Vietnam to build first tanker

In July 2006, the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (Vinashin) will commence the construction of the first oil tanker for Vietnam?s oil and gas industry. The 100,000 DWT tanker, to be named ?Dung Quat No 1? is scheduled for launch in 2007.

According to the Dung Quat management board, the Infrastructure Development and Construction Corporation (Licogi) and Contex Construction Company (part of Vinashin) are working to acquire the necessary mechanical equipment to build a dry dock 380m long, 90m wide and 15m deep. Such a dry dock is necessary for construction and repair of vessels of up to 300,000 DWT and the main dock infrastructure will be completed in June. Vinashin is now seeking supply of 4,000 tonnes of steel and iron. The shipbuilder is also hiring 100 qualified engineers from local enterprises and 20 foreign experts from Korea and Poland to advise on the project.

Vinashin is planning to set up a shipbuilding industry complex in Dung Quat Economic Zone, aiming to raise the percentage of locally manufactured equipment to 60%. To that end, the corporation has asked the authorities to allocate funds to train 500 shipbuilding engineers and 200 workers.