SIHANOUKVILLE: The Royal Government delegate in charge of the Director General of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Lou Kimchhon, said that in 2029, the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port will expand its water depth to 17.5 meters so that ships of all sizes can dock in Cambodia from around the world.

Lou Kimchhon made this statement to the media during a visit to Sihanoukville led by the President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists, Puy Kea, on Tuesday, 25 April 2023.

Kimchhon said that Cambodia is currently implementing a project to build a 250-meter-long port, which will be completed in 2024. The new port will increase the number of containers that can be stored by about 35%, and in 2026, Cambodia will expand the water depth of the port up to a depth of 14.5 meters, which will allow the port to accommodate 93% of all ships in the area. These developments are expected to reduce the cost of shipping by US $200 per container and increase trade competitiveness. In particular, the upgraded port is expected to attract more investors.

Furthermore, in 2028, Cambodia will expand the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port to a depth of 16.5 meters, and in 2029 the water depth will be expanded even further to 17.5 meters, allowing all types of ships from all over the world to dock, especially those from Asia, Europe, and the United States. Cambodia will no longer have to rely on small ships to transport containers in stages before reaching the port.

"From 2026, [our port] will be similar to the ports of the world, [Cambodia] in 2028-2029 will be like the ports all around the world," said Lou Kimchhon.