Vietnam Set to Build Tanker

In July 2006, the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (Vinashin) will set about construction of the first oil tanker for Vietnam’s oil and gas industry. The tanker, 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 (belonging to 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 tonnes. The main dock infrastructure will be completed in June, so that Vinashin can begin building the first 100,000 tonne oil tanker this July. Vinashin is now seeking supply of 4,000 tons of steel and iron. The corporation is also hiring 100 qualified engineers from local enterprises and 20 foreign experts from the Republic of Korea and Poland to advise on the project. Vinashin workers are also building two 2,400-horsepower tugboats, a 15,000-ton lighter, and preparing for the building of the Dung Quat No 1 oil tanker. Once launched in 2007, the tanker will transport materials and products to beautiful Dung Quat Oil Refinery. Vinashin is planning to set up a shipbuilding industry complex in Dung Quat Economic Zone, aiming to raise the localisation ratio of Vietnam-made vessels to 60%, thus helping develop the local shipbuilding industry. To that end, the corporation has asked the authorities to allocate budget for training of 500 shipbuilding engineers and 200 laborers. Source: VietnamNet