At a press conference on February 25 announcing the 10th International Exhibition on Shipbuilding Technology and Offshore Engineering, Pham Binh Minh, Chairman and CEO of Vietnam Shipbuilding Engineering Corporation (VISEC), stated that in the past two to three years, Vietnamese shipyards have increasingly incorporated green and environmentally friendly technology into their products.

“Shipyards like Ha Long and Nam Trieu have built 45,000-ton and 65,000-ton cargo ships that meet Level 3 fuel efficiency standards - the highest level for ships worldwide. The fuel consumption of ships built in Vietnam is on par with those produced in the world's leading shipbuilding nations,” Minh emphasized.

Additionally, Vietnamese design consultancy firms have invested significant time and effort into research and development (R&D) for electric-powered vessels used in inland waterway transportation. Some fully electric ships built in Vietnam have already been exported to various countries.

“We are collaborating with Japanese partners to develop a series of container barges for operations along rivers in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong, as well as fully electric sightseeing boats for Ha Long Bay. This is the future direction of green technology in the shipbuilding industry,” Minh said.

In the open market, ships are not only designed and built in Vietnam for domestic clients but are also manufactured for foreign shipowners.

The VISEC chairman revealed that about a year ago, global media extensively covered the Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship. Vietnamese engineers from VISEC were among the roughly 3,000 engineers worldwide involved in the ship's design.

“We have participated in numerous yacht design projects, both domestically and internationally. Some superyachts designed and built in Vietnam meet the same luxury standards as those produced globally. Several ocean-going yachts operating in Europe and the Americas have also been designed and constructed at Vietnamese shipyards,” Minh said.

The yacht and cruise ship market presents immense growth potential.

According to Nguyen Tien Dat, Deputy General Director of the Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (SBIC) and head of the Vietship 2025 organizing committee, SBIC units have built various yachts for domestic clients, including those operating in Ha Long Bay and along the Mekong River. Some yachts measure up to 120 meters in length and feature exceptionally high luxury standards.

Orders for "luxury" yachts from international clients are abundant, with some deliveries scheduled three to four years in advance. This demonstrates the high quality of Vietnamese shipbuilding and the expertise of Vietnamese craftsmen, proving that Vietnam’s shipyards can meet global standards.

“Our goal is to continue upgrading our capabilities to build even higher-quality, larger superyachts and cruise ships,” Dat said.

Vietship 2025, taking place from March 5-7 at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, will showcase the latest advancements in shipbuilding and offshore engineering technology.

Nearly 200 exhibition booths will be featured, with 50% representing Vietnamese companies and the other half coming from Norway, the Netherlands, China, Finland, South Korea, and Singapore. The exhibition will display equipment, materials, and technologies for shipbuilding and repair, offshore oil and gas extraction, and offshore wind power generation.

Binh Minh