The Vietnam Marine Police Department and Z189 Factory, under the General Department of National Defense Industry, yesterday launched a modern multifunctional large-tonnage police ship “DN 2000”, with number sign “CSB 8001”, in Hai Phong City. The ship, 90 meters in length, 14 meters in width and 7 meters tall, is the Vietnamese marine police’s biggest ship so far and can sail at 21 nautical miles per hour. It also has a landing platform for a Ka-28 naval helicopter. The ship can operate stably in sea waters with winds of 76-87 kph and in a range of 5,000 nautical miles for 40 consecutive days. The ship is equipped with essential equipment and tools that serve activities related to search, rescue, anti-smuggling, assistance for fishermen at sea, and other missions that enforce the marine police department’s regulations. The ship was designed by Damen, an international shipyard group based in the Netherlands, and was built entirely in Vietnam by Z189 Factory under technology transfers from Damen. Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Thanh Cung, Deputy Defense Minister, said that the ship’s launch proves the ability of military shipbuilders to build such large-tonnage police ships, People’s Army Newspaper Online reported. Cung also requested that the Vietnam Marine Police strengthen its staff and enhance their professional skills to master the new vessel and keep pace with marine police forces in the region. After the launch, the DN 2000 crewmembers will attend a training course conducted by Dutch experts, said the ship’s captain, Nguyen Duc Tuyen. The ship will experience sea trials until year’s end before being put into operation in the first quarter of next year, Tuyen said.