Hanoi, Vietnam: DNV and Vietnam Register (VR) have recently signed a corporate agreement to strengthen both positions in the growing Vietnam market.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Hanoi by Tor Svensen, COO DNV Maritime and Nguyen Van Ban, General Director of Vietnam Register. The long standing relations between the two societies have then been extended and strengthened.

The agreement outlines a co-operation in training and work sharing for single and dual classed vessels within newbuilding, ships-in-operation and certification of materials and components for the shipping industry within Vietnam.

The Vietnam shipping industry is developing rapidly at moment. Stated ambitions are to become a nation having a shipbuilding industry with a technological level equal to that in other regional nations. Accordingly, the localization rate of domestically made products will rise to 60-70 percent of the products, effectively serving the plan to promote export and create good conditions for other industries of the nation to develop, according to Vinashin’s shipbuilding strategy.

DNV is now the leading foreign class society in Vietnam, with over 70 % of the current newbuilding orders placed in the Vietnamese yards. These orders include bulk carriers, car carriers and tankers for international and domestic owners.

“Signing the agreement between DNV and VR is seen by both class societies as a necessary and important step in meeting the continued rapid and extensive growth of Vietnamese Shipbuilding Industry,” says Tor Svensen, DNV.