Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Xuan Sang signed a dispatch on July 11 evening ordering tougher safety measures for inland waterway and maritime passenger transport, with a specific focus on ferry and tourist routes serving Ly Son, Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Cat Ba and Ha Long Bay, following the fatal boat accident in the Phu Quoc Special Zone the same day.
The Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, Vietnam Register, and provincial construction department were instructed to coordinate with the Border Guard, Coast Guard, public security and local authorities to determine the cause of the accident, deal with its aftermath, identify and fix any state management lapses, offer support to victims and their families, and report regularly on the investigation’s progress.
Units were also told, within their mandates, to conduct or oversee full inspections of safety conditions for inland waterway and maritime transport both at the accident site and in other locations with similar operating conditions.
The ministry demanded tighter scrutiny of passenger waterway services, especially those linking the mainland to islands, singling out the routes to Ly Son, Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Cat Ba and Ha Long Bay.
They must also work closely with enforcement agencies to inspect operators’ compliance with inland waterway and maritime safety rules, particularly during severe weather, and quickly tackle any violations or safety gaps uncovered during inspections, among other tasks.
The accident occurred at around 13:00 the same day, about 200m off Hon May Rut in the An Thoi waters of the Phu Quoc Special Zone, southern An Giang province. By 15:00, authorities confirmed that 15 people had died./.
