On the morning of 7 March 2026, at the headquarters of Vietnam Sea Transport and Chartering Joint Stock Company (Vitranschart), a ceremony was held to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Vitranschart and VIMC – ARIES Shipping Service Company Limited (VIMC ARIES). The event was attended by the leadership of both parties and representatives of Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC).

Among those attending and congratulating the event was Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Vice President of VIMC. Representing VIMC ARIES were Mr. Le Quang Trung, Vice President of VIMC and Chairman of the Members’ Council of VIMC ARIES, and Mr. Gavriil Petridis, Chairman of Aries Energy Group (Greece) and CEO of VIMC ARIES.

On the side of Vitranschart were Mr. Trinh Huu Luong, General Director; Mrs. Doan Thi Thu Hoa, Deputy General Director and Director of Hai Dang SMC; along with members of the management board and representatives of professional departments.

The event took place at a time when Vietnam’s maritime sector is intensifying cooperation in fleet investment, fleet development, and international partnerships in 2026. Acting as a bridge between domestic and international enterprises, VIMC ARIES proactively searched for, connected, and introduced suitable vessel investment opportunities to Vietnamese partners. This approach opens an effective pathway for the development of the fleet of Vietnam Maritime Corporation through international cooperation.

After nearly two months of active discussions and negotiations, the parties reached an agreement on the cooperation framework and officially signed the ship investment contract between Hai Dang SMC, a member company of Vitranschart, and FrontLine, a company under Aries Energy Group (Greece).

Under the agreement, Hai Dang SMC and FrontLine will cooperate in vessel investment under a bareboat charter arrangement, with the first project involving the Handysize dry bulk vessel GANT FLAIR. During the development of the project, VIMC ARIES served as the main coordinator, facilitating connections, discussions, and the completion of cooperation documentation between the two parties.

This event not only marks the successful completion of the first brokerage transaction by VIMC ARIES but also opens a new chapter in strategic cooperation between Vitranschart and Greek enterprises—representing one of the world’s most advanced maritime industries.

At the ceremony, General Director Trinh Huu Luong emphasized that cooperation with reputable international partners, particularly Greek maritime companies, will create many opportunities for the development of Vitranschart’s fleet and business operations in general, and Hai Dang SMC in particular.

Representing VIMC ARIES, Chairman Le Quang Trung stated that the Joint Venture is working with urgency and strong responsibility to implement related tasks in order to ensure the progress of cooperation projects. He affirmed that VIMC ARIES will continue to accompany and support its partners in various professional areas, including fleet operation, fleet management, and maritime service development. He also expressed confidence that with close coordination among the parties, the cooperation projects will be implemented effectively and open up further development opportunities in the future.

In his congratulatory remarks, Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Vice President of VIMC, highly appreciated the efforts made by VIMC ARIES and Vitranschart in facilitating the cooperation and expressed confidence that the implementation of the project will create new momentum for VIMC’s strategy to expand international cooperation and strengthen its fleet capacity.