Hyundai Vietnam Shipbuilding Co (HVS) on Thursday put its 700-tonne Goliath crane into operation in Ninh Hoa Town of central Khanh Hoa Province.

The 700-tonne crane, worth nearly US$32 million, serves for the company's shipyard based in the province. It can meet the shipyard's current shipbuilding capacity of up to 20 ships each year and its expansion plan in the future.

In his speech at the launching ceremony, Nguyen Tan Tuan, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee spoke highly of HVS, affirming its position as one of the leading shipbuilding enterprises in Viet Nam and the Southeast Asia as well.

The company has to date handed over 149 bulk carriers and oil tankers with a tonnage from 3,500,000 tonnes to 110,000 tonnes per each, earning a total revenue of more than $4.8 billion. The firm also contributed nearly $10 million to Khanh Hoa province's budget each year, the chairman said.

Despite being heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, HVS last year handed over 10 ships for a revenue of $305 million. This year, the company is striving to deliver 14 ships to foreign customers. — VNS