Directive No. 05/2007/CT-BBCVT on Strengthening Management of Radio Wave Transmitter Equipment on Fishing Vessels to Ensure Safety for Marine Radio Communications

DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening the Management of Radio Transmitter Equipment on Fishing Vessels to Ensure Safety for Marine Radio Communications

On June 30, 2006, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 22/2006/CT-TTg on strengthening safety measures for fishing activities in marine areas, particularly distant waters. In implementing this directive, many distant fishing vessels have been equipped with radio communication devices for communication purposes. However, the implementation of legal regulations on managing and licensing radio frequency usage to establish order in marine information usage still has many limitations; guidance work for fishermen in exploiting and using communication equipment has not been thoroughly carried out; most fishermen misuse frequencies designated for safety and rescue communications, causing mutual interference and affecting the reception of emergency information when critical situations arise.

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To address these issues and ensure the safety of marine radio communications, the Post and Telecommunications Ministry:

Requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to direct their Posts and Telecommunications Departments:

1.a) To take the lead and coordinate with Regional Radio Frequency Centers (under the Radio Frequency Administration Bureau), relevant local units such as Border Guard Command, Fisheries Department, Maritime Electronics Information Company, etc., to strengthen propaganda and dissemination to fishermen to comply with legal regulations on frequency usage and radio transmitter equipment; to use frequencies designated for communication, safety, rescue, weather forecasting, etc., correctly to ensure effective and synchronized exploitation without harmful interference between marine radio communication systems and other radio communication systems.

b) To coordinate with Regional Radio Frequency Centers, Border Guard Command, Fisheries Department, etc., to strengthen inspection, supervision, and strict handling of violations of legal regulations in the use of frequencies and radio transmitter equipment on fishing vessels.

Requires the Radio Frequency Administration Bureau:

2. a) To take the lead and coordinate with Posts and Telecommunications Departments, Border Guard Command, Fisheries Department, Maritime Electronics Information Company, etc., to implement the issuance of frequency usage permits and radio transmitter equipment licenses for fishing vessels, ensuring the maximum simplification of permit procedures.

Based on permit data, establish a database on frequency and radio transmitter equipment usage by fishing vessels to serve the organization of communication systems and emergency response when natural disasters occur. Provide Posts and Telecommunications Departments with data on frequency permits for fishing vessels.

b) To study and supplement frequency bands designated for fishing vessels.

c) To organize regular monitoring on safety and rescue frequencies to promptly detect and handle harmful interference, ensuring the safety of marine radio communications.

Requires the Maritime Electronics Information Company:

3.a) To broadcast weather forecasts, typhoons, tropical depressions on frequency 7906kHz according to the storm warning regulations for fishermen to proactively prevent them.

b) To monitor at frequency 7903kHz to receive emergency calls from fishing vessels and provide timely information to Provincial Flood Control and Search and Rescue Command for direction and handling.

c) To cooperate with Radio Frequency Centers, Posts and Telecommunications Departments to guide fishermen on knowledge and skills in exploiting and using radio transmitter equipment.

The Radio Frequency Administration Bureau is responsible for inspecting and urging the implementation of this directive and reporting to the Minister./.

Dang Trung Ta