  We introduce a notion of singular hermitian metrics (s.h.m.) for holomorphic
vector bundles and define positivity in view of $L^2$-estimates. Associated
with a suitably positive s.h.m. there is a (coherent) sheaf 0-th kernel of a
certain $d''$-complex. We prove a vanishing theorem for the cohomology of this
sheaf. All this generalizes to the case of higher rank known results of Nadel
for the case of line bundles. We introduce a new semi-positivity notion,
$t$-nefness, for vector bundles, establish some of its basic properties and
prove that on curves it coincides with ordinary nefness. We particularize the
results on s.h.m. to the case of vector bundles of the form $E=F \otimes L$,
where $F$ is a $t$-nef vector bundle and $L$ is a positive (in the sense of
currents) line bundle. As applications we generalize to the higher rank case 1)
Kawamata-Viehweg Vanishing Theorem, 2) the effective results concerning the
global generation of jets for the adjoint to powers of ample line bundles, and
3) Matsusaka Big Theorem made effective.
