A Vietnamese news service is reporting that Ben Kien Shipbuilding Industry Co has signed a contract to build two 16 800 t cement carriers for Norwegian shipowning firm KGJ Cement. The ships will be built in Hai Phong in the north of Vietnam.
Shipbuilding is a major industry in Vietnam, with more than 60 building and repair yards owned by the Ministries of Defence, Fisheries and Transport. The Ministry of Transport owns approximately 70% of the industry under the umbrella organization VINASHIN (Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group), of which Ben Kien Shipbuilding Industry Co is a part.
The shipbuilding industry has taken a hit following the global financial crisis along with the entire shipping industry. This contract signals optimism for a return to growth in the near future.