Vietnam's Nha Trang Shipbuilding Industry Company (Nha Trang SICO) has sealed a deal to build 15 vessels for domestic owners, reports TradeWinds.

State media reported the ships will go to Vinashin Petroleum Investment and Transport (Shinpetrol), Vinashin Ocean Shipping Co (Vinashinlines) and Southern Industrial Development Co (SIDC).

A total of 12 vessels will be dry cargoships of between 20,000 dwt and 36,000 dwt, and the rest 250-teu feeder boxships. The whole lot is worth $462mn.

The first deliveries will be made in 2009 and the order finished by 2011.

All 4 companies are members of state shipyard group Vinashin.