Vinashin has joined forces with Korea’s Songsan Company to form a joint venture to produce steel structures for shipbuilding. The Songsan-Vinashin JV will invest $35m to build a factory in the northern Hai Duong Province. The steel mill is set to come on stream in the second quarter of 2008. The mill is designed to produce steel structures for shipbuilding yards including Vinashin, replacing imported products in the national industry. The ship maker wants 60 percent of its steel to be sourced locally by 2010 from the current 30-40 percent. Vinashin Group said it needs $2.5b to carry out projects under the strategy of $1b in ship exports to 2010.