Ship builder to catch-up on building tanker

Dung Quat Shipyard Company plans to continue construction of 104,000-DWT and 105,000-DWT oil tankers after a prolonged delay caused by financial difficulties, according to the chairman of the company’s board.

Nguyen Van Hoi said the 104,000-DWT oil tanker was expected to be handed over to Vinashin Vien Duong Transport General Co in April next year.

The 105,000-DWT oil tanker will be given to PetroVietnam Transportation Co (PV Trans) in December 2011. The tanker will be used to transport crude oil for the Dung Quat Oil Refinery.

The tanker projects, which began in 2006, have been delayed for several reasons.

In October 2006, Dung Quat Shipyard kicked off construction of the 104,000-DWT oil tanker, named Dung Quat 1. It is the largest of its kind in Viet Nam.

The vessel, which is 245 metres long , 43 metres wide and 20 metres high, was made with Polish technology and was examined by the American Bureau of Shipping. It was scheduled to be operational by the end of March 2008 but construction is not complete.

Also, in February 2007, the company began building a 105,000-DWT oil tanker for PV Trans under a contract to build three oil tankers of that size worth US$60-65 million each.

Under the contract, the shipyard committed to hand over the first vessel in February 2009, the second in August 2009, and the third in February 2010.

However, due to financial difficulties, the work has been behind schedule.

The company has also failed to complete other vessels, such as a 54,000-tonne cargo ship, an 18,000-tonne barge and a 2,400-horsepower towboat.

Hoi said as part of restructuring of Vinashin, the Dung Quat Shipbuilding Industry General Corporation was handed over to PetroVietnam, and Dung Quat Shipyard Co now has the key task of building the oil tanker.

PetroVietnam will provide VND369 billion ($19.4 million) to Dung Quat Shipyard Co. to maintain production, invest in infrastructure, and pay salaries and social insurance for workers. —VNS

Tags: Dung Quat Shipyard, Vietnam Shipbuilding industry