Khanh Hoa: Composite vessels reinforce tuna industry (Source: fistenet.gov.vn) Khanh Hoa (VNA) – Composite vessel building for off-shore fishing, built under Government Decree No 67 in the south central province of Khanh Hoa, is enjoying robust growth as local fishermen and enterprises have realised benefits from such vessels, especially in the tuna catching industry.
According to Deputy Director of the Institute for Ship Research and Development under the University of Nha Trang (Uniship) Phan Tuan Long, the institute launched four composite vessels in the first six months of this year.
Reasonable price, low-maintenance costs, good velocity and better storage, as well as more flexibility compared to wooden ships for long off-shore trips have helped the orders for composite vessels surge against last year, he added.
The province has the largest off-shore composite vessel fleet in Vietnam, operating mainly in the tuna industry. The province’s tuna catch reaches 23,000 tonnes a year, of which ocean tuna accounts for 4,000 tonnes.
Deputy Chairman of Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) and Chairman of Khanh Hoa Fishery Association (KHAFA) Vo Thien Lang said investing in post-harvest preservation techniques for composite vessel fleets will help to increase the value of tuna production.
Decree 67, which took effect in August 2014, stipulates policies in investment, credit, insurance and tax incentives in support of fishermen and ship owners, who wish to build new or upgrade their existing boats and buy fishing equipment. The decree in practice is earning fishermen higher incomes.-VNA
