First Vietnamese vessels calls at U.S. port

First Vietnamese vessels calls at U.S. port The largest oil tanker in the Vietnamese fleet has become the Southeast Asian nation's first vessel to anchor at a U.S. port since the Vietnam War ended.
   Loaded with nearly a full load of oil from Japan, the 47,000-ton Vinashin Victory ended a 13-day journey across the Pacific on Aug. 23 by tying up at in San Francisco Bay.
   The $50 million tanker was recently acquired by the Viet Nam Shipbuilding Industry Corp., or Vinashin, and has been in regular service with Vinashin member Bien Dong Transport Co. since April.
   In order to tie up at a U.S. port, Vietnamese ships have to meet all the strictest requirements as stipulated in international maritime conventions to which Vietnam is a signature.
   Bien Dong, with a small fleet of general cargo and container vessels, operates four international routes.