Decision No. 1431/1999/QĐ-BGTVT On the Placement and Management of Inland Waterway Traffic Signs in the Navigation Holes of Overhead River Bridges

DECISION

On the placement and management of inland waterway navigation signals

at the navigable openings of overhead river bridges
____________________

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION

Pursuant to the Traffic Works Protection Ordinance dated December 2, 1994 of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 22/CP dated March 22, 1994 on the functions, tasks, powers, responsibilities for state management, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Pursuant to the Government Decrees No. 40/CP dated July 5, 1996 and No. 77/1998/NĐ-CP dated September 26, 1998 on ensuring traffic order and safety on inland waterways;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Legal Affairs Department under the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration;

DECISION:

Article 1. The following regulations are hereby issued regarding the placement and management of inland waterway navigation signals at the navigable openings of overhead river bridges:

1. When constructing new overhead river bridges, the bridge construction project owner shall be responsible for clearing obstructions from the riverbed after construction and installing inland waterway navigation signals at the navigable openings (hereinafter referred to as "navigation signals") according to the guidance of the inland waterway management unit.

Upon acceptance and commissioning of the bridge, the bridge construction project owner shall be responsible for handing over the navigation signals and documentation of the clearance of obstructions from the riverbed within the bridge protection zone to the inland waterway management unit for management.

2. For existing bridges that have not been equipped with or have insufficient navigation signals as required due to historical reasons, the inland waterway management unit shall be responsible for supplementarily installing and managing the navigation signals. The bridge management unit shall cooperate and facilitate the installation and management of navigation signals by the inland waterway management unit.

3. In cases where the ship channel changes and requires relocation of the navigable opening, the inland waterway management unit shall notify the bridge management unit in writing. The bridge management unit shall be responsible for cooperating and providing all necessary conditions for the timely relocation of navigation signals by the inland waterway management unit.

4. Responsibilities of inland waterway management agencies are stipulated as follows:

a) The inland waterway management units under the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration shall implement this regulation for bridges on inland waterway routes directly managed by the central government.

b) The inland waterway management units under the Departments of Transport and Departments of Transport Infrastructure shall implement this regulation for bridges on remaining inland waterway routes.

Article 2. The Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, the Vietnam Highway Administration, the Vietnam Railway Association, and the Departments of Transport and Departments of Transport Infrastructure shall conduct comprehensive inspections and reviews of all bridges and signal systems on bridges, obstructions in the riverbeds within the bridge protection zones under their respective jurisdictions, develop plans for the installation and management of navigation signals, and clearance of obstructions (including old bridges no longer in use) in accordance with Article 1 of this Decision, and submit these plans to the Ministry of Transport and the People's Committees of provinces for budget allocation according to annual plans.

Article 3. This Decision regulates the division of responsibilities for the installation and maintenance of navigation signals for overhead river bridges between the Inland Waterways sector and the Road and Rail sectors and takes effect fifteen days after its issuance date. The installation and maintenance of navigation signals for other works and obstructions shall continue to be implemented in accordance with Decision No. 1538/QĐ-KHKT dated August 3, 1992 of the Ministry of Transport.

Article 4. The Heads of the Ministry's Office, Directors of the Legal Affairs Department, Planning and Investment Department, Finance and Accounting Department, Directors of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, Vietnam Highway Administration, General Directors of the Vietnam Railway Association, Directors of the Departments of Transport and Departments of Transport Infrastructure, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decision./.