(VNA): Work on the building of a 53,000-tonne freighter started at the Nam Trieu Shipyard in the northern port city of Haiphong on February 16, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan.

This is the first of 15 such freighters that Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (Vinashin) will build for the United Kingdom's Graig Investment Ltd. Eight of the freighters will be built at the Nam Trieu Shipyard, and the remaining seven, at the Ha Long Shipyard in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh.

The cargo ship, which is 183.2 metre long, 32.2 metre high and 17.5 metre wide, the largest ever to be built in the country, is scheduled to be completed in 22 months at a cost of more than US $20 million. Under the contracts it has signed, Vinashin will start work on a new ship every six months.

Speaking at the occasion, Deputy PM Vu Khoan expressed his joy at the growth of the Nam Trieu Shipyard in particular and the country's shipbuilding industry in general. He urged the industry to boost exports, spearheading the process of integrating into the regional and world economy./.