Driving Vietnam's maritime ambitions

Vietnam is known as a rapidly growing and promising market in Southeast Asia, and HHIT intends to fully leverage this growth. In 2023, the company announced plans to develop two new deep-water berths at Lach Huyen Port in Haiphong City. These berths will attract mega-ships and significantly reduce import and export costs in Northern Vietnam starting from the first quarter of 2025.

One of HHIT's core principles is a commitment to futureproofing. The company aims to become Vietnam's first smart and green container terminal, in addition to the largest. "To achieve this, HHIT plans to become the country's first semi-automated container terminal, with the long-term ambition to operate fully autonomously," says Nguyen Van Tien, CEO of HHIT. "In line with this, HHIT aspires to utilize automated solutions as much as possible and prepare to operate entirely on electricity once the power supply allows. This commitment aligns with our vision for sustainable development and innovation within the industry."

HHIT's focus is on sustainability and efficiency, and internal expertise will help achieve these goals. By investing in safety, port automation, artificial intelligence, and decarbonization, HHIT can contribute to a successful future for the container terminal in Haiphong. For this, HHIT relies on the expertise of partners such as Camco Technologies. "The collaboration is a milestone for us as well," says Abby, CEO of Camco Asia. "The signing of the first collaboration contract for port automation between the two respective CEOs in September 2023 marked a milestone for both us and HHIT. It underscores our shared vision for the future, emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and technological advancement as we embark on this journey together.”

Camco Technologies plays a crucial role in HHIT's automation efforts. The company provides innovative solutions such as the Gate System, the Vehicle Booking System (VBS), and Automated Damage Inspection (ADI). The Gate System enables HHIT to automate and validate truck and container data, while the VBS helps reduce congestion and improve terminal safety and efficiency. ADI detects container damage and automatically records it, allowing the terminal to better handle damage claims. Nguyen Van Tien: "The latter is also important for us. In the realm of port operations, damaged containers send shockwaves throughout the system. From revenue loss and delivery delays to reputation damage, the impact on businesses and the supply chain is significant. Moreover, port authorities face safety concerns, financial losses, and operational disruptions as a result.”

Another groundbreaking product from Camco is the BoxCatcher, a unique OCR system for STS cranes designed to enhance operational processes at the waterside. Using intelligent cameras, the BoxCatcher automatically registers the location of containers, resulting in smoother and more efficient crane operations. "BoxCatcher has several unique advantages for HHIT," says Abby Zhang. "It captures both valuable data as high-resolution images. The dynamic camera system offers comprehensive OCR/OFR capabilities, encompassing container ID, ISO code, seal detection, hazardous materials labels, and door orientation, facilitating operations around the clock. Additionally, it captures high-quality images to enhance condition monitoring, empowering terminal operators with improved damage claims management.”

Container ports serve as the lifeblood of Vietnam's flourishing economy, driven in part by robust trade connections with the global market. These ports play a crucial role in facilitating the import and export of a wide range of goods, from textiles to electronics and agricultural products. According to Nguyen Van Tien, 'Vietnam has positioned itself in recent years as a regional trade hub in Southeast Asia, with cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and Da Nang acting as key nodes for goods movement. This strategic location has bestowed upon Vietnam a central role in trade within Asia and beyond. Given the significant growth potential, it's imperative to prioritize sustainability in all its facets with every investment.”

Nguyen Van Tien has been the acting CEO of Hateco Haiphong International Container Terminal since October 2021. Prior to this, he worked for over twenty years at Greenport, VIP Greenport in Haiphong, where he served as both chairman and managing director. His professional experience also includes roles at Viconship, Transvina, Steamer Shipping, and the Port of Haiphong.