Cam Ranh Port in central Khanh Hoa province would open the country`s first maritime service centre,

Hanoi (VNA) – Cam Ranh Port in central Khanh Hoa province would open the
country’s first maritime service centre, to provide services for both domestic and
foreign ships, said Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh on Nov. 2.

The centre will provide professional repair and maintenance services for both
commercial and navy ships. It will also act as a fuelling station and shelter in bad
weather. Facilities including stores and shops will be opened for passing crews on
shore leave to make use of.

To enter the port, foreign ships would need to obtain a permit from Vietnamese
authorities and a business contract with the Vietnamese side, said Thanh.

The service centre will be located in a separate area to the Vietnamese navy. It
will be designed to handle small and medium-scale repairs. “Major repairs should
be carried out in the country of origin to ensure the best possible quality. We
will not be able to carry out larger repairs especially on more advanced ships
such as aircraft carriers and submarines although they will still be able to dock
at the facility,” Thanh said.

According to the minister, the Government is considering hiring Russian experts to
help build the service centre. “We are in the early stages of planning. It will
take several years to complete the centre,” he said.

Cam Ranh Port is around 300 km north of HCM City and has the advantage
of being located in a deep water bay which allows large ships to dock. Thanh said
it is also close to many international shipping lanes. During the American war,
the US used it as a military port and after, Russia signed a 25-year agreement
with Vietnam for its use. Thanh however reasserted that Vietnam would not
lease the port to other countries to establish navy bases.-Enditem