Vietnam's Can Gio International Transshipment Port near $5 billion with MSC's TiL involvement

Vietnam’s Can Gio International Transshipment Port project, with total investment of nearly 5 billion USD (about 128,800 billion VND), has been formally approved by Ho Chi Minh City authorities to proceed. The investor is a consortium of three entities: Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC), Saigon Port Joint Stock Company, and Terminal Investment Limited Holding S.A. (TiL), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and a member of MSC—the world’s largest container shipping company.

Project timeline and location

Under the plan, the Can Gio megaport is expected to break ground on April 30 this year. The port will be located at a strategic position on the Cai Mep – Thi Vie river, near international sea lanes, with the goal of becoming an international container transshipment hub and strengthening Vietnam’s role in global logistics.

Capacity and role in Vietnam’s port clusters

Once completed, the port is designed to accommodate ultra-large container ships up to 250,000 DWT (about 24,000 TEU). The project is expected to form a “pillar” together with the Cai Mep and Cat Lat port clusters, positioning Vietnam as a key link in the global supply chain.

Economic and employment impact

With an optimal designed capacity, the Can Gio port is expected to contribute 34,000–40,000 billion VND to the state budget per year. The project is also expected to create around 8,000 direct jobs and tens of thousands of indirect jobs.

Ownership structure and strategic investor

In the ownership structure, the Swiss company will hold 49%. The participation of MSC’s global operator through TiL is described as a strategic step toward developing the multi-billion-dollar port in a “green and smart” direction.

TiL’s operating footprint

TiL, as MSC’s core member, has operated leading ports for more than a quarter-century, building a total of 62 km of quay worldwide. With over 30,000 employees globally, TiL has a presence at major container ports by volume, including Singapore, Ningbo, Busan, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Rotterdam, Antwerp, New York/New Jersey, and Valencia.

Smart port and green port features

TiL’s approach combines digital transformation with a “Green Port” strategy. Planned smart-operations capabilities include remotely controlled onshore quay cranes (STS) coordinated with automated guided vehicles (AGV). Using Big Data and AI, TiL aims to forecast cargo flows and optimize container handling, reducing equipment travel distances and helping prevent congestion.

Net Zero commitment and electrification

The project’s green vision includes a commitment to Net Zero by 2050 through a comprehensive “Green Port” plan. Measures include full electrification, replacing traditional diesel-powered equipment with electric RTGs and 100% electric tractors.

Shore Power technology

A key capability TiL plans to bring to Can Gio is Shore Power technology, which allows mega-container ships to shut down their engines upon arrival and draw clean power from the shore grid, supplied from offshore wind or solar projects. This is intended to eliminate harmful emissions in the port area.

• Zero emissions
• No noise
• No vibration
• Lower fuel consumption
• Reduced wear
• Easier maintenance

Source: Wartsila.

Environmental rationale

Typically, ships berth with auxiliary diesel engines running to power cooling, lighting, and onboard systems, which can emit significant CO2, SOx, NOx, and fine dust near the river mouth. The project states that deploying onshore power through TiL can address this environmental challenge, including impacts on mangrove ecosystems.