Sika’s marine construction solutions, from high-performance concrete admixtures, waterproofing, advanced grouts, and corrosion-protection coatings, have been used in more than 2,000 offshore and marine structures worldwide, now including the Lach Huyen Seaport 5-6 terminal expansion.
PORTS UNDER PRESSURE
According to the World Bank, over 80% of all goods traded worldwide – from oil and grain to electronics and textiles – travel by sea, making ports essential links in the world economy. Today’s infrastructure is aging just as vessels are becoming larger, regulations stricter, and climate pressures are more intense.
A 2025 J.P. Morgan report projects that global maritime trade will double by 2050. These pressures have triggered a global race to modernize and expand port capacity. According to GlobalData, more than CHF 400 billion in port construction projects are currently under way or in planning worldwide.
BENEATH THE SURFACE
The complexity of building a modern seaport – a feat of engineering that combines large-scale construction works with an intricate logistics puzzle, all while battling against the elements.
Construction starts with the seabed, which must be surveyed, reinforced, and stabilized to hold enormous loads. This often requires dredging to remove layers of silt, sand, or clay until stable ground is reached.
Sika Challenges
Deep underwater works had to be performed 16–18 meters below sea level to stabilize foundations and structural elements.
The soft, unstable seabed required extensive ground improvement before construction could begin.
FOUNDATIONS BELOW THE WATERLINE
Depending on the conditions, engineers use steel piles driven deep into the seabed or large prefabricated concrete elements that are lowered and aligned with millimeter precision to form a stable base.
Quays and jetties are cast on site using marine-grade concrete or assembled from large, prefabricated sections lifted by cranes. Offshore, breakwaters are built to calm waves and create a sheltered harbor. With these core structures in place, ship-to-shore cranes are installed, container yards are laid out, and connections to road and rail are completed.
Sika Solutions
Resistance to the harsh environment
Sika admixtures were used for slabs, girders, and the container yard, resulting in improved durability, and resistance to the harsh seawater environment
Environmental benefit
Sika admixtures enable the partial replacement of cement with industrial by-products like slag and fly ash, reducing the concrete’s environmental footprint
High durability
High-durability precast concrete piles were produced with the help of Sika® ViscoCrete® admixtures to resist seawater exposure and protect steel reinforcement, ensuring long-term performance in marine environments
High-strength grout
Sikadur® high-strength epoxy grouts provide reliable load transfer from crane wheels to the supporting structure. It resists dynamic loads, vibration, and harsh marine conditions, helping maintain long-term alignment and durability of crane rails
730
thousand-square-meter construction area
50+
year service life, designed to withstand harsh coastal conditions
204
CHF million investment in the terminal 5-6 expansion of Lach Huyen Seaport
VIETNAM’S GATEWAY TO THE WORLD
Lach Huyen Port is the first deep seaport in northern Vietnam, built for vessels up to 18,000 TEU (one TEU equals a standard six-meter container). Located in the Cát Hai Special District, the port gives northern Vietnam direct maritime access to Europe and other global markets.
Sika supported the construction of terminals 5 and 6, a 73-hectare development with a 900-meter berth and a large container yard.
ENGINEERING FOR HARSH COASTAL CONDITIONS
Sika developed admixture solutions for a high-density, low-permeability concrete mix to increase mechanical strength and protect steel reinforcement from chlorides and sulfates.
“The structures had to withstand enormous loads and constant exposure to saltwater. That meant every aspect – from the concrete and admixture mix design to on-site execution – Focused on ensuring a service life of at least fifty years,”
Dinh Quang Hung
Sika Vietnam’s Project Leader for the Lach Huyen terminal 5 and 6 expansion
UP AND RUNNING – AND READY FOR FURTHER EXPANSION
Lach Huyen is Sika’s largest seaport contract to date in northern Vietnam. Completed two months ahead of schedule, the new terminals are now fully operational and run entirely on electric-powered equipment – a first in Vietnam.
With more terminals and coastal projects on the horizon in Vietnam and beyond, the experience gained in Lach Huyen positions Sika strongly for future opportunities.
