Decision No. 16/2000/QĐ-TTg On approving the Master Plan for the Development of the Inland Waterway Transport Industry in Vietnam until 2020

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the Overall Master Plan for the Development of the Construction Materials Industry in Vietnam until 2010

inland waterway transport sector of Vietnam until 2020

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Considering the proposal of the Ministry of Transport (report No. 2856/GTVT-KHĐT dated August 21, 1999) and the review opinion of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (letter No. 8098/BKH-VPTĐ dated December 13, 1999),

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the "Master Plan for the Development of Inland Waterway Transport Sector of Vietnam until 2020" with the main contents as follows:

1. Planning objectives

a) The master plan for the development of inland waterway transport until 2020 serves as the basis for investment in building and developing a rational and unified inland waterway transport network throughout the country, with appropriate scale for each territorial area, forming infrastructure and service centers for inland waterway transport, creating conditions to exploit existing potential and enhance the capacity of the inland waterway transport sector.

Gradually build the inland waterway transport sector of Vietnam to develop synchronously and modernly in terms of routes, ports, transportation means, and loading/unloading equipment to meet the increasing demand for cargo and passenger transport with high quality, reasonable cost, speed, and safety.

b) Meet the requirements for industrialization and modernization of the inland waterway transport sector based on leveraging internal resources, investing with focus and priority through all sources of capital to ensure sustainable development, strengthen management system capacity, expand service provision activities, ensure traffic safety, and enhance and improve the existing economic and technical advantages of the sector.

2. Contents and scale of key factors in the planning

a) Inland waterway transport accounts for 25-30% in tonnage and Tkm, and 10-15% in passengers and passenger-Km in the total volume of transport of the entire transport sector.

b) Vigorously develop the fleet of inland vessels towards diversity with a reasonable structure, but focusing on developing self-propelled vessels, container ships, fast passenger ships, etc., applying advanced technologies in transport and new shipbuilding to increase the speed of transport vehicles to 10-12 km/h for tug-and-barge units, and 20 km/h for self-propelled vessels.

c) Construct regional hub ports and port clusters such as the Ninh Binh-Ninh Phuc cluster, the Hanoi-Kien Luong cluster, the Ho Chi Minh City cluster, Viet Tri port, Hoa Binh port, Da Phuc port, Cao Lanh port, Long Xuyen port, Vinh Long port, Ca Mau port. Gradually equip these ports with modern loading/unloading equipment so that they have the capacity to fulfill the task of transferring goods for the region and intermodal transport between inland waterways and roads and railways. The expected capacity of port clusters and regional hub ports is detailed in Appendix 1 attached to this Decision.

d) Construct at least one port or wharf equipped with suitable loading/unloading equipment in each province (mainly in the South) to serve the collection of goods.

đ) Focus on upgrading and renovating major routes, with emphasis on implementing the following routes:

+ Routes meeting Class 1 standards: Cay Dai - Ninh Binh, Lac Giang - Hanoi, Song Tien, Song Hau;

+ Routes meeting Class 2 standards: from Viet Tri, Hanoi, Ninh Binh to Hai Phong, Quang Ninh via Song Duong and Song Luc;

+ Routes meeting Class 3 standards: from Ho Chi Minh City to Ca Mau (via Xa No canal), to Kien Luong (via Rach Gia canal and Thap Muoi Tuc Giao Long Xuyen canal);

+ Other routes utilizing natural conditions combined with channel improvement to meet Class 3 or Class 4 river route standards.

e) Modernize the inland waterway signaling system in accordance with regional and international standards.

g) Invest in building infrastructure for new and repaired inland vessels, pilots, port authorities, salvage and rescue services along the Red River Delta and Mekong Delta.

Article 2. Regarding investment to meet the development needs according to the approved planning.

a) The Ministry of Transport shall submit medium-term and long-term specific projects to the Prime Minister along with recommendations on funding sources, policies for mobilizing and using capital for each project, and resources to meet the requirements for industrialization, modernization, ensuring growth and sustainable development of the inland waterway transport sector of Vietnam.

b) The capital investment requirement for priority projects until 2005 is VND 2,239 trillion (domestic capital: VND 830 trillion, foreign capital: VND 1,409 trillion). Details are recorded in Appendix 2 attached to this Decision.

Article 3. Management and implementation of the planning.

a) The Ministry of Transport is responsible before the Prime Minister for managing and implementing the Master Plan for the Development of Inland Waterway Transport Sector of Vietnam until 2020, and performs the following tasks:

- Approving regional development plans for inland waterways in line with the approved overall master plan;

- Submitting to the Prime Minister for approval any adjustments or supplements to the overall master plan after reaching consensus with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities;

- Submitting to the Prime Minister for decision or deciding on specific project investments in line with the approved overall master plan according to current regulations on investment and construction management;

- Leading the study and formulation of mechanisms and policies to create investment capital for developing infrastructure, vessel fleets, loading/unloading equipment, and enhancing the management capacity of the inland waterway transport sector, to be submitted to the Government for approval;

- Cooperating with relevant agencies and related localities to propose usage and strict management of land funds and water surface areas according to current laws to meet the requirements for developing port systems, infrastructure, and enhancing the transport capacity of the inland waterway transport sector as per the approved planning.

b) The Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration is responsible for managing and operating infrastructure facilities and inland waterway exploitation services according to the approved planning and current regulations.

Article 4. This Decision takes effect 15 days from the date of issuance.

Article 5. The Minister of Transport, the Minister of Planning and Investment, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, the Director of the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration, and chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city people's committees related to this Decision are responsible for its implementation.