Circular No. 35/2012/TT-BGTVT on the installation of kilometer-place name signs and the method of recording symbols and serial numbers on inland waterway navigation signs

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the installation of kilometer-place markers and the recording of symbols

 and serial numbers on inland waterway navigation signs and the numbering on inland waterway navigation signs

Pursuant to the Law on Inland Waterway Traffic dated June 15, 2004;

Pursuant to Decree No. 51/2008/NĐ-CP dated April 22, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Infrastructure Department and the Director of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration;

The Minister of Transport issues this Circular to regulate the installation of kilometer-place markers and the recording of symbols and serial numbers on inland waterway navigation signs.

 

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the installation of kilometer-place markers and the recording of symbols and serial numbers on inland waterway navigation signs.

This Circular applies to agencies and organizations related to the management and maintenance of inland waterways.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Recording symbols and serial numbers on inland waterway navigation signs means marking symbols and serial numbers on signs according to agreed conventions for monitoring and management purposes.

2. A kilometer-place marker on an inland waterway route indicates the distance from the place name on the sign to the starting point (km0) of the inland waterway route according to agreed conventions.

3. The centerline of the channel is a straight or smooth curved line connecting the midpoints of the channel.

4. Low tide level is the lowest position of sea level during tidal cycles.

5. Upstream refers to the upper part of rivers, canals, creeks, and hydroelectric reservoirs.

6. Downstream refers to the lower part of rivers, canals, creeks, and hydroelectric reservoirs.

 

Chapter II

PRINCIPLES FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF INSTALLATION OF KILOMETER-PLACE MARKERS AND RECORDING SYMBOLS AND SERIAL NUMBERS ON SIGNS

KILOMETER-PLACE MARKERS AND RECORDING SYMBOLS AND SERIAL NUMBERS ON SIGNSSIGNALING

INLAND WATERWAYS

 

Article 4. Principles for determining the location of installation of kilometer-place markers

1. The direction for determining the number of kilometers on kilometer-place markers shall be carried out as follows:

a) For inland waterways on rivers, canals, and lakes in the direction from downstream to upstream (from the river mouth to the sea, from small river mouths to large rivers upstream) or from East to West;

b) For inland waterways along bays, coastal areas, lagoons, and estuaries in the direction from North to South;

c) For inland waterways from the shore to islands in the direction from land to islands and connecting between islands from North to South.

a) For inland waterways on rivers flowing directly into the sea:

- The starting point is the intersection between the channel centerline and the line connecting the farthest points of both banks of the river mouth at low tide;

- The endpoint is the intersection between the channel centerline and the outer edge of the port or inland waterway terminal, or it is the intersection between the channel centerline and the last cross-section of the river upstream of the inland waterway route.

b) For inland waterways on small rivers flowing into larger rivers:

- The starting point of the route is the intersection between two or more channel centerlines;

- The endpoint of the route is determined according to the provisions of point a of this clause;

c) For inland waterways on canals:

The starting point and endpoint are the intersections between two or more channel centerlines at the beginning or end of the canal;

d) For inland waterways on hydroelectric reservoirs:

- The starting point is the outer edge of the port or inland waterway terminal downstream; if there is no port or inland waterway terminal, the starting point is the outer edge of the protected zone of the dam and hydroelectric power plant;

- The endpoint is the outer edge of the last port or inland waterway terminal upstream or it is the intersection between the channel centerline and the last cross-section of the river upstream of the inland waterway route;

- For branch routes of inland waterways: The starting point is the intersection between two channel centerlines and the endpoint is determined as provided in point a of this clause.

e) For inland waterways on bays, coastal areas, lagoons, estuaries, routes to islands, and connections between islands:

- The starting point is the outer edge of the port or inland waterway terminal on land or on islands;

- The endpoint is the outer edge of the port or inland waterway terminal on land or on islands; if there is no port or inland waterway terminal, the endpoint is the low tide level adjacent to the shore.

Article 5. Principles for recording symbols and serial numbers of inland waterway navigation aids on shore

1. Recording symbols and serial numbers include two groups:

a) Group of inland waterway route symbols;

b) Group of letters and numbers indicating the type of navigation aid and serial number.

2. Recording symbols of inland waterway routes shall include abbreviations of types of inland waterways and three digits from 001 to 999 following the letters. The abbreviations of types of inland waterways are defined as follows:

a) National inland waterways are abbreviated as QG;

b) Special-purpose inland waterways are abbreviated as CD;

c) Local inland waterways are abbreviated using the initials of the province or centrally-administered city's name as stipulated in Clause 2, Appendix I of this Circular.

3. Recording letters and numbers indicating the type of navigation aid and serial number.

a) The letter indicating the type of shore-based navigation aid is B;

b) Serial numbers are recorded consecutively from number 001 to the end of the serial numbers (including shore-based, underwater, and bridge navigation aids) on a published inland waterway route;

c) The length of recording serial numbers of inland waterway navigation aids is specified in Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular;

d) Left-bank navigation aids are recorded with odd numbers starting from 001 and increasing towards the endpoint of the inland waterway route;

đ) Right-bank navigation aids are recorded with even numbers starting from 002 and increasing towards the endpoint of the inland waterway route;

e) In cases of supplementing navigation aids, supplementary serial numbers are recorded following the adjacent preceding navigation aid and adding suffixes (.1), (.2), etc., at the end;

g) When recalling a navigation aid, the serial number is left blank without changing the remaining serial numbers.

5. Symbols of special-purpose inland waterway routes are specified in Clause 3, Appendix I of this Circular.

Article 6. Principles for recording symbols and serial numbers of underwater navigation aids

1. Principles for recording symbols and serial numbers of underwater navigation aids include two groups as stipulated in Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 5 of this Circular and Clauses 2, 3, and 4 of this Article.

2. Recording letters and numbers indicating the type of navigation aid and serial number.

a) The letter indicating channel limit buoys, two-channel buoys is P; channel centerline buoy is PT;

b) Serial numbers consist of three digits, numbered consecutively following the preceding navigation aid, right-bank buoys are numbered with even numbers, left-bank buoys are numbered with odd numbers.

3. Buoy number 0, P0, is installed at the river mouth or canal outlet to the sea.

4. In cases of supplementing or recalling navigation aids, they are implemented according to the provisions of point e and g, Clause 3, Article 5 of this Circular.

Article 7. Principles for recording symbols and serial numbers of bridge and vessel passage navigation aids

1. Principles for recording symbols and serial numbers of bridge and vessel passage navigation aids are specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 5 of this Circular and Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article.

2. Recording letters and numbers indicating the type of navigation aid and serial number.

a) The letter indicating bridge navigation aid is C; marking vessel passage navigation aid is CT;

b) Serial numbers consist of three digits:

- Bridge navigation aid serial numbers are numbered consecutively following the preceding navigation aid, right-bank serial numbers are even, left-bank serial numbers are odd.

- Vessel passage navigation aid serial numbers are numbered consecutively following the preceding navigation aid. In cases of two or more vessel passages, serial numbers are evenly distributed between both banks, right-bank serial numbers are even, left-bank serial numbers are odd.

3. In cases of supplementing or recalling navigation aids, they are implemented according to the provisions of point e and g, Clause 3, Article 5 of this Circular.

 

Chapter III
INSTALLATION LOCATION AND RECORDING OF SYMBOLS,

SERIAL NUMBERS ON INLAND WATERWAY NAVIGATION AIDS

 

Article 8. Location and specifications for kilometer-name signage

1. The location for installing kilometer-name signage at the starting point, ending point, and town, city, provincial city areas. Each location shall only have one sign installed at the most visible spot.

a) The background color of the sign is blue.

b) The text on the sign, which includes the name of the inland waterway, place name, and kilometer number, is painted white with specific dimensions as detailed in Appendix II of this Circular.

Article 9. Position for marking symbols and serial numbers on signage

1. For underwater signage, the symbol is marked in the middle part of the buoy.

2. For shoreline signage, the symbol is marked from two-thirds of the height of the pole downwards. In cases where multiple signs are installed on the same pole, the symbols and serial numbers are marked from top to bottom according to the installation sequence of the signs.

3. For bridge signage, the symbol is marked on the auxiliary sign, which is placed below the main sign.

4. Specifications for marking symbols and serial numbers on signage are stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular.

Article 10. Method of marking symbols and serial numbers on signage

1. The first line marks the symbol of the inland waterway route as specified in Clause 2, Article 5 of this Circular.

2. The second line marks the symbol and serial number of the signage as specified in Clause 3, Article 5; Clause 2, Article 6; and Clause 2, Article 7 of this Circular.

3. The symbol and serial number are written in white paint with the size specified in Appendix III of this Circular.

 

Chapter IV
IMPLEMENTATION

 

Article 11. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2013.

Article 12. Implementation Organization

1. Based on Clause 2, Article 5 of this Circular, the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities shall specify the symbols for local inland waterway routes within their jurisdiction.

2. The Director of the Office of the Ministry, the Inspector General of the Ministry, the Heads of Departments under the Ministry, the Director of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, the Directors of Provincial Departments of Transport under centrally governed cities, and the Heads of relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular./.