Vinashin to Build Vessels for Israel

The Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corp. (Vinashin) and its subsidiary, the Ha Long Shipbuilding Plant, signed Tuesday a $1b deal to build eight vessels to carry autos for Israel. Israeli Ray Car Carried Limited Company has ordered the deal. The vessels, designed by Italian Naval Progetti company, are measured 185.6m long, 32.26m wide, and 36.56m high each. The Ha Long plant plans to launch the first vessel by September 2008. Vinashin has inked a number of major contracts to build vessels for various customers of Japan, the Republic of Korea, Europe and America. Another Vinashin affiliate in the port city of Hai Phong won in March a $2 million contract to outfit five cruise ships owned by Raon Group of the Czech Republic, and a $131m to build eight container ships for a German shipping company. Source: Vietnam News Agency