The Westerner who builds high-speed boats

Not many people know that the head engineer who build the first patrol boat with synthetic resin material MS50 for the High command of Vietnam Coast Guard in HaiPhong City is a foreign man with a nickname " Fan ta". Coming to the small factory by  the Red River Bank ( Group 4, Hoang Mai District, Ha Noi ) asking about a foreigner named Fanta, you'll have answers from any locals there. He's a man with tanned skin.

An experienced engineerm

Mr. Fanta or Frantisek Syedik (49 years old), is a high-ranked, experienced engineer who formerly worked for big shipbuilding companies in Czech and Germany. He is now James Boat technical executive, designing and building boats in Hanoi.

Fanta was a member of the PPC research group, which studied and experimented with applying high technology in building PPC canoes, boats, ships and floating constructions. This material is antifouling, sustain strong impact (even gunshot). It has lower friction than wood and steel, makes the boat runs faster, saves more fuel, less vibration, and its life time is at least 50 years. James Boat is proud of being the 1st company in the world to successfully applying heat sealing method in building PPC boats, ships and floating constructions.

A fortune

Mr Fanta met Mr. Nguyen Kim Son (James Boat chairman) in 2002. Both used to exchange stories about shipbuilding and later established e business together in Czech. In 2009, missing his homeland, Mr. Son invited Mr. Fanta travel back to Vietnam. After this trip, Mr. Son came up with an idea of establishing a shipbuilding business in Vietnam. Therefore, these two friends spent a year to do the market research.

Ông Fan-Ta giới thiệu chiếc tàu đã đóng cho Cảnh sát biển Việt Nam Ảnh: Việt Dũng
Mr Fanta introducing the patrol boat built for the Vietnam Coast Guard (credit: Viet Dung)
 
Mr. Fanta recalls: “Foreigners who have never traveled to Vietnam often assume that this is a devastated country ruined by wars. It is far different from the reality. When I first visited Vietnam, I thought this is the most beautiful country I have ever known.
 
Xưởng đóng tàu này là nơi ông Fan-Ta cùng các công nhân đang sử dụng vật liệu polypropylen copolymer vào chế tạo ca nô, tàu thuyền tại Việt Nam Ảnh Việt Dũng
The manufacturing site in Viet Nam where Fanta and his co-worker building boats from PPC material (credit: Viet Dung)
 

In his opinion, Vietnam has great potential in marine economy, water transportation and water tourism, thanks to its river system and the 3200 km coastline. However, these resources have not been fully exploited in Viet Nam. Although there are many fishing boats, service boats are just a few compare with France or Italy where water vehicles are widely used to decrease ground traffic. He said: “Vietnam should also replace old fishing boats”
In the recent years, Mr. Fanta and Mr. Son come to Viet Nam more frequently. In 2013, with the help of Czech ambassador and Vietnamese Government, James Boat had officially received the operating certificate and a technology transfer contract was signed.

A challenging beginning

James Boat had faced with many challenges at the beginning, when both Mr. Son and Mr. Fanta had to convince their clients and investors to invest in PPC and their technology. Mr. Fanta said when they got a contract from Viet Nam Coast Guard (two MS 50 boats), he was very excited since the Coast Guard let James Boat design and build as their wish. He believed that James Boat products will satisfy and be very useful for the Coast Guard since the products met their requirements including high safety and cost effective. “In USA, a similar boat can cost much more since the intellectual cost is include” – said Mr. Fanta. Also, he informed that MS50 is 13m long, 4.6m wide, 9.6 tons and a maximum speed of 35 nautical miles/hour.
Talk about his partner, Mr. Son commented: “He has great passion for boats and ships, never satisfies with what he has achieved, works hard and has a special love for Vietnam”.
Happy and enjoy
Mr Fanta has been living in Viet Nam for 3 years; sometime he went back to Czech to visit his relatives and friends. He loves Vietnamese cuisine, and the friendliness of Hanoi. He like having a walk in the morning since Hanoi has a lot of trees. Whenever he has time, he visits villages and talks with the local. Many people call “ông Tây” (the westerner). At first, he doesn’t know what it is, then after understanding the meaning, he starts to like being called like it.
“Now I have officially belonged to Viet Nam. I start missing Viet Nam after 3 days staying in Czech, while after 3 days in Viet Nam Czech still not appear in my mind” – he laughed and : “ Vietnamese people are very kind and friendly, far different from places I have ever been, although they are more developed, they just mind about their job”.
Right at the manufacturing site on the Red River side, Mr. Fanta met his fiancée – Ms Loi (also an employee of James Boat). He is very happy and enjoys his life in Vietnam.

Frantisek Svedik was awardedthe 2nd place in Creative Science and Technology Competition 2014 for the science, social and economic value of his work.

 

Mr Phan Van Le, the Captain of MS50:

Improve fighting capabilities

After operating for 7 months, MS 50 has traveled more than 3000 nautical miles. PPC is a light weight material with low density which helps the boat achieves its maximum speed (34 nautical miles) quickly, patrol and use fuel more effectively. With the same engine, if it takes traditional material boat 10 minutes to move from A to B, it will just take PPC boat 7 minute. Another significant advantage is that PPC boat doesn’t require users to repaint or do maintenance for the boat. Therefore, PPC saves a lot of maintenance fee for the users.

 

Related news
...bringing new technologies for the country's development
TOP