Circular No. 12/2018/TT-BGTVT on flood and storm prevention and control work in inland waterway transport

CIRCULAR
Regulations on flood control and prevention work
in inland waterway transport

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Pursuant to the Law on Inland Waterway Transport No. 23/2004/QH11 dated June 15, 2004; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Inland Waterway Transport No. 48/2014/QH13 dated June 17, 2014;

Pursuant to the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control No. 33/2013/QH13 dated June 19, 2013;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 66/2014/NĐ-CP dated July 4, 2014 detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control;

Pursuant to Decree No. 12/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 10, 2017, issued by the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Pursuant to Decree No. 30/2017/NĐ-CP dated March 21, 2017 of the Government stipulating organization and operation for responding to environmental incidents, natural disasters, and search and rescue;

Article 1. This Circular stipulates traffic control and restriction to ensure safety, prevent drift and restrict inland waterway traffic.

The Minister of Transport hereby promulgates this Circular on flood control and prevention work in the field of inland waterway transport.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates flood control and prevention work to protect infrastructure, equipment, assets, vessels, and people in the field of inland waterway transport.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals related to flood control and prevention activities in the field of inland waterway transport.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

1. Flood control and prevention works for inland waterways are transportation infrastructure structures built either permanently or temporarily to limit or mitigate the impacts of natural disasters on inland waterway transport operations or to serve forecasting, warning, command, and directing flood control and prevention work in inland waterways.

2. Flood prevention for inland waterways refers to activities carried out before natural disasters occur to warn, inform, prepare necessary conditions regarding human resources, means of transport, equipment, logistics, evacuation measures to protect people, infrastructure, and assets.

3. Flood response for inland waterways includes timely, appropriate measures to rescue people, vessels, assets, materials, and protect the environment in disaster-affected areas to minimize the consequences caused by natural disasters.

4. Recovery from the aftermath of natural disasters in inland waterways involves implementing professional measures to restore or recreate losses caused by natural disasters in the field of inland waterways.

Chapter II
AGENCIES AND UNITS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION
NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Article 4. Vietnam Directorate of Inland Waterways

1. To develop and implement annual plans for flood control and prevention in national inland waterway transport activities in accordance with the functions and responsibilities of the Vietnam Directorate of Inland Waterways and the laws on flood control and prevention.

2. To guide, direct, urge, and inspect subordinate units to establish and implement flood control and prevention plans within their management scope.

3. To organize flood control and prevention duty as prescribed to promptly collect, disseminate information, and implement measures based on directives and guidance from higher authorities on flood control and prevention.

4. To compile damage caused by natural disasters, propose remedial measures, and report to competent authorities according to regulations on flood control and search and rescue operations.

5. Summarize annual natural disaster prevention and control work.

Article 5. Agencies and units responsible for implementing flood control and prevention tasks in inland waterway transport

1. Agencies and units responsible for implementing flood control and prevention tasks in inland waterway transport include: Provincial Departments of Transport (for national inland waterway routes under their management); Regional Inland Waterway Inspection Bureaus; Regional Inland Waterway Port Authorities.

2. Agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall perform flood prevention, response, and aftermath recovery tasks as prescribed in Chapter III of this Circular.

Chapter III
NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL

PART 1. PREVENTION OF NATURAL DISASTERS

Article 6. General tasks of agencies, units, organizations, and individuals implementing annual natural disaster prevention work in inland waterway transport

1. Organizing management and protection of inland waterway transport infrastructure and inland waterway transport means to minimize damage caused by natural disasters. Preventing actions that may cause damage to inland waterway transport infrastructure.

2. Regularly inspecting and evaluating the safety level of facilities that need protection or those related to natural disaster prevention within their management scope. When discovering damage or deterioration, timely measures must be taken; if beyond their capacity, they must report to the immediate superior agency for resolution before the rainy and storm season.

3. Developing plans for natural disaster prevention and response according to types of natural disasters and levels of disaster risk, including the following main contents:

a) Implementing anchoring, securing, bracing, and supporting measures to protect structures, equipment, vessels, goods, houses, warehouses when natural disasters occur;

b) Evacuation plans for vessels, equipment, and goods; rescue and evacuation plans and relocation plans to safe areas when natural disasters occur;

c) Stockpiling materials, means, and equipment; food and supplies for natural disaster prevention and response to be used when necessary;

d) Ensuring the safety of structures within the navigation channel and its protective zone due to inland waterway transport activities, especially bridges crossing rivers; traffic regulation and organization plans in key areas to ensure traffic safety;

đ) Monitoring the development of natural disasters and their impact on structures; monitoring the resilience of structures and equipment to natural disasters;

e) Information dissemination during natural disasters, including anticipated worst-case scenarios such as power outages and communication disruptions to proactively address them quickly and effectively.

4. Organizing inspections of natural disaster prevention and response tasks at the unit and subordinate units, particularly critical and vulnerable structures.

5. Organizing training on receiving and processing information related to natural disaster prevention and response.

6. Organizing the operation of emergency forces for natural disaster prevention and response at the agency and unit.

Article 7. Requirements for natural disaster prevention by organizations and individuals when constructing inland waterway transport infrastructure

1. Adhering to the construction project quality management procedures as prescribed.

2. During construction, when there are forecasts of potential natural disasters in the area with the project, promptly inspect the actual situation, construction equipment and means, and take timely measures to ensure the safety of people, means, equipment, and structures.

Article 8. Natural disaster prevention tasks of organizations and individuals concerning operational inland waterway transport infrastructure

1. Having plans to ensure the safety or recovery and storage of signal lights, signs, buoys, and accessories before flood and storm seasons appropriate to the flood warning levels in each river basin (prioritizing buoy recovery operations before floods and storms during regular inland waterway maintenance tasks); promptly restoring the signaling system immediately after floods and storms.

2. Signal columns, mooring piles, mooring buoys, other structures, and architectural works must be inspected and repaired in a timely manner before the rainy and flood season.

3. The retaining wall and dam systems must undergo regular maintenance before or after natural disasters according to their specific functions and clusters, following established procedures.

4. Critical bridges on inland waterways must have traffic regulation and guidance plans, specific anti-drift plans for each bridge position; plans for coordination with relevant agencies and units in implementing these plans.

Article 9. Tasks for preventing natural disasters for watercraft

1. For captains and drivers of vessels

a) When traveling on inland waterway routes, captains and drivers of vessels must strictly comply with regulations on prevention and response to natural disasters, rigorously implement communication protocols; strictly follow directives from the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, the Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, and local levels, move vessels to safe anchorage positions or disaster-avoidance anchorage areas. In cases where there is insufficient time to move vessels out of the affected area, reasonable plans to avoid disasters and issue warning notifications to nearby agencies, units, and vessels must be implemented promptly to seek assistance and minimize negative impacts on people, vessels, and cargo;

b) When anchoring to perform tasks in ports or wharfs

Strictly follow evacuation orders for vessels issued by the Inland Waterway Port Authority, port management units, and port operators to anchorage areas or anchoring measures, and participate in search and rescue operations as required by competent authorities;

Must arrange personnel to stand watch on vessels according to regulations and prepare plans for disaster prevention and control; personnel and equipment on vessels must always be in a state of readiness for mobilization;

Develop anchoring plans suitable for the topography and geological conditions of rivers, canals, creeks, lakes, swamps, bays, and inlets; strictly adhere to anchoring and securing regulations under the influence of wind direction, current flow, and vessel density in the anchorage area to ensure safety;

c) Vessels carrying cargo must strictly comply with stacking and storage regulations for each type of cargo carried in sacks, barrels, crates, and preserved goods. Inspect the securing, covering, and protective measures for each type of cargo and equipment on the vessel, and take preparatory and responsive measures before natural disasters occur;

d) For passenger-carrying vessels

Strictly follow directives and orders for passenger evacuation to shore, refrain from accepting passengers, and move vessels to safe anchorage positions before natural disasters occur, following guidance from management agencies and units responsible for inland waterway traffic disaster prevention and control, and the Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, and local levels, and port management units;

đ) For passenger ferries crossing rivers

Strictly follow directives from the Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, and local levels, and management agencies and units, to perform tasks related to inland waterway traffic disaster prevention and control. Arrange personnel and prepare emergency response plans when mobilized;

Inspect the mooring and securing systems of vessels before natural disasters occur and proactively prevent and avoid disasters upon receiving warnings and notifications about them, especially in areas directly affected by floods and strong currents;

2. Owners of vessels must fully prepare backup fuel for operation and coordination in flood and typhoon seasons.

Article 10. Preventive tasks against natural disasters for agencies and units performing tasks to prevent and combat natural disasters in inland waterway transport

1. The Inland Waterway Transport Branch in regions, Provincial Departments of Transport under centrally governed cities (for national inland waterways assigned to manage) shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Organize the implementation of plans and schemes for disaster prevention and control work in accordance with regulations;

b) Coordinate with units responsible for regular maintenance to inspect the technical condition of navigation channels, channel marking systems, inland waterway improvement works, and anchorage areas for vessels to avoid natural disasters within their jurisdiction;

c) Compile a list of weak structures affected by natural disasters to develop proactive disaster prevention and control plans;

d) Timely announce navigation channel information and issues related to inland waterway traffic safety caused by natural disasters in accordance with regulations;

đ) Announce safe refuge locations, black spots, and potential accident-prone areas on inland waterways to local authorities, Regional Inland Waterway Port Services, and organizations and individuals operating in the area;

e) Coordinate with local authorities and relevant agencies in disaster prevention and control work, handling emergencies, and traffic congestion on inland waterways;

g) Strictly implement information and reporting systems for disaster prevention and control work in accordance with regulations;

h) Implement inspection and supervision plans for inland waterway transportation infrastructure and safe refuge areas within their jurisdiction in accordance with regulations; coordinate with relevant agencies and units to inspect and handle violations of laws on inland waterway transportation, especially during the rainy and flood season;

2. Regional Inland Waterway Port Services

a) Take the lead in coordinating and urging agencies, units, and enterprises within their jurisdiction to strictly comply with requirements for disaster prevention and control;

b) Organize the implementation of plans and schemes for disaster prevention and control work in accordance with regulations;

c) Establish and announce anchorage areas, prepare contingency plans for mobilizing resources to participate in disaster prevention and control work;

d) Timely organize the evacuation of vessels to safe anchorage areas before natural disasters hit the region;

đ) Refrain from granting permission for vessels to leave ports or wharfs if safety cannot be guaranteed; require ship captains, vessel drivers, or vessel owners to take emergency measures to ensure safety for people, vessels, and cargo;

e) Strictly implement reporting systems for disaster prevention and control work within their jurisdiction;

Article 11. Disaster prevention tasks for units and businesses maintaining regional inland waterways

1. Develop and implement disaster prevention and control tasks for the unit; carry out directives from managing agencies, units, and the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, and local levels;

2. Prepare work plans for disaster prevention and control; plans for maintenance and repair of inland waterway infrastructure that has been assigned tasks;

3. Have appropriate plans for each project when organizing construction, maintenance, and repairs before, during, and after the flood and storm seasons;

4. Inspect and adjust securing measures, recover markings; secure buildings and anchor vessels in safe positions, ready to respond to natural disasters;

5. Coordinate with agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular and enterprises operating inland waterway ports and wharfs to guide vessels to safe anchorage positions on inland waterways;

6. Coordinate with relevant agencies and units to disseminate information and promote disaster prevention and control, guiding people and vessels to evacuate to safe positions before natural disasters occur;

7. Prepare sufficient fuel, materials, equipment, and means, particularly traffic regulation and guidance equipment to ensure traffic flow, preventing drifting, and restoring inland waterway markings damaged by natural disasters.

Article 12. Tasks of transportation enterprises and port exploitation

1. Develop plans to prevent and combat natural disasters that are appropriate to the functions and tasks of the unit. When natural disasters occur, strictly implement the directives of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, locality, management agency, and inland waterway traffic disaster prevention and control task force, check and urge ship captains or vessel operators to moor their vessels at safe locations.

2. Closely coordinate with management agencies, inland waterway traffic disaster prevention and control task forces, maintenance enterprises of inland waterways, and local authorities in building and implementing plans to evacuate vessels operating on inland waterways within port waters and inland waterway wharfs to safe anchorage areas.

3. Implement the requirements of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, locality, management agency, and inland waterway traffic disaster prevention and control task force regarding the mobilization of tugboats with sufficient capacity to participate in disaster prevention and control and handling incidents on inland waterways and within port and inland waterway wharf waters.

4. Comply with requirements for reinforcing and securing vessels, cranes on piers as prescribed; install complete fendering systems for piers; apply necessary measures to counteract the adverse effects of natural disasters on pier structures and sedimentation in port and inland waterway wharf waters.

5. Strictly adhere to regulations concerning the protection of electrical system equipment serving port and inland waterway wharf operations.

6. Have safety protection plans for warehouse and yard systems, drainage systems within ports ensuring quick drainage and flood prevention; have plans to prevent and combat fires and explosions for warehouses storing flammable and explosive goods.

7. Motorized transport vehicles and cargo handling equipment must be assembled at designated locations.

Article 13. Tasks for Preventing Natural Disasters at Vessel Repair and New Construction Facilities

1. Vessels moored at factory piers must be securely moored or evacuated to safe mooring locations when natural disasters occur according to the requirements of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, locality, management agency, and inland waterway traffic disaster prevention and control task force.

2. For pedestal cranes and gantry cranes on piers, move them to safe positions and lock anti-disaster clutches at the pedestals.

3. For shipyards and floating dry docks

a) Reinforce and secure machinery, equipment, and vessels under repair in shipyards and floating dry docks. Take cover measures, close hatch covers to prevent rainwater from entering, and securely fasten vessels to the side pillars of shipyards and floating dry docks;

b) Lower cranes to the most stable position, firmly attach them to crane supports. Pedestal cranes must be moved to safe positions and anti-disaster clutches locked at the pedestals;

c) Close watertight doors between pump wells and shipyards, maintain continuous pumping to keep shipyards dry. Arrange personnel to operate pumps during the occurrence of natural disasters;

d) In case of natural disasters, floating dry docks should be sunk to the maximum level specified for technical safety and secured to concrete pillars using cables and chains attached to the side pillars.

4. Vessels undergoing repairs on shore or slipways must be reinforced with additional bases, securely fastened between the vehicle system and the shore or slipway surface, and incomplete parts must be fixed, welded, or securely fastened. Collect machinery and tools to designated locations and take cover measures against natural disasters.

PART 2. DISASTER RESPONSE

Article 14. Disaster Response Tasks

1. Based on forecasts, warnings, disaster risk levels, disaster developments, directives from the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, locality, management agencies, and units assigned with inland waterway traffic disaster prevention and control tasks within their assigned duties and powers, they shall be responsible for:

a) Issuing disaster alerts, issuing warnings, making urgent mobilization decisions, and implementing emergency measures to respond to disasters;

b) Ensuring uninterrupted communication in areas affected by disasters;

c) Promptly organizing and deploying forces and means to respond to disasters;

d) Immediately organizing search and rescue operations for victims, evacuating people from dangerous areas, salvaging and rescuing equipment and facilities, protecting state, collective, and people's property;

e) Organizing the implementation of measures to protect inland waterway infrastructure structures; rescuing vessels, equipment, and facilities for flood and storm prevention and control that are in trouble or at risk of causing disasters.

2. Immediately after typhoons weaken (winds below level 5), agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular must cooperate with enterprises to carry out the following tasks:

a) Conducting inspections of the technical condition of inland waterway traffic infrastructure; immediately implementing temporary restoration measures for signaling systems, routes, and important facilities damaged by disasters;

b) Adjusting tilted or fallen signal poles and buoys, retrieving buoys swept away by disasters, redeploying buoys previously collected before disasters according to water level regulations and hydrological conditions along routes;

c) Guiding staff and workers in the inland waterway sector and local residents to clean up the environment, prevent diseases in disaster-affected areas.

Article 15. Duty Roster for Disaster Prevention and Control

1. Duty Hours:

a) During the rainy season, on days without disasters, agencies and units organize duty shifts according to regular working hours;

b) On days with disasters or sudden floods, 24/7 duty shifts must be organized, divided into two shifts per day, including holidays and public holidays, with the following duty schedule:

First shift: From 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM;

Shift 2: From 19:00 to 07:00 the next morning.

c) In cases of tropical depression or typhoon, starting from 24 hours before the forecasted landfall, units and enterprises must organize duty shifts according to the provisions of point b of this clause within the affected areas based on the warning information from the Central Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting Center.

2. Stand-by personnel

a) The leadership of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration and some assigned officers to perform disaster prevention and control tasks;

b) The leadership of agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular, enterprises, and functional department staff to monitor and implement disaster prevention and control work.

3. The duty roster is assigned by the leadership of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration or the head of the agency, unit, or enterprise.

4. Specific duties of the duty shift.

a) Understanding weather conditions and disaster situations through directives from the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control and Search and Rescue at the ministry, sector, and locality, and through mass media; receiving reports from grassroots units and updating rescue situations within the unit's management scope;

b) Analyzing and issuing directives for grassroots units to implement disaster prevention and control measures and rescue operations;

c) Reporting and conveying superior instructions to relevant units and individuals;

c) Reporting disaster developments, preliminary damage assessments, and rescue operations within the unit's management scope; proposing recommendations to superiors regarding handling measures.

5. Regulations for personnel on duty for disaster prevention and control are implemented in accordance with the law.

Article 16. Handling situations when natural disasters occur

1. When natural disasters occur, leaders of agencies, units managing and implementing inland waterway traffic disaster prevention and control tasks, and enterprises must proactively manage their organizational operations to implement prepared plans and select appropriate solutions to handle incidents, ensuring maximum effectiveness.

2. Adhere to the principle of "four on-site" (forces, equipment, logistics, and command); closely coordinate with local disaster prevention and control forces to cooperate in implementation.

3. In cases of serious incidents exceeding the human resources, materials, and equipment capacity of the unit, reports must be quickly submitted to higher authorities for mobilization instructions and notification to relevant agencies and units for support to minimize losses caused by natural disasters.

4. Immediately mobilize emergency forces, equipment, and transportation means to rescue people, assets, vessels, and structures in the affected area.

5. Ensure smooth information flow, direct guidance and management by agencies and units over subordinate units; compile and report promptly on the development of natural disasters, incidents, and damages to higher-level agencies according to regulations.

Section 3. REMEDYING CONSEQUENCES OF NATURAL DISASTERS

Article 17. General tasks of agencies, units managing and implementing disaster prevention and control tasks and enterprises in remedying consequences of natural disasters

1. Organize the rescue of people, property, vessels, and equipment.

2. Promptly repair inland waterway transportation infrastructure structures; equipment and transport means, ensuring safe and smooth transportation. Repair construction equipment and implement measures to restore production.

3. Inspect, tally, and establish files confirming damage; report to immediate superiors.

4. Implement environmental sanitation, pollution prevention, disease control, and participate in supporting and stabilizing the lives of residents in disaster-stricken areas.

5. Compile damage data, confirmations from related agencies, and report to superiors according to regulations; prepare technical files and budget estimates for remedying disaster consequences and search and rescue operations, submit for approval by competent authorities.

6. Organize the implementation of disaster consequence remediation according to approved plans; conduct settlement and final accounting of disaster consequence remediation costs according to regulations.

Article 18. Contents Ensuring Transportation During Disaster Consequence Remediation

1. Disaster consequence remediation, ensuring transportation phase 1 (emergency repair work): involves repairing damaged inland waterway transportation infrastructure structures, handling traffic congestion immediately after natural disasters weaken or weather returns to normal, selected by competent state management agencies for inland waterway transportation according to regulations, aiming to restore uninterrupted and safe transportation operations as quickly as possible, including the following contents:

a) Repairing damage to inland waterway navigation signal systems;

b) Repairing damage to traffic guidance and management equipment for inland waterways (water level gauges, vessel counters, communication devices or stations for inland waterway traffic);

c) Initial handling of incident structures, sunken vessels, newly formed shoals, obstructions, temporarily securing channels to ensure safe vessel passage.

2. Disaster consequence remediation, ensuring transportation phase 2: occurs after completing phase 1 disaster consequence remediation and transportation assurance work or where phase 1 damage has not been remedied, maintenance units for inland waterway structures cooperate with agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular to comprehensively re-evaluate damage to infrastructure structures affected by natural disasters according to pre-disaster standards. Based on evaluation results, these agencies and units assess and submit for consideration by competent authorities. If restoration or upgrading of structures to pre-disaster standards is required, investment procedures are conducted according to current regulations.

Article 19. Construction items to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters and ensure traffic phase 1

1. The agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular, the unit responsible for maintaining inland waterway works, or enterprises investing in construction and managing, operating inland waterway works shall coordinate with the People's Committee of the commune where damage occurred to establish a site record confirming the location, extent of damage, volume of work, and agree on the remediation plan for damages caused by natural disasters according to Appendix 1, Appendix 2, and Appendix 3 of this Circular. Representatives of participating agencies and units must bear legal responsibility for the authenticity of the damage and losses caused by natural disasters and the volume of work confirmed.

2. Remediation and handling of traffic congestion.

a) Deploying forces and equipment to regulate and control traffic safety in the area;

b) Organizing temporary traffic clearance construction to ensure safety while reporting in writing the remediated works to the Direct Management Flood Control and Search and Rescue Command;

c) Organizing surveys, appraisals, approving design files, estimates, or technical solutions and remediation construction plans; directing and supervising the implementation of traffic phase 1 assurance construction items.

3. Organization of remediation of the consequences of natural disasters affecting inland waterway transportation infrastructure

a) Damaged signaling systems, the assigned construction unit shall repair or produce and install additional signaling systems based on standardized signaling design drawings to ensure safe operation of vessels on the route and cooperate with the agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular when preparing the project documentation for disaster aftermath remediation according to regulations;

b) Damaged navigation guidance and management equipment (water level gauges, vessel counters, inland waterway traffic signal stations), the assigned construction unit shall repair or replace them to ensure timely updates of traffic activity data and communication information and cooperate with the agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular when preparing the project documentation for disaster aftermath remediation according to regulations;

c) In cases of engineering accidents, sunken vessels, emergence of shoals, obstructions limiting ship channels according to regulations, the assigned construction unit shall implement measures to organize traffic regulation and control to ensure safe passage and prevent drifting collisions. In case of channel blockage, the competent state management authority for inland waterway traffic directly directs and manages the mobilization of subordinate units, and organizes the selection of design, construction, and supervision units according to regulations to ensure safe vessel passage.

Article 20. Authority to organize implementation and approve disaster aftermath remediation documentation and ensure traffic phase 1

1. The Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration approves disaster aftermath remediation documentation for national inland waterway routes based on the submitted documentation from the agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular. The submitted documentation includes:

a) A request for approval of disaster aftermath remediation documentation;

b) An explanation of the disaster aftermath mitigation plan;

c) All telegrams, documents, orders from competent authorities related to disaster prevention and control for transportation infrastructure;

d) A quick report on the situation of damage caused by natural disasters accompanied by photographs of damaged works locations;

đ) Volume of traffic regulation and control work already implemented for traffic congestion remediation and handling (if applicable);

e) Budget estimate for disaster aftermath remediation work and ensuring traffic phase 1, accompanied by detailed calculation explanations;

g) Inspection or survey reports with detailed lists and damage assessments regarding technical aspects, volume, proposed remediation plans, and schedules, with confirmation from representatives of agencies and units as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 19 of this Circular;

h) Technical construction design drawings. For signaling systems, use standardized design drawings showing quantities.

2. Provincial People's Committees decide on the organization and approval of disaster aftermath remediation documentation for local inland waterway routes.

3. Organizations and individuals with works operating on inland waterways shall organize disaster aftermath remediation according to the law.

Chapter IV
REPORT ON DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL WORK

Article 21. Report on Plan and Summary of Disaster Prevention and Control Work

1. Agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular shall report to the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration at the following times:

a) Develop disaster prevention and control plans before April 15 each year;

2. The Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration shall compile and report to the Ministry of Transport at the following times:

a) Develop disaster prevention and control plans before April 30 each year;

Article 22. Methods for Reporting Emergency Response Actions and Damage Caused by Disasters

1. Urgent reports: shall be carried out before, during, and after disasters make landfall or when there are urgent flood warnings, flash floods, landslides, and other serious incidents.

a) Before the disaster, organizations and individuals submit reports on disaster preparation activities, the status of vessels (total number of vessels, number of crew members, passenger arrangements for passenger-carrying vessels, anchorage arrangements for vessels), according to specific timeframes and contents as follows:

At least 36 hours prior, inland waterway transport enterprises; port and inland waterway wharf management and operation entities; units responsible for maintaining inland waterways must submit reports to agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular;

At least 30 hours prior, agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular shall compile and report to the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration, including basic information: vessel conditions; infrastructure protection efforts; personnel on duty; disaster response forces, equipment; measures and guidance provided to agencies, units, organizations, and individuals in disaster prevention and control work;

At least 24 hours prior, the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration shall compile and report to the Ministry of Transport.

b) During the disaster, reports on the development of the disaster and serious incidents (initial casualties, damage to vessels, houses, structures, inland waterway transportation infrastructure), specifically as follows:

Agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular shall maintain 24/7 readiness, reporting once daily or twice daily (before 8 AM and 4 PM) for winds of Force 10 or higher to the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration. In case of serious incidents, immediate reports must be made to relevant authorities for instructions and handling;

The Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration shall maintain 24/7 readiness, sending daily reports to the Ministry of Transport; in case of serious incidents, immediate reports must be made in accordance with regulations.

c) Reporting methods: before, during, and after the disaster, reports shall be sent via telegrams, letters, fax, or email to ensure timeliness, and formal documents shall be sent through postal services.

2. Reports on Damage Situations

a) Quick reports

During the disaster and immediately upon its conclusion, agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular shall directly inspect or gather information from related units, agencies, organizations, and individuals within their jurisdiction to report preliminary damage caused by the disaster to the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration for compilation and reporting to the Ministry of Transport. Reporting mechanisms include telephone calls, fax, or email;

Content of the report: situation of waterways and channels, casualties, damage to means of transport, inland waterway transportation infrastructure, and other infrastructure on inland waterways (if applicable).

b) Detailed reports

Within three days after the end of the disaster, agencies and units specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular shall organize inspections, classify, and accurately assess damage and report to the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration for compilation and reporting to the Ministry of Transport;

The report shall fully describe the development of the disaster, command and control actions, damage assessment, costs of disaster aftermath recovery, and recommendations (if any).

Chapter V
MANAGEMENT AND USE OF FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION WORK
NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Article 23. Sources of funds for natural disaster prevention and control work

1. The state budget shall ensure the funding for inland waterway economic public services in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Assistance funds from organizations and individuals both within and outside the country when natural disasters occur; other lawful sources of capital as prescribed by law.

3. Funds from contracts to purchase insurance for construction projects.

4. Sources from enterprises investing in and managing inland waterway works.

Article 24. Management and use of funds for natural disaster prevention and control in inland waterway traffic

1. The funds allocated for natural disaster prevention and control work for the inland waterway sector shall be managed, utilized, settled, and finalized according to the regulations.

2. The People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities shall decide on the management and use of funds for natural disaster prevention and control for local inland waterway systems in accordance with the regulations. Chapter VI IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 25. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from May 15, 2018, and replaces Circular No. 37/2010/TT-BGTVT dated December 1, 2010, issued by the Minister of Transport regarding flood, storm prevention, aftermath mitigation, and emergency response to natural disasters in the field of inland waterways.

Article 26. Implementation

1. Departments of Transport of provinces and centrally governed cities shall implement natural disaster prevention and control and search and rescue operations on local inland waterway routes based on their functions and responsibilities and the provisions of this Circular.

2. The Director of the Ministry’s Office, the Director of the Ministry’s Inspectorate, the Heads of relevant Departments, the Director of the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration, and the heads of related agencies, organizations, and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Circular./.