I. Development viewpoints and goals
1. Development viewpoints:
- To maximize advantages of geographical position and natural conditions of the country, particularly ocean potential to develop comprehensively and have a breakthrough in maritime transport to contribute to the implementation of the objectives of sea strategy of Vietnam to 2020, namely to 2020, marine economy posts 2nd and after 2020, maritime economy ranks first in five areas of development of marine economy and contribute to strengthen security and defense of the country;

- To develop sea transport in sync with the relevant transport: road, river, rail; application and development of advanced transportation technologies, with a focus on developing multi-modal transport and logistic services to create a comprehensive, uninterrupted and efficient system of transportation;
- To invest in developing fleet reasonable, modern structure with a strong competitiveness on international markets, focusing on investment in deepwater port, transit port and international gateway ports in the area of key economic; research to combine adjustment with rehabilitation of canals to ensure that vessel in and out safe and convenient;

2. Development objectives, orientations:
To 2020, fully meet the shipping needs of the national economy with high growth rates, ensuring high quality, reasonable price and limited environmental pollution. Specifically, for each sector:
- About shipping:
To improve the quality of marine transport services to meet the needs of inland sea transport, raise marketshare of import-export commodity transport to reach 27-30 % combining with foreign goods transport on far sea transport routes. Quantity of goods transported by fleet of Vietnam take about 110-126 million tons in 2015; 215-260 million tons in 2020 and in 2030 increase by 1.5 to 2 fold times comparing with that of 2020; passenger numbers reaches 5 million person in 2015; 9-10 million person in 2020 and increases by 1.5 fold times in 2030 comparing with that of 2020;

- On the port system:
In a period to 2020 and vision to 2030, focusing on development of synchronous and modern port system and harbor flows. Port investment and construction should be speeded up, investment in key positions and having demand to construct seaport in order to exploit natural advantages, take advantage of ability of marine transport to meet economic development of the country; play as the basis for the construction and development of Vietnam 's seaport system under a master and united plan on a national scale; form hubs of connecting transport infrastructure in regions, especially in key economic areas, economic zones, big industrial parks; development of major international transit seaport and international gateway ports in the appropriate region in order to confirm role and advantages of the marine economic, creating important economic exchanges clues between home and foreign countries to implement the objectives of the marine strategy.

- On the ship industry:
By 2020, development of shipbuilding industry of Vietnam reaches advanced countries in the region, newly build cargo ship of tonnage to 300,000 DWT, passenger ships, oil service vessel, rescue and search vessels, vessels of marine security... to meet 65-70 % of the demand, adding domestic fleet in a period of 2010-2020; synchronously repair shell, machine, electric, electronics... for vessels up to 400,000 DWT; meet the needs of social economic development and increase ship exports abroad to collect foreign currency for the country;

To develop balance industries of ship building and repairing. Quickly access modern technology, focusing on in-depth investment to promote effectiveness of existing repairing vessels including support industries.
- About maritime services:
To develop synchronous marine transport support service, especially logistic services, multi-model transportation service with high quality, aiming to one-stop service and expand overseas to meet integration requirements. To form inland ports in line with the development of economic corridors and the goods distribution centers associating with the seaports;

To develop synchronously bases of logistics, maritime security, search and rescue; system of maritime information technology... to meet the development requirements, in accordance with the requirements of international conventions.
II. Content of the plan
1. Planning type and size of transport ships:

- International marine transport route:
For bulk: ship of transporting imported coal for thermal power plants, ore for steel complex factories using vessels of tonnage of 100.000-200.000 DWT; ships of  transporting exported alumina, use vessels of tonnage of 70.000-100.000 DWT; ship for activities of exporting food and importing fertilizers, clinker... use vessels of tonnage of  30.000-50.000 DWT;

For container cargo: to transport to Asian countries to use ships of tonnage of 500-3000 TEU; to other countries in Europe, the Americas, Africa use large ships of tonnage of 4.000-6.000 TEU and larger vessels if possible;
For liquid cargo ship: petroleum import mother ship transship in Van Phong seaport using ships of tonnage of 150.000-300.000 DWT; products of oil using vessels of tonnage of 10.000-50.000 DWT; crude oil using vessels of tonnage of 100.000-300.000 DWT, liquefied petroleum gas using ships of tonnage of 1.000-5.000 DWT.
- The domestic marine transport routes:
For bulk cargo, general cargo: using ships of tonnage of 1.000-10.000 DWT.
For container cargo: use ships of tonnage of 200-1000 TEU.
For liquid cargo: tankers of dedicated oil product using ships of tonnage of 1.000-30.000 DWT; ships transporting crude oil from the oil mines to oil refinery factories using ships of tonnage of 100.000-150.000 DWT.

2. Development plan of marine transport fleet:
- Total volume of marine transport fleet of Vietnam to 2020 reaches 215-260 million tons, including international marine transport of  135-165 million tons/year, domestic marine transportation of 80-105 million tons/year;
- Scale and needs of adding tonnage of fleet:
Total tonnage of marine transport fleets of Vietnam to 2020 is 11.8 to 13.2 million DWT, including: general cargo vessel from 3.84 to 4.45 million DWT; bulk carriers of tonnage of from 2.70 - 3.11 million DWT; container ships of tonnage from 1.49 to 1.71 million DWT; crude oil tankers of tonnage of from 1.92 - 2.21 million DWT; oil product tankers of tonnage of from 1.69 to 1.77 million DWT;
Demand for adding marine fleet of Vietnam to 2020 is 3.8 to 4.9 million DWT;
Demand for adding capacity of fleet of tourists, coastal passenger ships to the island is around 14,000 seats.
3. Orientation of seaport system development:
- To meet need of development of marine transportation and social economic development of the country, seaport system plan of Vietnam to 2020, vision to 2030 should be reviewed, updated, adjusted, supplemented with more foresight. Content of port development plan orientation for the coming period, in addition to upgrading and intensive investment, develop capacity and efficiency of existing ports, need to focus on building an international transshipment port, international gateway ports in key economic areas, a dedicated deep-water port of unloading container, ore and coal oil at large scale, modern equipment... to be able to put our country gradual integration and fully compete for seaport investment and exploitation in the region and the world;

- To develop harbor at the island with a scale in consistent with natural, social economic conditions to transport goods and passengers for social economic development, security and defense;
Seaport system plan of Vietnam to 2020, vision to 2030 will be approved by the Governmental Prime Minister in a separate document.
4. Shipbuilding industry development orientation:
- To meet a goal of adding and repairing domestic fleet, having export products as targets, develop a system of shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry factories to build and repair ships with a tonnage of 400,000 DWT;
- To focus on developing support industries for shipbuilding, ship-repairing industry to form a synchronous shipbuilding industry, fully meet the needs development and defense of the country; take advantage of capacity of other industry in the country to enhance specialization and performance of investment;
Vietnam’s master plan on developing shipbuilding industry will be approved by the Prime Minister in a separate document.
5. Development orientation of logistic and marine transport support services:
- To develop various types of marine transport support services, logistic services and multimodal transport services, especially in the northern port group, group of port of Ho Chi Minh city - Dong Nai - Ba Ria Vung Tau, port groups of Mekong delta. To attach importance to improve quality of marine transport support service, logistic services, multimodal transportation services;
- To apply information technology on managing and administrating effectively operation of the services;
- To develop goods distribution center attaching to the container seaports, especially at the gateway seaports, international transit seaport;
- To develop marine transport support services towards international integration and enhance the State management in the management of service quality, ensuring health of the market.
6. Development orientation of human resources:
- From now to 2020, to train and retrain 39,000 officers and crew members, including newly train approximately 24,000 people (including 16,000 additional people under requirements of development of the fleet and 8,000 additional people replacing existing force; structure of training: officers, managers about 9,600 people; crew and marine technician workers about 14,400 people); train to raise skill level for 15,000 people in the existing workforce. Encouraging to train officer, skilled crew for crew exports;
- To promote to train logistic human resources, shipbuilding, marine seaport exploitation;
- To reform training methods, training programs, standards of maritime training and coaching, specially training of  managers, officers, crew and managers and cadres of managing and exploiting activities of logistics, multimodal transport. Attaching important to foreign language training, practice along with theory. Enhancing coherence between the shipping companies with training and coaching facilities.
7. Investment capital demand for marine transport development to 2020:
Total investment cost for the fleet, logistic service and cargo distribution centers from now to 2020 is VND 270-290 trillion, businesses can mobilize capital from legitimate sources.
III. Several main solutions, policies
- To review and amend, supplement and gradually perfect system of law on maritime industry and related legal documents. Initially, to modify or supplement the legal documents of multimodal transport, logistic services, investment management and exploitation of port infrastructure in consistent to the situation and development trend of Vietnam and codify Vietnam 's commitments under the WTO framework;
- To promote administrative reform in the field of maritime transport, especially the reform of administrative procedures at Vietnam seaports and ship registration procedures; rapid deployment of information technology, implementing electronic port, electronic customs, implement one door policy to create favorable conditions for vessels in/out to the port;
- To strengthen inspection and supervision of law enforcement of Vietnam and the relevant international conventions on maritime safety, maritime security and environmental protection which Vietnam is a party; guide and implement effectively international safety management code ( ISMCode) of the international maritime organization (IMO), the international conventions for limiting pollution from ships ( MARPOL 73/78); investing in  vehicles and equipment to fix oil spills, waste collection at the port; improve the quality of team of Vietnamese registrations and raise quality of registration and technical supervision of ships, especially vessels operating in  international marine routes;
- To encourage all economic sectors, including foreign investment institutions to develop Vietnam 's fleet. Constructing development program for fleet to have appropriate, synchronized support mechanisms, policies to develop and modernize fleet of the national flag. Creating open, favorable environment and ensure fair competition, focusing investment capital for development and modernization of the fleet; to develop close relationships among vessels fleet, system of seaports and logistic services;
- To build a network of maritime services to enhance their competitiveness in the context of international and regional economic integration; to construct and develop Vietnam maritime corporation as the core in the field of  marine transport and logistic services, marine transport support services shipping and seaports; shipbuilding industry corporation of Vietnam as the core in the field of shipbuilding;
- To set up development mechanisms and policies to encourage investment and effective management of the merchandise distribution centers, inland ports to support the development of logistic services, promote attachment and effective relationships between fleet operators, seaports and system of support services. Researching suitable mechanisms and policies to build and attract investment capital to logistic service of Vietnam;
- To promote socialization of training, including domestic training and training links in foreign countries; consolidate and develop universities, colleges, vocational schools specializing in marine transport at three areas of  the north, the central and the south to meet manpower needs for the operation of ships, seaports, shipbuilding, logistics service and crew export services; having incentive policies and mechanisms for employees of the marine transport industry, especially for officers, crew members and workers in the shipbuilding, ship-repairing factories to encourage laborers working long-term in the industry;

- To promote international cooperation on the sea, actively participate in implementation of international conventions, bilateral and multilateral agreements in maritime transport field.
IV. Implementation
1. Ministry of Transportation shall functions as the main implementer, in collaboration with relevant ministries, sectors, the People's Committees of centrally provinces and cities, organize to implement this plan as soon as possible, tie closely with the implementation of marine strategy.

2. Ministry of Transport direct and guide the economic groups, State-run corporations and businesses operating in the field of marine transport to implement development plans in accordance with maritime transport plan; at the same time study and suggest necessary solutions to implement effectively the plan, in line with social economic development of the country in each stages.
3. Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the People's Committees of centrally provinces and cities to research and develop centers of goods distribution and logistics services in the important transport hub, building collection system, treating waste oil arising from shipping activities; establish plans of network of railway, roads, inland waterways transport to serve effectively development of marine transport.
4. Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs shall functions as the main implementer, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport to research and issue preferential policies for specific employees of the marine transport sector is the hard and dangerous labor industry.
5. Ministry of Education and Training functions as a main implementer, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport to research and improve training methods, training standards for workforce of marine transport industry to further improve the quality of human resource for marine transport sector to meet requirements of new situation.
6. Ministry of Transport shall functions as an implementer, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Finance to study, issue or submit competent authority for issuance of policies to facilitate the development of sea transport as well as study, issue development and management policies of logistic services.
7. Ministry of Transport strengthens the State management, guides and inspects plan of marine transport development, marine transport support services and logistic services; complete assessment report of strategic environmental impacts to submit to competent authorities.

 
L.Giang
Source: www.mpi.gov.vn