Viet Nam’s most modern coastguard ship, CSB 8002, was launched recently in Da Nang.  The building of the vessel by the Song Thu Corporation began in June 2012.  This the second multi-functional ship to be have been built in Viet Nam with the help of experts from the Dutch Damen Shipyards Group.  The ship will operate under the control of the Viet Nam Coastguard Service.

The over 12,000hp, 90.5m-long ship has 2 propellers, a helicopter pad, and 2 high-speed rescue boats that can each accommodate 15 people.  In addition, the vessel is equipped with 8 self-inflating horseshoe lifebuoys, 2 fireproof lifeboats, plus diving, firefighting and medical equipment.  The ship can operate at a maximum speed of 21nmph, is able to stay at sea continuously for 40 days, and can withstand a wind speed of level 12 and a wave height of 14m. 

Coastguard ship CSB 8002

Addressing the launching event, the Deputy Minister for Defence, Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung, remarked that the launching of this ship marks an important milestone in building heavy-load vessels in the Vietnamese military-owned shipyards.  In addition, Lieutenant General Cung affirmed that the Viet Nam Coastguard Service would improve the quality of its forces and marine facilities in order to be on a par with those of other Asian countries.

To mark the event, the Song Thu Corporation donated 100 million VND to the Viet Nam Coastguard Service.