VietNamNet Bridge – The operators of HCM City ports are unhappy with the city's ban on heavy vehicles during certain times of the day, and warn the severe losses this is causing could force some of them to close down.

Decision 66 that took effect on November 1 – to ease the constant traffic jams plaguing the city – restricts travel by truck, the main means of transport for goods, meaning container vehicles are often stuck in ports along with goods.

At a meeting with the city Department of Transport last Wednesday, port representatives called for changes to the ban timings and routes.

They wanted the department to allow trucks to travel through the day, except during peak hours, on roads leading to ports.

The director of Tan Thuan 2 terminal in District 7, Mai Van Cu, said trucks are now allowed to travel on the normal, most convenient routes only between midnight and 6am.

Five-tonne trucks headed for Tan Thuan 2, Bien Dong, Vinashin, and Lotus ports after 6am now have to travel an extra 30 minutes to reach them.

This had caused many truck owners to refuse to carry goods to Tan Thuan 2 Port, Cu said.

In Lotus, nearly 200,000 tonnes of goods had piled up, its deputy director, Nguyen Anh Tuan, said.

Bien Dong deputy director Nguyen Bay said the restriction had increased transport costs by at least 15 per cent, cutting his port's revenue by half, hitting the income of workers, especially porters and mechanics.

The port executives expressed the fear they would be forced to close down.

The ports have also called on the People's Committee to amend Decision 66 as soon as possible, saying every day they are closed would cause the economy billions of dong.

This would discourage foreign cargo ships from coming to HCM City ports for services, they said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News