The Saigon port in Ho Chi Minh City loaded the first tonnes of cargo of the New Year on Saturday night (December 31), pinning its hopes on handling 12 million tonnes in 2006.
In 2005, the port handled 11.7 million tonnes of cargo, earned VND514 billion and contributed VND23.1 billion to the State budget. Its staff monthly income last year reached VND2.4 million.

The same day, the Bach Dang Shipyard launched a 13,500-tonne oil tanker VINASHIN SEA - the largest of its kind in Vietnam, measuring 145.3m long, 20.8m wide and 11.2m high.