foreign development agency.
In a separate development, Japan International Cooperation Agency has provided a $74 million soft loan to build a new multipurpose terminal at SAP to raise the handling capacity to 700,000 TEU, up from 500,000 TEU. Scheduled for completion in 2018, the new terminal will increase the port's draft from 8.5 metres to 13.5 metres and be able to handle oil and agricultural shipments.
"We welcome this expansion plan for Sihanoukville's port. Once it's completed we'll realise huge benefits, especially in our ability to compete on cost for both imports and exports," said CAMFFA president Sin Chanthy.
According to spokesman of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works Va Sim Soriya, construction of the new container terminal was expected to begin in 2017 and finish by 2022.
"Currently we are only able to handle small ships, so we need to transfer cargo shipments onto big ships at neighbouring ports, which costs a lot," he said. "The port expansion will play an important role in facilitating import and export shipments, and will reduce the cost of logistics, making us competitive with the international market."
Mr Soriya said the government is currently looking to secure funding for the project from the Japanese government or its foreign development agency.
In a separate development, Japan International Cooperation Agency has provided a $74 million soft loan to build a new multipurpose terminal at SAP to raise the handling capacity to 700,000 TEU, up from 500,000 TEU. Scheduled for completion in 2018, the new terminal will increase the port's draft from 8.5 metres to 13.5 metres and be able to handle oil and agricultural shipments.