Vietnam launches biggest container ship

Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam successfully launched a 1,750 TEU container ship which is the biggest of its type built in Vietnam. Shipyard director Nguyen Duc Than said the container ship, named ?Vinashin Dragon?, would be delivered to Vinashin Lines by the end of the first quarter next year. It is the first ship of a contract for five container ships ordered by Vinashin Lines, and both the shipbuilder and the client are members of the Vinashin group.

The 184 metre long and 25 metre wide vessel has a deadweight tonnage of 23,000 tonnes and costs $36 million. Construction of the ship was supervised by GL and is fitted with European engines.

Besides this order to build a series of large container ships, the shipyard will also be launching bulk carriers of 53,000 DWT, Than said, adding the shipyard was making investment to enhance its capacity to build ships up to 70,000 DWT.

Elsewhere in Vietnam the Pha Rung Shipyard in the port city of Haiphong will deliver a cargo ship of 20,000 DWT to Vinashin Maritime Company (Vinashinship) in December this year. Named ?Vinashin Bay? the newbuilding is scheduled to undergo sea trials later this month. At the same time the Ben Kien Shipyard in Haiphong has delivered an 8,700 DWT ship to the Japanese Kanematsu company last month. The ?Unicorn Bravo? was designed by Japan?s AZ and supervised by Japanese register company NK.

Another shipyard in Haiphong, the Bach Dang Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, plans to deliver the ?VTC Dragon? to Vitranschart, a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines). The 22,500 DWT ship, designed by Vinakita as a joint venture between Vinashin and Japan?s Kitada, is part of a contract for building eight ships for Vinalines.