Modern technology has been applied so fast in the shipping industry,
that shipping has had to undergo rapid changes in recent decades. Ships have become
bigger, more complex and more sophisticated. They include all kinds of vessels such as
super tankers, large bulk carriers, container ships, Ro Ro vessels and large passenger
vessels.
In recent years we have witnessed a constant rise in maritime accidents
which have cost a great loss of life and property and also caused extreme damage to the
marine environment.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the one hand has
rapidly developed technical standards, rules, regulations and codes of practice and on the
other has improved minimum standards of competency for worldwide seafarers to ensure the
safe and efficient operation of different types of ships and the prevention of marine
pollution.
Vietnam, a country with more than 3000 km of coastline had had a long
shipping tradition in the region. However, in the past few decades Vietnam has not been
able to develop its maritime industry and shipping as a result of the war. Since 1975, the
Vietnamese Government has set up very ambitious plans to develop the shipping industry and
by the year 2000 Vietnam will be a maritime nation. looking into the past the country has
had to hire some important foreign officers for its fleet over the years. At the present
time the country's MET is not only able to educate the highest ranked Maritime Officers
and Engineers for domestic needs but also supply well qualified seafarers to the
international markets. Nevertheless, generally speaking MET in Vietnam it not good enough
and not harmonized with the regional and international MET due to a shortage of
international information, a lack of support from developed countries, and in particular a
reasonable budget.
Since 1986 the Vietnamese Government has decided to provide the so -
called "open system of economy". According to the policy, the Central Governing
Economy System has been changed into the Market Economy System. Over 10 years of economic
reform total foreign investment accounts for more than 16 billion USD. Morever, in 1995
Vietnam became a full member of ASEAN.
These factors have resulted in the Vietnamese economy increasing by an
average rate of 8% per annum. The turnover of exports and imports has increased constantly
from.
