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Vietnam - Seaports

Initially the port of Saigon provided the only unloading facilities for oceangoing vessels. Its six deep-draft berths were altogether inadequate for handling regular commercial shipping and the hundreds of ships bringing military cargo from America. The result was an enlarging of port facilities fivefold.

The port of Saigon and, to a lesser extent, the port of Cam Ranh Bay were the only harbors in South Vietnam capable of docking deep-draft oceangoing vessels before the force buildup in early 1965. There were shallow-draft port facilities at Nha Trang, Qui Nhon, and Da Nang, and there were numerous beaches along the coast over which cargo could be landed from ships lying offshore. But in 1965 only one berth in the old port of Saigon was permanently allotted to American forces, although from two to ten were used at various times. In January 1966 three berths were permanently assigned for United States military use in Saigon. Cam Ranh Bay had at that time only one deep-draft pier in operation which was insufficient for existing and projected cargo handling requirements.

In the spring of 1965 Army engineer troops moved to Cam Ranh Bay, an excellent natural but a wholly undeveloped harbor. There they installed a DeLong pier and a causeway pier that enabled four ships to unload simultaneously. Six more berths were subsequently constructed in this harbor.

To handle military cargo in the Saigon area, the Newport port facilities were constructed by RMK-BRJ on what had been rice paddy land two miles north of Saigon. As silt from the river bottom was unsuitable for fill, great quantities of rock and sand were brought in by barge and truck. Newport can accommodate simultaneously 4 oceangoing vessels, 4 shallow-draft landing craft, and 7 barges. The cost was nearly $25 million.

Deepwater berths and appurtenant coastal facilities were also constructed at Da Nang, Qui Nhon, Vung Tau, and Vung Ro. The plan was to develop Saigon, Da Nang, and Cam Ranh Bay into major logistical bases and Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Chu Lai, Phu Bai, and Vung Tau into minor support bases. Because of the tactical and geographical isolation of these ports, all supplies had to come by sea. Port development involved more than the construction of additional piers. Barge off loading facilities, ramps for landing craft, and petroleum unloading facilities were all required.

Vietnam was the scene of one of the world's largest dredging operations. Since 1966, fourteen or more dredges have been doing harbor and land-fill work. They have cleared and deepened harbors, rivers, and canals; stockpiled sand for road and base ca up construction; and reclaimed land for military, industrial, and housing sites. Without continuing dredging operations the accumulation of silt would, however, close the harbors and inland waterways to navigation.