Feature 1 | Vietnamese shipbuilding
Diamond lights fade in fog of recession
Shipbuilding in Vietnam has been confirmed as a vital industry to that
country’s economy. And with the government’s financial backing through
cash and orders there is a real expectation that it will support the yard
operator through the current recession.
S
adly for Vietnam’s embryonic Name of shipyard Construction/Production capabilities
shipbuilding industry, mainly
represented by the sprawling Saigon shipyard • While in the past the company could only
Vinashin Group that operates 80% of the build boats, catamarans and sailing yachts
country’s capacity, the shine has waned with a capacity around 1000dwt for inland
from their diamonds though the country transportation, it is now capable of building
is now firmly in the shipbuilding loop. 6500dwt vessels.
Originally seen as a Vietnam’s entry • The yard is to build ten general cargo ships
into the big-ship building league Graig ordered by Midland Shipping of Canada, each
Shipping’s order for 27 bulk carriers of of 5190dwt, for delivery by 2009. These are
53,000dwt and a further 10 orders for the intended for river and sea operations.
34,000dwt version of the Diamond ships • Vinashin is planning to upgrade this shipyard
has failed to fully materialise. for newbuilding and repairing vessels up to
According to a Vietnamese shipbuilding 22,500dwt.
industry insider up to eight of the 27
planned Diamond 53’s have been built,
while a further three are currently being Hoang Anh shipbuilding industry This yard was developed from a small shipyard
discussed and may materialise, but a company and the company and became a member of
further 16 ships may now never be built. Vinashin in May 2003. It has the ability to
The tale of the Diamond 34’s “is a sad build up to ten vessels of 2500-3000dwt a year.
story”, said the source. “One ship has been
built, another is on the slipway and a third Aker yards – Vietnam This new yard will deliver its first AHTS
is on the blocks, but it is rumoured that (now STX - Vietnam Offshore Ltd) (Anchor Handling Tug Supply) vessel in 2010
one other has been cancelled, but that’s and currently has six 4000dwt AHTS in its
not official,” he said. Meanwhile, the order book
remaining six Diamond 34 ships must be
considered a doubt.
table 1. new building and repair activities in main south cluster shipyards. source The
“John Coffin [Graig Shipping’s CEO in
shipbuilding industry in Vietnam, complied by the OeCd secretariat (may 2008).
China] said that the quality of the vessels
built in Vietnam was better than that of
similar vessels built in Chinese yards,” said
the shipping source. “It was a nice project
but the market collapsed earlier than
Vinashin had expected,” he added.
Shipbuilding, although in its early
stages in Vietnam, is expected to survive
the recession mainly because the Hanoi
Government appears to be determined
to maintain the industry by injecting
significant funds along with a major order
from the state owned national shipping
company and the government of Vietnam.
Some 80,000 workers either work in
the Vinashin yards or in related industries
and so politically as well as economically
it is not an option for the government to
allow the yards to fail. Graiglas one of the diamond 53 design bulk carriers built at ha long shipyard.
44 The Naval Architect January 2010
NA Jan 10 - p44+46+47+
48.indd 44 12/01/2010 10:03:26
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