Chi Minh News

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met Vietnam’s top leaders on Wednesday, offering support in several key areas including the enhancement of its maritime security in an effort to counter Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea.Harris also offered more visits by U.S. warships during her talks with Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, according to a White House official who did not wish to be named.Harris’s seven-day trip to Singapore and Vietnam is part of a broader U.S.

Four people fell into the sea and went missing after an offshore construction unit tilted off the coast of Huzhou City, China, CGTN, a Chinese state-backed news website, said Monday.According to CGTN, there were 65 people on board when the incident took place.CGTN said in a video tweeted on Monday that four people had been missing, with the rest of the crew rescued.The news agency further said that search and rescue efforts involving helicopters and vessels were still underway.It also said that the jack-up unit had stabilized.According to available information…

UK-based project logistics management firm Trans Global Projects Group (TGP), has been awarded a contract for the transport of around 320,000 freight tons of offshore wind turbine components. The components will be used for two wind farm projects in Vietnam. TGP said Wednesday it had secured the contract from a large EPC contractor in China, without revealing who the client was."Over the nearly year-long contract, TGP is scheduled to deliver 10 batches of wind turbine equipment from China to Vietnam via ocean vessel.

A Vietnamese-flagged cargo ship ran aground near the Philippines' Antique province Thursday after the officer on watch fell asleep, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.The 90-meter, 2,551-gross-ton Globe 6 was transporting a rice cargo from Ho Chi Minh City to Davao City and had 25 crew members on board at the time of the incident. The ship's master Nguyen Hoai told the PCG that the officer on watch had been asleep when the grounding occurred.The PCG said its personnel were…

NYK Line (Vietnam) Co. Ltd. acquired 15% of total issued shares of Thoresen Vinama Tug Co. Ltd. (TVT hereunder) and entered the tugboat business at Phu My and Cai Mep ports in Vietnam.TVT has two tugboats providing tugboat services at Phu My and Cai Mep ports, located in the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh and the largest ports in the nation in terms of import/export cargo and inbound/outbound vessels.NYK made this investment decision after considering the tugboat business in Vietnam, a country that has achieved remarkable economic growth in recent years…

Viking announced it has a new ship under construction expected to launch next summer for its cruise tours in Vietnam and Cambodia.The 80-guest Viking Saigon is scheduled to debut for the August 30, 2021, cruise tour departure; the river cruise portion of the itinerary sails between Kampong Cham, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.Purpose-built for the Mekong River, the new Viking Saigon will host 80 passengers in 40 outside staterooms. All staterooms will have hotel-style beds and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a veranda or French balcony.

Australia-based shipbuilding group Austal Limited said its Vũng Tàu, Vietnam shipyard launched its first vessel, a 94 -high-speed catamaran for the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCo) of Trinidad and Tobago.The vehicle-passenger ferry, to be named APT James, is the first vessel to be constructed by Austal Vietnam since the shipyard was officially opened in November 2018.The Austal Auto Express 94 is an all-new aluminum catamaran design, with capacity for 926 passengers and 250 cars, capable of traveling at speeds up to 37.5 knots.

CMA CGM said on Thursday it has completed the sale of stakes in eight port terminals for $815 million to its joint venture with China Merchants Port Group.Late last year, CMA CGM reached a deal with China Merchants to sell stakes in 10 port terminals to the companies' Terminal Link venture for $968 million, as part of efforts by CMA CGM to finance its acquisition of Swiss-based CEVA Logistics and reduce group debt.The first eight terminals included in the transaction are Odessa Terminal (Ukraine)…

Health authorities in the southern Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh want to stop a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship with Italians on board from docking at the economic hub on Friday over coronavirus concerns, state media reported.The Health Department on Thursday advised the People's Committee of the city not to allow passengers on the cruise liner, Silver Spirit, to disembark, the Tuoi Tre newspaper said.The department said the move is aimed at "limiting the intrusion of disease into the city"…

CMA CGM said on Friday it had finalized an agreement with China Merchants Port Holdings Co.

Work is underway to further develop Viet Nam’s national oil spill contingency plan at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, this week (26-29 November).Forty participants from across 10 government departments and the oil and gas and shipping industry are taking part in the workshop, which is the latest in a series of International Maritime Organization (IMO)-assisted events on oil spill contingency in South-East Asia.Participants are being introduced to international good practices and developments in the field of oil spill preparedness and response – and supported to identify areas for improvement in Viet Nam’s existing national framework.An action plan to finalize the draft National Oil Spill Contingency Plan will be agreed.Accession to IMO’s Oil Pollution Preparedness…

Taiwanese ocean shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has announced the launch of CVK service (China-Vietnam-Cambodia Service) with effect from October 21st, 2019."We are launching the service in light of the strong cargo volumes in the area of China, Vietnam and Cambodia," said a press release.The port rotation of CVK service is Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh, Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Ningbo.This will be Yang Ming’s first service that directly links China’s ports, Da Nang and Sihanoukville. The launch of CVK service will significantly shorten the transit time and offer more efficient delivery service between China…

Irish wind and solar projects developer Mainstream Renewable Power has appointed Raghuram Natarajan chief executive of its Asia-Pacific business."This key appointment to the Group’s Leadership Team, based out of its newly opened regional headquarters in Singapore, comes ahead of significant expansion plans for the region," said a press release.Natarajan brings a decade and a half of senior leadership experience in the wind and solar industry across India, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Australia.His most recent position was APAC CEO with Juwi where he had responsibility for delivering 1.2 GW of solar…

The Singapore-based family-owned shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL)  announced that PIL will be enhancing our Transpacific service by offering direct services from Vietnam to the U.S West Coast, with effect from end April 2019.America China Service 5 (AC5) will be adding Haiphong as first port of call with effect from 30th April 2019.Full rotation of America China Service 5 (AC5): Haiphong - Nansha - Hong Kong - Yantian - Long Beach - Oakland - Yantian - HaiphongPIL also launched a new string, America Cai Mep Service 2 (AC2), achieved through slot agreement on Ocean Alliance PSW3 service, with effect from 28th April 2019.Full…

Taiwanese ocean shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation announced a new Intra-Asia service KVM(Korea–Vietnam–Malaysia Service) jointly operated by YM and APL Co. Pte Ltd through its CNC brand with effect on February 21st, 2019.The service will be operated with three 1,800-TEU container vessels, one by YM and two by APL Co. Ptd Ltd via its CNC brand.The full port rotation will be Kwangyang, Pusan, Kaohsiung, Ho Chi Minh, Port Kelang, Singapore, Haiphong, Kaohsiung, Kwangyang. A round trip will take 21 days.The new service is expected to connect Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia more efficiently and provide customers with more convenient and excellent delivery service.

Marine litter poses significant risks to the marine environment, ecology and human health, and is a global concern. International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been taking action to address the problem, including regulating garbage discharge from ships and helping countries build up their human and technical capacities. An IMO Regional Workshop on MARPOL Annex V and Port Reception Facilities for the ASEAN Region took place in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam (27-29 June). The workshop is aimed at raising the awareness on marine litter and enhancing the effective implementation of IMO garbage regulations on ships and in port reception facilities.

APL announced that APL Chu Lai, a 1,200-TEU vessel, has made her maiden direct call at the Chu Lai Tam Hiep Port on 24 March. This officially commences APL’s new weekly Chu Lai Haiphong Express (CHX) service that is delivering its first inbound shipment of automobile components from Japan trans-shipped via Shekou. The cargo has duly arrived for the newly-opened Truong Hai Automobile Joint-Stock company (THACO) – Mazda owned plant situated in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone. Speaking at an event graced by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, APL Global Commercial Head, Indika Dassanayake said, “We are excited to be opening a direct sea route to Chu Lai in Central Vietnam via the APL Chu Lai Haiphong Express service.

Taiwan-based ocean shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation announcesdthat it will provide Korea-Vietnam/Thailand service (KVX) as of March 7th, 2018. The calling port rotation of KVX service is: Incheon–Ulsan–Busan–Shekou–Ho Chi Minh–Laem Chabang–Bangkok–Laem Chabang–Ho Chi Minh–Incheon. With the new KVX service and the existing CT2 service, YM will provide customers with more convenient and reliable services between Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. Two months ago, Yang Ming announced a new Asia Subcontinent Express service (Loop Code: AS1), which extends Yang Ming’s coverage of direct service to the trade between North China and Pakistan.

An alleged oil heist in Singapore that has already led to 20 arrests, the seizure of at least one tanker and allegations that thieves siphoned thousands of tonnes of fuel from Shell’s biggest refinery is shining a spotlight on an illegal trade worth tens of billions of dollars worldwide. Working routes in a triangle of sea anchored by Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore and encompassing the oil facilities of Malaysia, the smugglers take advantage of a difficult-to-patrol sea and enticing black market prices, experts say.

Police say 17 arrested in connection with oil theft; 11 charged; Shell expects "short delay" in operations due to case. Eleven men were charged in a Singapore court on Tuesday in connection with a large-scale oil theft at Shell's biggest refinery, while police said they were investigating six other men arrested in a weekend raid. Police in the island-state said on Tuesday they had detained 17 men, whose ages ranged from 30 to 63, and seized millions of dollars in cash and a small tanker during their investigations into theft at the Pulau Bukom industrial site, which sits just south of Singapore's main island. Oil refining and shipping have contributed significantly to Singapore's rising wealth during the past decades.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) on July 21st, becoming the first container terminal in the Cai Mep area, part of Saigon Port, to receive the Vietnamese Head of State. CMIT is a joint venture between APM Terminals, which holds a 49% share, Vietnam National Shipping Lines, with a 36% share, and Saigon Port, with a 15% share. Prime Minister Phuc was welcomed by CMIT acting Managing director Nguyen Xuan Ky, who expressed the facility’s appreciation to the Vietnamese national and provincial governments, and the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport for supporting policies which have led to the success of the deep-water port complex.

Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced that a regular container route ‘Thailand-Vietnam Services (TVX)’ launched by five shipping companies – Namsung Shipping, Dongjin Shipping, Pan Continental Shipping, Pan Ocean and CK Line – was newly opened. Starship Pegasus (1,800 TEU) provided for the TVX entered the Incheon New Port SNCT early in the morning on August 16 for the first time. Starship Pegasus is one of the three ships operated for the TVX. The three ships (1,800 TEU) will be operated by Namsung Shipping, Dongjin Shipping and Pan Continental Shipping for 9 months. After that, they would be operated by Pan Ocean and CK Line for another 9 months. The TVX route is Incheon-Gwangyang-Busan-Ho Chi Minh-Laem Chabang-Bangkok-Laem Chabang-Ho Chi Minh-Incheon. It will be operated weekly.

The first comprehensive study of the impact of global sea-level rise on tides has implications for future coastal flood risk, harbour management, and the long term planning of tidal energy sites. This research, published in Continental Shelf Research by scientists at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), University of Southampton and Deltares, shows that sea-level rise can significantly alter tides across the world in many different ways in both space and time. The change will be most pronounced in shelf seas on the east coast of the Americas, northwest Europe, north coast of Russia, across Asia and Australasia. This study was conducted by feeding a range of ‘plausible’ estimates of global sea level rise…