With contracts worth some US$12 billion, Vietnamese shipbuilding companies not only ensure jobs for tens of thousands of workers this year but also until 2012. They even keep some contracts until 2014.
Ngo The Viet, financial director of Vinashin Business Group said, the global economic slow down has badly impacted the Vietnamese shipbuilding sector. However, experts forecast that Vietnam’s demand for maritime transport will be high between 2015 and 2020 as the country needs a fleet of ship with five-million tonnages. By 2020, Vietnam will require at least ships of 25-million tonnage to ensure demand for North-South transport. The domestic shipbuilding sector is capable of ensuring ships of one-million-tonne annually on average.
Increasing localisation rate
Vietnam still depends much on import of materials for the shipbuilding industry. Meanwhile, the domestic supporting industry remains weak, which is also a big barrier for shipbuilders.
Vietnam’s shipbuilding sector is trying to raise the localisation rate to 70 per cent in 2020. However, after many years of efforts, the shipbuilding support industry has just produced a few simple materials and equipments like paint, crane, metal cutter, furniture, and pumps. The country has to import up to 90 per cent of shipbuilding equipment.
To reach the set goal in the localisation rate rise, the local shipbuilding sector in general and Vinashin in particular has considered its investment plan and capital demand for their business and production activities.
Accordingly, Vinashin will invest in several key products such as steel for shipbuilding and ship engines to reach the localisation rate of 60 per cent in 2015 and 70 per cent in 2020.
Measures
Responding to the governments’ measures to deal with the economic slump, the local shipbuilding sector has carried out five key measures. It is accelerating the implementation of contracts to build 53,000-DWT vessels for a firm from the UK and a series of ships able to transporting 6,900 autos for foreigners companies. It is enhancing the cooperation with partners from the UK, Norway, Japan, Denmark, Poland, South Korea and Holland, while developing ties with domestic traditional clients like PetroVietnam, Vinalines and the Ministry of Defense.
The sector is investing in some major projects such as building 150,000 DWT –FSO5, oil tankers of 115,000 DWT and infrastructure of shipyards.
Furthermore, it also focuses on ensuring jobs for the staffs, building corporate culture and several other measures.
The sector has implemented the sound development strategy in the context of various challenges.
Huong Ly
Vietnamese
