Z173 Shipyard

Z173 Shipyard is the military designation and commonly used name of Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company, formally Hong Ha Shipbuilding One-Member Limited Liability Company. It is a Vietnamese state-owned shipbuilding enterprise managed through the Ministry of National Defence and associated with the General Department of Defence Industry. The shipyard and its administrative offices are located in Lê Thiện in An Dương District, Haiphong, a major Vietnamese maritime and industrial center. The organization was established on October 30, 1965, under the General Department of Defence Industry. Its institutional identity changed several times as it developed within Vietnam's defense-industrial system. It was initially known as Ban Ca No, became Q173W Factory in 1968, was renamed Factory A173 in 1972, and then Factory 173 in 1983. In 1996 it adopted the commercial name Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company. Further legal restructuring took place in 2010, when it became Hong Ha Shipbuilding One-Member Company and subsequently Hong Ha Shipbuilding One-Member Limited Liability Company under the General Department of Defence Industry. Z173 combines military and commercial shipbuilding roles. Its defense-related work has included the construction of patrol and naval vessels, including the TT-400TP gunboat and multipurpose transport vessels for Vietnam's coast guard and navy. In 2009, the Ministry of Defence planned the TT-400TP program by acquiring foreign design input for domestic construction; the first vessel was completed at Z173 in 2013. In 2015, the shipyard was assigned to build a multipurpose transport ship for Vietnam's maritime security services. The yard has also undertaken civilian and industrial shipbuilding. In 2010, Petrolimex contracted Z173 to build asphalt tankers under Norwegian supervision and classification oversight from DNV. This work demonstrated the company's role beyond purely military production and its ability to operate against external technical and certification requirements. In January 2020, Z173 announced its first reported export order: ten patrol boats for the Nigerian Navy. The contract was reported as having been arranged by Benedict Peters on behalf of Marine Assets and Offshore Equipment Limited. The order marked an effort to extend the shipyard's defense-shipbuilding activities into an international customer market, although publicly available material provides limited detail about delivery schedules, vessel specifications, and the subsequent commercial outcome. The shipyard marked its fifty-fifth anniversary in 2020. During a September 25, 2020 visit, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Bế Xuân Trường received a briefing on the facility's production activities and economic performance. At its anniversary observance on October 30, the company was associated with several Vietnamese state honors, including the Labor Hero title in the Đổi Mới period, the Hero of the People's Armed Forces title, and multiple Independence, Victory, and Labor Medals. These distinctions reflect its position within Vietnam's defense-industrial and state-enterprise system. Publicly documented information does not establish a separate consumer-facing brand architecture, a stock-market listing, or a standalone corporate website.

Z173 Shipyard was established on October 30, 1965, within Vietnam's defense-industrial administration. It operated under the General Department of Defence Industry, which is associated with the Ministry of National Defence. The organization was initially known as Ban Ca No. In 1968 it became Q173W Factory, followed by the designation Factory A173 in 1972 and Factory 173 in 1983. These changes reflected successive administrative and institutional stages rather than the creation of an unrelated shipbuilding business. In 1996, the organization adopted the name Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company. The name refers to the Red River and became its principal commercial identity, while Z173 remained its military factory designation. In 2010, the enterprise underwent another formal restructuring. A decision dated April 30 changed its name to Hong Ha Shipbuilding One-Member Company, and on August 28 it was designated Hong Ha Shipbuilding One-Member Limited Liability Company under the General Department of Defence Industry. The shipyard's work has covered both defense and commercial vessels. In April 2009, the Ministry of Defence developed plans for the TT-400TP gunboat program, using foreign designs as a basis for domestic construction. Z173 subsequently built the first TT-400TP, completed in 2013. The program represented Vietnam's effort to increase indigenous naval production and gave the shipyard a visible role in the country's defense modernization. Z173 also pursued civilian and industrial contracts. In 2010, Petrolimex hired the yard to construct asphalt tankers. The project was conducted under Norwegian supervision with DNV involvement, indicating that the shipyard was working within external technical and classification requirements rather than serving only military customers. In 2015, it received an assignment to construct a multipurpose transport ship for the Vietnam Coast Guard and Navy, extending its role in government maritime logistics. The organization announced its first reported export order in January 2020. The order was described as a contract for ten patrol boats for the Nigerian Navy, arranged by Benedict Peters on behalf of Marine Assets and Offshore Equipment Limited. Available reference material does not provide enough information to confirm the complete delivery record, vessel configuration, or later financial results of the order. On September 25, 2020, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Bế Xuân Trường led a delegation to the factory. He was briefed on production activity and economic performance. On October 30 of the same year, Z173 observed its fifty-fifth anniversary and was associated with a number of state distinctions, including the Labor Hero title in the Đổi Mới period, the Hero of the People's Armed Forces title, and Independence, Victory, and Labor Medals awarded in different years. The available material presents Z173 as an active Vietnamese state-owned defense shipyard, but does not document its current executive leadership, detailed production capacity, revenue, or independent public website.

1. 2020Reported Nigerian patrol-boat export order

   Z173 announced a reported order for ten patrol boats for the Nigerian Navy.

   Source
2. 202055th anniversary

   The shipyard marked 55 years of operation and was associated with multiple Vietnamese state honors.

   Source
3. 2015Multipurpose transport vessel assignment

   The shipyard was tasked with constructing a multipurpose transport ship for Vietnam's Coast Guard and Navy.

   Source
4. 2013First TT-400TP completed

   Z173 constructed the first TT-400TP gunboat.

   Source
5. 2010Corporate restructuring and asphalt tanker contract

   The enterprise was reorganized as a one-member company and received a Petrolimex contract for asphalt tankers.

   Source
6. 2009TT-400TP program initiated

   The Ministry of Defence planned domestic construction of TT-400TP gunboats using foreign design input.

   Source
7. 1996Adopted Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company name

   The organization began using the Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company name.

   Source
8. 1983Renamed Factory 173

   The facility adopted the Factory 173 designation.

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9. 1972Renamed Factory A173

   The factory was renamed Factory A173.

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10. 1968Renamed Q173W Factory

    The organization adopted the Q173W Factory designation.

    Source
11. 1965Organization established

    The shipyard was established on October 30 under the General Department of Defence Industry.

    Source

A state-controlled Vietnamese defense-industrial shipyard combining naval and coast guard vessel production with selected commercial shipbuilding and export orders.

• TT-400TP gunboatMilitary vessel2013

  The TT-400TP is a gunboat constructed by Z173 as part of a Vietnamese Ministry of Defence program that used foreign design input for domestic production. The first vessel was completed in 2013. The program is associated with Vietnam's effort to expand indigenous naval shipbuilding capacity.

• Patrol boatsMilitary and maritime-security vessel2020

  Z173 has built patrol craft for Vietnamese maritime-security institutions and announced a reported export order for ten patrol boats for the Nigerian Navy in 2020. Publicly available reference material does not specify the precise class, technical configuration, or final delivery status of the Nigerian boats.

• Multipurpose transport shipsNaval and coast guard support vessel2015

  In 2015, Z173 was assigned to construct a multipurpose transport ship for the Vietnam Coast Guard and Navy. The vessel type reflects the yard's role in producing logistics and support platforms in addition to combat-oriented craft.

• Asphalt tankersCommercial tanker2010

  Z173 constructed asphalt tankers for Petrolimex under Norwegian supervision and DNV oversight. The project demonstrated the yard's participation in commercial shipbuilding and its ability to work with external supervision and maritime classification requirements.

• 2020Reported Nigerian patrol-boat export orderOther

  Z173 sought to extend its defense-shipbuilding activities into international markets.

  What changed. The shipyard announced a reported contract for ten patrol boats for the Nigerian Navy through Marine Assets and Offshore Equipment Limited.

  Aftermath. The announcement was described as the company's first export order, but the available source does not document delivery completion, contract value, or subsequent financial effects.

  Source
• 2015Multipurpose maritime support vessel programStrategy

  Vietnam's Coast Guard and Navy required multipurpose transport capacity.

  What changed. Z173 was tasked with constructing a multipurpose transport ship for the two services.

  Aftermath. The assignment reinforced the shipyard's role in government maritime logistics and support-vessel production.

  Source
• 2010Expansion into commercial tanker constructionStrategy

  Alongside its defense work, the shipyard pursued industrial and commercial vessel contracts.

  What changed. Z173 accepted a Petrolimex contract to construct asphalt tankers under Norwegian supervision and DNV oversight.

  Aftermath. The contract broadened the documented scope of the yard beyond military vessels.

  Source
• 2009Domestic TT-400TP gunboat constructionProduct launch

  Vietnam's Ministry of Defence sought to develop the TT-400TP using foreign design input while relying on domestic shipbuilding capability.

  What changed. Z173 undertook construction of the first TT-400TP, which was completed in 2013.

  Aftermath. The project gave Z173 a documented role in Vietnam's domestic naval vessel production. No financial results are provided in the reference material.

  Source

• 2020Z173 announces first reported export order

  The shipyard announced an order reported to cover ten patrol boats for the Nigerian Navy, arranged through Marine Assets and Offshore Equipment Limited.

  Product launchOther
  Source
• 2020Deputy Defence Minister visits Z173

  A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Bế Xuân Trường visited the factory and reviewed its production work and economic performance.

  Other
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• 2020Z173 marks 55 years with state honors

  The shipyard's anniversary observance recognized its long-term service with several Vietnamese state awards and medals.

  Other
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• 2020Hong Ha announces first reported Nigerian export order

  The company announced an order reportedly covering ten patrol boats for the Nigerian Navy, arranged through Marine Assets And Offshore Equipment Limited.

  Product launchOther
  Source
• 2020Defense Ministry delegation visits Z173 Factory

  A delegation led by Deputy Minister Senior Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong visited the factory and received a briefing on its work and economic performance.

  Other
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• 2020Z173 marks its 55th anniversary and receives state honors

  The shipyard commemorated 55 years of activity and was reported to have received multiple state distinctions, including a First Class Independence Medal and a First Class Victory Medal.

  Other
  Source
• 2015Z173 assigned multipurpose transport ship project

  The shipyard was tasked with constructing a multipurpose transport vessel for the Vietnam Coast Guard and Navy.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2015Z173 assigned a multipurpose transport vessel project

  The shipyard was tasked with building a multipurpose transport ship for Vietnam’s Coast Guard and Navy.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2013First TT-400TP constructed

  Z173 completed the first TT-400TP gunboat under Vietnam's domestic naval construction program.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source
• 2013Z173 begins construction of the first TT-400TP gunboat

  The first TT-400TP gunboat was constructed by Z173 after Vietnam pursued the type using foreign design input.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source
• 2010Petrolimex contracts Z173 for asphalt tankers

  Petrolimex engaged Z173 to construct asphalt tankers under Norwegian supervision and DNV oversight.

  Other
  Source
• 2009Ministry of Defence plans TT-400TP gunboat construction

  Vietnam's Ministry of Defence planned the construction of the TT-400TP gunboat using foreign design input and domestic shipbuilding capacity.

  Product launch
  Source

1. Z173 Shipyard