Vinashin to Build 8 Vessels for Hoegh Autoliner

The Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) will build eight car-carrying vessels for Hoegh Autoliner of Norway under a $536 million contract signed in Hanoi on Dec. 1 The vessels, which will be capable of carrying 6,900 cars and sail at a speed of 20.5 knots, will be built by the Nam Trieu Shipbuilding Industry Co. - a Vinashin subsidiary - under the supervision of Norway's DNV. Each of the vessels will be 199.9 metres long and 32.26 metres high, and installed with state-of-the-art equipment and engines which will meet the latest international maritime standards. The first vessel is scheduled for completion by December 2009 when it will be handed over to the Norwegian company, while the remaining ones will be completed six months later. Also on Dec. 1, the Nam Trieu shipyard signed a contract to design vessels with DeltaMarin, a Finnish consulting and engineering firm which specialises in shipping, shipbuilding, marine and offshore industry. (VNA)