The Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (Vinashin) will launch a 53,000 tonne-capacity vessel, the largest ever built in Vietnam, in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on April 6.

The ship, named Florence, is the first of the 21 cargo vessels that the Vinashin's Ha Long Shipyard contracted with a British partner at a total cost of more than US$400 million.

Florence is 190m long, 32.26m wide and has a 64,000cu.m hold, as designed by Denmark-based Carl Bro Marine company.