Da Nang: Cruise boats in Han River resume operation

Da Nang (VNA) – Up to 11 cruise boats in the Han River were allowed to resume their night city tours on June 14 after a ten-day safety review hiatus as requested by the Da Nang city People’s Committee.

The safety review was enforced following an overload boat capsize in the river on the night of June 4 that took the life of three people onboard.

According to Tran Chi Cuong, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism, the licensed boats, which were newly built to serve vacationers, have their safety systems inspected by local competent agencies.

Further checks on other boats are going on, he said, adding that training courses on the city’s new regulations on passenger transport and first aid skills have been organised for captains and crew members of the licensed boats.

Fishing boats which were renovated for tourism purposes will be banned from providing cruises.

On the night of June 4, the Thao Van 2 boat, numbered DNa 0016, carrying 56 people (three crew members and 53 passengers, including four Malaysians) suddenly capsized in the river section between the Han Bridge and Thuan Phuoc Bridge just five minutes after leaving the pier.

Fifty-three people were rescued and three died. The boat, which has a maximum load of 28 people, had not yet been licensed to provide passenger transport services. It did not report to the local waterway port authorities when leaving the pier.

The boat owner’s violation of regulations on operating a passenger boat, and overloading people, are cited as the initial reasons behind the accident.

Da Nang city’s Investigation Police Office took proceedings against those involved in the boat capsize.-VNA