For the second time in successive games the Swans failed to find the net as they completed the festive fixtures with just two points from four games.
It means Southend overtake the Welshmen at the top of the table as, despite dominating the game for large periods, Swansea couldn't find the elusive goal.
Paul Connor, Andy Robinson and Marc Goodfellow all had chances to start 2006 with a bang but it was a determined Port Vale defence that won out to leave the Swans sulking.
It was the Port Vale attack who had the first sniff of goal when skipper Tony Dinning had a snap-shot from a third minute corner but Swans keeper Willy Gueret was alert enough to save the early effort.
Having survived the scare, Swansea took the game to their opponents and Connor was twice unlucky not to break the deadlock before the lively Kevin McLeod went close.
But for all their dominance the hosts only had one further chance of note before the interval, Wales international Sam Ricketts unable to finish off a neat darting run on 35 minutes.
Swans boss Kenny Jackett made a double substitution at the start of the second half with Adebayo Akinfenwa and Goodfellow both entering the fray for McLeod and Adrian Forbes.
And their impact was almost immediate as Akinfenwa's control on the halfway line freed Robinson and Connor was unlucky not to flick his through ball past the advancing Mark Goodlad in the Vale goal.
Robinson was involved again on 54 minutes, shooting just wide while Goodfellow also had a crack from long range as Swansea continued to press.
But still the goal didn't come and Swansea's day was summed up when Izzy Iriekpen limped off injured before Ricketts was denied a late penalty when he was seemingly tripped in the area.
But Alan Tate prevented a late shock when he cleared Mark Innes' shot off the line with just two minutes remaining.