Klaus Vikkelsoe, general director of Mermaid Maritime Vietnam JSC, said that with the newly opened office and workshop, the company would provide quality services of lifesaving appliances, firefighting equipment and other safety equipment for the shipping industry and the offshore industry (oil and gas) in Vietnam.

"Our safety services are all regulated by IMO (International Maritime Organization) under the United Nations," he said.

Seeing a clear need in the Vietnamese market for certified and approved services for both local and international operators, the founders, led by Jorgen Lundbaek, decided to establish the company in Vung Tau in 2004 using their long experience in Thailand.

"Mermaid is today the only company in Vietnam who holds all major manufacturers approvals as well as most of the recognized Classification Societies under IACS (International Association of Classification Societies Ltd.) and we do therefore see ourselves as a leader and trendsetter within the safety service market in Vietnam," Vikkelsoe said.