Vinashin’s ship leased to China leaves port

Vinashin’s $67 million Hoa Sen (Lotus) cruise ship Monday left Cam Ranh Port in the central Khanh Hoa Province for a customer in northern China.

According to a contract between the ship owner and Lianyungang CK Ferry Co Ltd, a joint venture of the Korean Heung-A Group and the Chinese port of Lianyungang, the daily rent of the ship is $16,500.

It will be used in the company’s passenger transport route between Chinese northern ports and Korea.

The beleaguered state shipbuilding Vinashin owes Cam Ranh Port’s authorities around $25,000 in docking and maintenance fees, Thai The Than, director of Nha Trang Port Authorities told Tuoi Tre. The debt is expected to be settled by the end of the second quarter this year.

If the owner fails to meet the deadline, authorities will ask international partners where the ship is docked at to detain it, Than added.

The ship was bought from Italia in May 2007, and went under maintenance in January 2009 after 40 trips between northern Quang Ninh Province and southern Ho Chi Minh City due to cracks found at the bottom.

It had been docked at the Cam Ranh Bay since April 2009. – Tuoitre

Tags: Vinashin