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| Waterway transport police patrol Long Xuyen City in the southern province of An Giang. The Ministry of Transport has collected comments to complete a waterway traffic draft decree. — VNA/VNS Photo The Duyet |
HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Transport has collected comments from policy-makers, experts, organisations and individuals on a draft to amend decree No 93/2013/-ND-CP on administrative punishment of inland waterway traffic.
People can access the ministry's official website mt.gov.vn to contribute their ideas.
The ministry said the decree's amendment became necessary after the National Assembly adopted amendments and supplements to the Law on Inland Waterway Traffic in June 2014. The law took effect in January of this year.
Under the draft, several noteworthy regulations were added. Foreign individuals and organisations are now subject to administrative punishment if found violating regulations.
Cruises, floating restaurants and hotels will be punished up to VND40-50 million (US$1,800-2,300) if discovered operating outdated vehicles. Vessels carrying oil or liquid oxygen have to pay fines of VND20-30 million ($917-1,375) and will have their operations suspended.
Individuals found using a fake boat captain's licence will be fined VND10-12 million ($460-550).
The deadline for public comments is August 15.
In another move, the Viet Nam Inland Waterway Administration (VIWA) has asked for strict punishment of individuals who permitted an overloaded vessel to enter Hai Phong City's Ben Kien Port.
VIWA has sent the request to the Port Authority of Inland Waterway Area No 1.
Hoang Hong Giang, the head of VIWA, said they had received a report about a ship, Hoang Tuan 28, carrying 1,777 tonnes of wood chips without covering its hold. The pile of wood chips towered 2.5m above the deck. The decision to allow the ship to transport cargo in Ben Kien Port waters was wrong, VIWA said.
Giang asked the management of the Port Authority of Inland Waterway Area No 1 to immediately punish the violators of the law. The head of Hai Phong Maritime Administration and the guilty officials could be dismissed from their posts.
VIWA also ordered individuals involved in the case to be self-critical, accept the appropriate penalty and to plan measures to rectify their mistake. — VNS