Ensuring Maritime Safety in Vung Tau Seaport Area
Deputy Minister Nguyễn Hồng Trường has just signed urgent Official Letter No. 2772/BGTVT-ATGT to the Vietnam Maritime Administration requesting measures to ensure maritime safety in the Vung Tau seaport area.
According to the Official Letter, in the first quarter of 2012, 11 maritime accidents occurred nationwide, including 4 accidents directly related to maritime pilots during pilotage. In particular, in the waters of Vung Tau seaport, there were 2 serious accidents in the first quarter and one serious accident on 9 April 2012 between the Vietnamese-flagged container ship Truong Hai Star and the Thai-flagged vessel Krairatch Dignity. As a consequence, the container ship Truong Hai Star sank between anchorage positions D5 and B6 in Vung Tau anchorage.
To ensure maritime safety in the Vung Tau sea area, the Ministry of Transport requires the Vietnam Maritime Administration to instruct Vung Tau Maritime Administration to urgently rectify pilotage activities, strictly handle maritime pilots who violate professional regulations at pilotage organisations operating in the waters of Vung Tau seaport such as Vung Tau Pilotage Enterprise, Maritime Pilotage Company Region I under the Southern Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation, and Tan Cang Pilotage Company. At the same time, they must strengthen supervision of vessels entering and leaving the port, and of pilot boarding and disembarkation by pilotage organisations, and resolutely refuse clearance for vessels to depart if maritime safety conditions are not met. The cause of the accident on 9 April 2012 must be investigated within their competence and recommendations made to competent authorities to handle any violations (if any) related to maritime safety in the waters of Vung Tau seaport, and the results must be reported promptly to the Ministry of Transport.
