60 years of glory

During the fierce years of bombs and bullets during the resistance war against the US to save the country, the Canoe Department - the predecessor of Factory Z173 - made an important contribution to ensuring strategic transportation for the front line. Only 3 years after its establishment (October 30, 1965), the unit, which only performed the task of placing orders, designed, manufactured and repaired a series of vehicles such as mine-clearing canoes, river-crossing buoys, and vehicles equipped with magnetic coils to destroy time-explosive bombs.

Those products contributed to opening up blocked vital traffic routes, ensuring support for the Southern battlefield, contributing to the Great Spring Victory of 1975 - liberating the South and unifying the country.

When the country entered peacetime, the Z173 workers continued to contribute to a new front - economic construction and development. From repairing river ships to building new large-capacity seagoing ships; from iron-hulled ships to aluminum-hulled ships, from small ships serving logistics to modern high-speed patrol boats... The factory constantly expanded its capacity, keeping up with the country's industrialization and modernization requirements.

Multi-purpose sea tanker transport vessel - a product of Factory Z173.

In particular, the renovation period has opened a historic turning point. Ships "made by Hong Ha" such as TT200, TT400, TT400TP, multi-purpose transport ships, sea tankers... were born one after another, affirming the position of Z173 as one of the leading enterprises in the field of military shipbuilding in Vietnam. The high-speed patrol ship TT400 was selected as a typical project of the Ministry of National Defense , celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

In parallel with new construction, the Factory also strongly develops the field of repairing and converting large-tonnage ships for military units and domestic and foreign partners, contributing to the overall development of the socio-economy.

From the Black Ferry Terminal (Hanoi) to Kim Luong (Kim Thanh, Hai Duong ), then An Phong (Hai Phong), through the names Q173W, Factory 173, A173 and now Factory Z173, the Z173 soldiers and workers are still diligently carving out the glorious marks of the "Hong Ha giant" in the history of the development of the domestic shipbuilding industry in particular and the history of the country's socio-economic development in general.

Continuing tradition, turning challenges into opportunities

From 2020 to now, Z173 has faced an unprecedented period of challenges, when the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the global supply chain, the market shrank, and raw materials were scarce. However, "fire tests gold, hardship tests strength", the collective of officers, workers, employees and workers of the Factory still firmly steered the big ship through the rough waves.

With the spirit of solidarity, creativity and proactive adaptation, Z173 not only maintains the pace of defense production but also achieves impressive growth rates: revenue in 2024 reaches 1,460 billion VND (up 54% compared to 2020), average income reaches 17.8 million VND/month (up more than 50%). It is expected that in 2025, this figure will exceed 1,580 billion VND in revenue, with employee income exceeding 20 million VND/month.

Colonel Tran The Son, Party Secretary and Chairman of Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company Limited, affirmed: "The biggest lesson of the Factory is to always maintain a clean and strong Party foundation; take solidarity as the root, intelligence as strength and people as the center of development".

According to Colonel Tran The Son, Z173 focuses on building high-quality human resources, especially technical and management staff; maintaining discipline and labor order; promoting democracy, implementing corporate culture well; and at the same time taking good care of the material and spiritual lives of workers.

Not only good at production, Z173 is also a "companion" of local people when actively participating in social security movements and activities, contributing to maintaining security and order at the station. Permanent Vice Chairman of An Phong Ward People's Committee (Hai Phong) Tran Van Hai said that Z173 always accompanies and supports local Party committees, authorities and people with practical actions, especially in the movement "Repaying gratitude" and implementing social security policies in the locality.

Steadfast towards the future

According to Colonel, Dr. Pham Van Tuan, Director of Factory Z173, entering a new stage of development, the task of modernizing the Army places increasingly high demands on the defense industry, especially in the field of building and repairing military ships. At the same time, the strategy of developing the marine economy opens up many opportunities for Z173 to continue to affirm its pioneering role.

Colonel Pham Van Tuan said: “We will further promote the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers and the tradition of a twice-heroic unit; proactively innovate, strongly apply science, technology and digital transformation, implement investment projects to increase production capacity, build new operating buildings, complete site planning, and improve corporate governance efficiency.”

The Party Committee and Board of Directors of the Factory set the goal of building a comprehensively strong, "exemplary, exemplary" unit, a clean, strong, exemplary Party Committee, determined to successfully complete the 2025 targets and key tasks for the 2025-2030 period in the spirit of Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW dated January 26, 2022 of the Politburo (13th tenure) on "Promoting the development of the defense industry to 2030 and the following years".

With its outstanding achievements, Factory Z173 was honored to be awarded by the Party and State the title of Hero of Labor in the renovation period, Hero of the People's Armed Forces, First Class Independence Medal, First Class Labor Medal, First Class Feat Medal, State Prize, Vifotec Prize for Science and Technology, along with hundreds of collectives and individuals being commended and rewarded.

In particular, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Traditional Day (October 30, 1965 / October 30, 2025), the Factory was honored to receive the Second Class Fatherland Protection Medal - a worthy reward for a journey of resilience, creativity and constant expansion to the open sea.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/nha-may-z173-va-hanh-trinh-60-nam-vuon-ra-bien-lon-955064