16.11.2010
Vietnamese authorities considers Russia's proposal about joint construction of a defense shipyard in Cam Ranh bay, reported Jane's Defense Industry.
According to Vietnamese government, the yard will be specialized in repairs and technical maintenance of warships and commercial vessels. The shipyard will provide maintenance for both national and foreign warships. Vietnamese defense minister Phung Quang Thanh said it was planned to place the yard apart from service facilities already available in the national navy and to build the shipyard with the participation of Russian specialists.
Deep-water bay Cam Ranh is situated in strategically important part of the South China Sea. It was initially used by US Navy, and since 1979 till 2002 – by Soviet/Russian Navy.
Despite Russia's refusal to reconstruct naval base in Cam Ranh, considering active participation in anti-piracy operations and returning to the World Ocean, Russian Navy obviously interested in having a technical maintenance base in Vietnam.
The plan of joint construction of a military shipyard was proposed to Vietnamese authorities late in Oct by Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Vietnam.
Experts assume that the talks were focused on coordination of offset programs related to recent procurement of Russian arms by Vietnam, including six
Kilo class diesel subs, twenty
Su-30MK2 fighters, and Project 10412
Svetlyak frigates.
