Directive No. 186/1999/CT-BGTVT On Enhancing the Responsibility of Ship Masters in Navigating Vessels Through Bridges and High-Voltage Power Lines Across Rivers

DIRECTIVE

On Enhancing the Responsibility of Ship Captains in Directing Watercraft Through Bridges and High-Voltage Power Lines Across Rivers

phương tiện thủy qua cầu và đường dây điện qua sông ||| vessels passing through bridges and power lines crossing rivers

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Due to the need for national economic development, there are increasingly more river-crossing projects such as bridges and high-voltage power lines being constructed on inland waterway routes. Among the existing river-crossing structures, many bridges have spans and clearances that do not meet technical standards, and many high-voltage power lines do not ensure safe heights. Additionally, many inland watercraft operators do not strictly adhere to navigation rules when passing through these structures, and many ship captains do not fully fulfill their responsibilities in commanding and directing vessels. These situations have affected the order and safety of inland waterway traffic. In reality, several incidents involving watercraft colliding with structures, causing significant damage to both the vessels and the structures, have occurred recently.

To ensure the order and safety of inland waterway traffic and protect river-crossing bridges and power lines, the Ministry of Transport requests that vessel owners educate their ship captains to enhance their sense of responsibility and professional competence. When directing vessels through river-crossing structures, in addition to fulfilling their duties as prescribed and complying with current inland waterway traffic regulations, ship captains must implement the following contents:

1. Before departure, the ship captain must understand and grasp the characteristics of the waterway route, bridges, and high-voltage power lines crossing the river on the route to develop a safe operation plan, specifically as follows:

a - For bridges crossing rivers:

- The position, width, and height clearance of the navigable span;

- The flow characteristics at the bridge area and within the navigable span;

- Other factors related to directing vessels through the bridge.

b - For high-voltage power lines crossing rivers, attention must be paid to the vertical distance from the highest point of the vessel to the lowest point of the power line, corresponding to the water level when the vessel passes through, which must not be less than the current regulation regarding the protection of high-voltage power lines.

Based on the above data, the ship captain shall establish a voyage plan including: The assembly configuration plan, specific assignments for each crew member, operational procedures for each crew member... when passing through the structure.

The ship captain must personally inspect safety equipment such as the steering system, anchors, booms, fenders... before departure and especially pay attention when passing through structures in areas affected by tides.

2 - At night, vessels may only pass through bridges when the navigable span has sufficient signal lights as required.

3 - Before directing the vessel through the structure, particularly when passing through a bridge, the ship captain must check and arrange crew members to be stationed at necessary positions, prepare anti-collision equipment according to the established plan.

Only when all channel conditions, hydrology, weather, technical parameters of the structure and the vessel ensure full safety conditions can the vessel be directed through the structure. If there is any doubt, the ship captain must stop the vessel to investigate and seek guidance from the river management station.

4 - During the time the vessel passes through the structure, the ship captain must be present in the control room to handle any necessary situations.

The vessel must reduce speed to the necessary extent to maintain control over the vessel. When passing through a bridge, the vessel must stay within the permitted navigable span.

5 - During flood season, when the water flow is strong, vessel convoys must stop and find safe anchorage locations. While waiting to be guided through the bridge, barges must be securely moored and personnel must be arranged to monitor the vessel to prevent it from drifting and colliding with structures. If multiple convoys are preparing to pass through the bridge, they should cooperate and support each other, passing through the bridge sequentially.

For bridges with traffic control stations managed by river authorities, ship captains must strictly follow the guidance of the station.

6 - Strictly prohibited:

- Tying vessels to the bridge piers and anchoring within the protected area of the structure.

- Passing side-by-side or overtaking each other when going through the navigable span of the bridge.

Upon receipt of this Directive, directors of provincial Departments of Transport, Departments of Transport and Public Works, and Vietnam River Transport Corporations are requested to organize for enterprises and vessel owners under their jurisdiction or subordinate units to thoroughly understand the contents of this Directive and disseminate it to each ship captain and crew member of their units for implementation.

Traffic inspection forces under the Vietnam River Transport Administration, provincial Departments of Transport, and Departments of Transport and Public Works need to strengthen publicity, inspection, and strict handling of violations. Any issues arising during implementation should be reported by provincial Departments of Transport and Departments of Transport and Public Works to the Vietnam River Transport Administration for timely resolution by the Ministry of Transport./.