NA deputies push for tighter regulations in draft waterway traffic law

May 26, 2014 | 11:02
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The draft amendment to the Law on Interior Waterway Traffic needs more strict regulations on the operations of ferries, ships and boats to prevent accidents.

According to the draft’s Article 24, waterway traffic vessels of 15 tonnes and up, at least 15 horsepower, and capable of carrying more than 12 people must meet all quality, technical and environmental standards prescribed by the law. These carriers and their owners must be licensed and have a sufficient crew as per the law.

Notably, vessels with expired licenses or that have no license are banned from use.

The government will provide specific details on these regulations, which are aimed to ensure safety for people and goods. Under the current Law on Interior Waterway Traffic issued in 2004, weak regulations have prompted many organisations and individuals to own ships and boats without registration or proper equipment.

However, Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said many deputies have asked the legislature to add even more stringent regulations on carriers offering tourism services or acting as restaurants, because they were highly prone to accidents.

In October 2012, five foreign tourists were killed when a boat sank in Ha Long Bay.

In 2011, also in Ha Long, 12 tourists, 11 of whom were foreigners from the US, Russia, France, Japan, Sweden and Australia, drowned after a boat they were on sank.

In September 2009, another boat sank in the bay killing five, including three foreign tourists.

In August 2011, the owner of private firm Din Ky had to compensate $12,000 to each of the families of four Chinese and $6,500 to those of 12 Vietnamese victims, who all drowned when the company’s boat cum restaurant sank in May 2011 in Binh Duong province’s Thuan An town.

These accidents were widely broadcast by local and foreign media, which raised concerns over the quality of ships and boats in Vietnam.

National Assembly deputy Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, representing Quang Binh province, proposed that specific controls over floating restaurants and tourism ships and boats be added to the law.

“Such restaurants, ships and boats operate without any state control. Meanwhile, many families and organisations also own boats and ferries without registration. These carriers run very fast and have caused scores of accidents,” Phuong said.

Deputy Pham Thi My Ngoc, representing Ninh Binh province, said one of the main reasons behind such accidents was the crew onboard were operating the vessel under the influence of alcohol or other stimulants. “Thus the use of such substances while operating such a vehicle must be banned in the new law.”

According to deputy Nguyen Thanh Binh, representing Vinh Long province, the lack of state control over such carriers was the reason behind half of waterway accidents.

In order to facilitate waterway carriers’ owners registering their vessels, the draft amendment also stipulates that people’s committees at all administrative levels can provide registration services for such owners.

In the current law, only municipal and provincial people’s committees can do so. This has made it difficult for the owners to register their boats, ships and ferries.

By By Nguyen Dat

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