As the Asian market for offshore vessels is rapidly growing, Norwegian Aker Yards has decided to establish a shipyard in Vietnam, the company reports. The shipyard will be a joint venture between Aker Yards (70%) and Singapore based Amanda Group owning 30 per cent. The Amanda Group has extensive industrial experience in Vietnam.
The shipyard will be located close to Ho Chi Minh City, in Vung Tau in the heart of Vietnams growing offshore operations. The shipyard will be Aker Yards´ 18th yard. There are six in Norway, three in Finland, two in Germany, two in France, two in Romania, one in Brazil and one in Ukraine and soon one in Vietnam.
Over a period of three years Aker Yards will invest 16 million US$ in the Vietnamese shipyard, which will strengthen Aker Yards ability to serve its international customers in the region.
According to the press release Vietnam is chosen as “Vietnam offers a unique combination of cost efficient production, highly skilled workforce and proximity to the important and growing Asian offshore market.”
Aker Yards expects that the yard will deliver its first vessel in 2009 and in full operation the yard will have a capacity of 3-4 vessels annually. The yard will deliver the first vessel in 2009, and will in full operation have an annual capacity of 3-4 vessels, depending on the type and size of the vessels.
