Hai Phong shipbuilding embraces green transition

Going green to secure orders

On September 28, Nam Trieu Shipbuilding One Member Co., Ltd. signed a contract with Hoa Phat Shipping JSC to build a 65,000-DWT cargo vessel. The S650-01 vessel will be 199 m long, 32 m wide and 19 m deep. It is designed to incorporate green technologies into its design, construction and operation to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Earlier, in March 2026, Song Cam Shipbuilding JSC launched its 83rd ST245 offshore service vessel for a Norwegian partner. The vessel will serve offshore wind power projects and use a flexible propulsion system capable of running on either methanol or diesel. Methanol offers an additional lower-emission fuel option compared with conventional fossil fuels, in line with efforts to reduce emissions in maritime transport.

These new products reflect changing requirements for seagoing vessels. Shipowners are no longer concerned solely with carrying capacity, quality, delivery schedules and cost. They are increasingly focused on fuel consumption, emissions and the ability to meet environmental standards throughout a vessel's operational life.

At the seminar “Green transition in shipbuilding and maritime industries,” held in the city on September 25, Kevin Lee, CEO of EMEC VINA Co., Ltd., a South Korean-invested company specializing in marine engineering design in Hai Phong, said shipowners, particularly those in Europe, were paying increasing attention to fuel consumption, emissions, fuel types and environmental conditions throughout a vessel's life cycle. Green standards are therefore gradually becoming a prerequisite for shipyards seeking to win and retain orders.

To meet these requirements, Hai Phong shipyards need to strengthen their capabilities in design, energy system integration, electrical engineering and automation. They also need to innovate manufacturing technologies, use appropriate materials, control waste, and improve safety and environmental conditions at their facilities.

Greening the supply chain

Green transition extends beyond finished products to directly affect production processes at shipyards. Alongside requirements for personal protective equipment, Nam Trieu Shipbuilding has recently invested in an internationally compliant cleaning area and installed an automatic extraction and filtration system to prevent waste from dispersing into the environment. For ship repairs, the company is testing high-pressure water cleaning as an alternative to sandblasting. The firm plans to deploy robots using high-pressure water technology to further reduce the environmental impact of ship repair operations.

Market demands are driving changes throughout the production process. Shipyards must monitor workplace conditions, waste, materials used and the environmental practices of subcontractors. Green transition is therefore no longer solely the responsibility of technical or environmental departments; it also affects management and production organization.

On a broader scale, these requirements pose challenges for the supporting industries as well. A vessel that meets green standards requires electrical equipment, automation, engines, materials, software and a range of associated technical services. If most of these products and services are imported, domestic shipbuilders will struggle to increase the value they generate.

The race to go green is therefore also a race to strengthen technological capabilities. Shipyards that master design, system integration and manufacturing technologies, and have strong technical teams will gain more opportunities as the maritime market shifts toward new standards.

For Hai Phong, reviving the shipbuilding industry cannot rely solely on its existing advantages. Its seaports, shipbuilding facilities, workforce and industrial location will deliver real benefits only when translated into new competitive capabilities.

HAI MINH