Impressions from made-in-Vietnam ships

The Vietnamese shipbuilding sector built a floating storage and offloading (FSO) ship with a capacity of 150,000 tons mid-April this year and delivered a “ro-ro” to an Israeli firm. The vessel named Victory Leader can transport 4,900 cars and is the first of its kind, in the country.

More modern and bigger

The FSO5, seen as a floating oil refinery in the sea, can separate and refine oil from oil fields from impurities. It is installed with a modern technology system to export crude oil for oil tankers and service ships. Particularly, the FSO5 can confront storms of grade 17. It was built by Nam Trieu Ship Industry Corporation under Vinashin Business Group and the Shipbuilding science and technology Institute.

Another outstanding event is that Vinashin’s affiliate Ha Long Shipbuilding Company handed over a ro-ro entitled Victory Leader which can transport 4,900 cars for Israel’s Ray Shipping. This is considered the most modern ship in Vietnam to date. It is designed and built under 1A1 grade, the highest level for ro-ro. The vessel’s typical function is automatic operations capacity. Victory Leader is the first ship delivered in a contract to build four the car-transporting vessels for the Israeli partner.

Talking about Victory Leader, Vinashin Chairman Pham Thanh Binh said, FSO5 and Victory Leader are much more modern and complicated compared ships built by Vinashin. The ships help Vinashin to attract attention from foreign partners.

“It may take us a very long time to build such a more modern ship in the future. Despite being a ro-ro, its furniture is as beautiful as a yatch”, Binh affirmed.

Meanwhile Billionaire Rami Ungar from Ray Shipping said “We decided to select Vietnam, not South Korea and China as we believe in Vinashin which we want to establish long-term relations with. I think that Vietnam can stand in the top three of the biggest shipbuilders worldwide from the current 5th position”.

Nguyen Duc Than, General Director of Ha Long Shipbuilding Company, said “When receiving the order, I was very worried as it is difficult for us to build a ro-ro. China has ever failed to build this kind of vessel. The success promises more orders for us”.

“Made in Vietnam” ships

At present, the local shipbuilding industry has won orders to build ships of tens of thousands of tonnes for foreign firms. Shipyards have also launched ships of between 3,000 and 56,000 tonnes each. Besides, the sector aims to raise the localisation rate to 60 per cent. Additionally, it will expand and boost supporting industry’s operations to provide more steel and engines for the shipbuilders.

To manufacture made-in-Vietnam ships, it is necessary to raise the localisation rate which is now estimated at 40%-45%.

Binh said that Vietnam now has to import the majority of materials, machines and equipment for the shipbuilding sector. Vinashin is building a steel complex in Yen Bai for steel ingot production.

In the long-term plan, Vinashin is negotiating with South Korea’s Posco and some in Malaysia to set up joint ventures for steel production. Vietnam is expected to ensure steel supply for the shipbuilding sector and others. Besides, Vinashin is developing supporting industry to produce cranes, holds, ship gates, ship furniture and other equipment. It has bought back the world advanced technologies to serve domestic shipyards, aiming to export more products.

Rami Ungar noted that Vietnam boats abundant labour force with high sense of inquiring mind. The local government always encourages foreign companies to invest in the country.

Tags: Vietnam shipping industry