Strategic Marine opens Vietnamese shipyard

Western Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine officially opened its multi-million dollar shipyard in Vietnam today. The new facility takes up 136,000m3 at the Dong Xuyen Industrial Zone in Ba Ria Vung Tau province and is now a fully functioning shipyard with the capability to construct large steel and aluminium vessels.

Strategic Marine Chairman Mark Newbold told several hundred dignitaries and guests attending the grand opening that the Vietnamese yard had already won more than $60.89 million in orders. Newbold said that Strategic Marine was also introducing an apprenticeship scheme which will see 55 Vietnamese apprentices undertake a two-year course in a range of specialised shipbuilding skills. “The program has been designed to give Vietnamese trainees the theoretical and practical experience they need to become skilled welders, fabricators, electricians and refrigeration specialists,” said Strategic Marine?s Vietnam Managing Director Mark Schiller.

To date, the facility has completed construction of a 103m by 50m steel pontoon base for the Australian Marine Complex?s $39.7 million floating dry dock, which was shipped to Western Australia late last year. The yard?s most recent contract is to refit and extend a floating dry dock for STX Europe, a project that is expected to take three months to complete.

The shipyard is also well advanced with the construction and outfitting of two 143m dive support vessels for Singaporean client Marfield, as well as 40 oilfield service vessels, four landing craft and a new generation compact tractor tug for the Port of Napier in New Zealand.

The yard?s three slipways are capable of handling the construction of vessels up to 200m long and 60m wide with a tonnage of 15,000 tonnes to accommodate a variety of vessels.