On August 10, speaking with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper about the auction of the Sheng Li shipwreck in Con Dao special zone to recover scrap, Mr. N.T.H - a scrap iron trader - said that with a weight of about 1,200 tons, it could earn about 7 billion VND when selling scrap iron for this ship.
Mr. H quickly calculated that currently, the lowest price of scrap iron is about 6,000 VND/kg and with the Sheng Li shipwreck weighing 1,200 tons, it is equivalent to about 7.2 billion VND. After deducting some of the loss and damage, we can still earn about 7 billion VND.
"This is an estimated result, but in reality, we must carefully survey the condition of the ship to be able to make accurate conclusions," said Mr. H.
However, the auction winner also had to pay for dismantling and transportation costs (about 500 VND/kg) and some other costs, estimated to spend about 600-800 million VND to dismantle the ship and bring it to the gathering and handover site.
At the same time, the auction winner must also bear other costs such as taxes, anchorage fees, fees, and other related procedures if any.
Recently, information about a business sending a document to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism proposing to sink the Sheng Li ship in the Con Dao special zone, in order to create a diving spot is attracting public attention.
However, according to the investigation, this content is not consistent with the document approving the starting price for auction previously issued by the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province (old).
Based on working with departments and branches to find a solution, the Sheng Li shipwreck is temporarily anchored in Con Dao. In May 2025, the People's Committee of the old Ba Ria Vung Tau province issued a decision approving the starting price to organize the auction of the Sheng Li shipwreck at 1.7 billion VND; excluding taxes and other fees and charges.
It clearly states that the Sheng Li shipwreck is 52m long, 8.5m wide, built in 2002. Currently, the structure of the shell is old, leaking, damaged... The organization or individual who wins the auction of the property can only use it to recover scrap, not convert it for use, not use it for other purposes.
Previously, the Sheng Li drifted freely and was towed back by the authorities, anchored temporarily waiting for handling. In August 2024, the People's Committee of the old Ba Ria - Vung Tau province decided to move this ship to the current anchorage location, in the storm shelter in the Con Dao special zone.
Since then, the Sheng Li ship has become a check-in spot for many young people, tourists and locals when coming to Con Dao.
