Faster, greener shipping route launched in Vietnam

DP World, in partnership with VIMC Container Lines Joint Stock Company (VIMC Lines), has launched a new coastal and river transport service that is said to cut cargo transit times by 70%.

The so-called Mekong Express service connects inland port Cai Cui and deepwater port Cai Mep twice weekly, significantly cutting down travel time from 48 hours to 15 hours using a combined route.

The traditional route spans about 367 km, while the new coastal path is shortened to about 200 km, offering a faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for Vietnam’s cargo shippers, DP World explained.

The Mekong Express is built to handle both dry and reefer containers, with a capacity of several hundred teu per voyage. Future expansion plans include adding stops at Saigon Premier Container Terminal (SPCT), managed by DP World, and Saigon Hiep Phuoc Port, under the Vietnam Maritime Corporation.

In addition to its operational benefits, the new service presents a more sustainable alternative to road transport, producing 60% fewer carbon emissions, DP World added.

The operation is also equipped with real-time cargo tracking and carbon monitoring technologies and both partners said they aim to make the service net-zero in carbon emissions by 2026.

The launch of the new service is expected to strengthen connectivity across southern Vietnam’s two economic powerhouses, the Mekong Delta Key Economic Region and the Southern Key Economic Region, which together drive much of the country’s industrial output and exports.

“DP World is committed to building a seamless, integrated supply chain ecosystem in Vietnam, an increasingly important market for trade in the Asia Pacific region and globally. With the Mekong Express, we are responding to demand for a more efficient and reliable service. This will help support economic development not just within southern Vietnam but throughout the country,” said Glen Hilton, CEO and managing director of DP World Asia Pacific.