The second cargo vessel to traverse directly between Viet Nam and the US's east coast berthed last weekend at the Tan Cang - Cai Mep Container Terminal in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

M.V. OOCL America, the first container ship of the Grand Alliance, docked at Tan Cang-Cai Mep deep-water seaport in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on January 9 before sailing directly to the US East Coast.

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) made debut on December 30 the Vietnam Shippers Council (VNSC).

Capacity is being cut drastically on the Asia-Europe routes as the slack season starts. Several strings or loops on the Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean routes have been discontinued while big shipping groups such as CKYH and the Grand Alliance are pulling out individual services to suit market demand.

The Azamara Quest cruise ship registered in Malta docked at Tien Sa Port in central Da Nang City on January 2, carrying 500 foreign tourists from UK, Japan, the US, Canada.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 27 issued an order to kick-start the project to build a passage for heavyweight vessels to the Hau River.

A week after most large trans-Pacific container carriers sought an “emergency” increase in U.S. import rates, carriers said they will seek higher rates on containerized export shipments of dry cargo from the U.S. to Asia.

Petroleum Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), part of the Việt Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), has won the first international contract, worth US $35 million, for building multi-purpose service ships called PSV DP 2.

Seventeen regional tourism and travel agencies just met in Bangkok, Thailand, and agreed to set up the Asia Cruise Services Network (ACSN) with a view to boosting up regional cooperation and development in this promising industry.

The government of Vietnam will offer incentives for Nam Trieu Ship Industry Corporation (Nasico), an affiliate of Vinashin Business Group, for its 14,000-ton floating dock project to serve the repair of 53,0000-DWT ships, under the prime minister's approval.