Slide thuyết trình - The competitiveness of Vietnamese shipping fleet in the international maritime industry

Abstract

Shipping fleet, along with ocean line and sea ports, is one of the most important physical and technical facilities of maritime industry. In Vietnam, the shipping fleet which includes 1.849 ships with a total deadweight of 7.3 million DWT (deadweight tonnage)has been transporting about 90% of domestic sea cargo volume compared to other mode of transport. Despite of that, the competitiveness of Vietnam shipping fleet compared to other countries is very low. In fact, the shipping fleet owned and operated by Vietnam has accounted for only about 12% of the total domestic market share, leaving the remaining to foreign owned fleets. This means the Vietnamese shipping industry is now facing a range of key challenges and has not fully taken the available advantages.The aim of this paper is to examine the competitiveness of the Vietnamese shipping fleet through analysing its strengths and weaknesses and offer some recommendations to improve its competitivenes in the  international maritime industry.

1. Introduction

Nowadays, thanks to the development of international trade, the maritime industry over the world has gained many achievements and contributed to the global economy. The cargo volume consistantly increases while the freight tends to decrease. Globalization expands the market, bringing not only opportunities but also threats to every countries.

Vietnam is a coastal country of a long history of maritime trade, therefore, shipping plays an important role in the national economy. It creates a significant number of jobs and generates a crucial source of income for the nation.  It is estimated that sea transport has contributed up to 90% of the nation’s import and export cargo volumes is . However, the Vietnamese shipping fleet has to face the possibility of the loss of the sale to foreign competitors in its domestic market. This is a urging problem forcing us to look for the reasons and efficient solutions.

We can not only blame this reality on factors outside. It is the time for us to look at inside, recognize our weaknesses and improve ourselves. The Vietnamese shipping industry must be subjected to urgent reform towards an integrated and competitive maritime transport in the region and in the world.