Circular No. 38/2025/TT-BXD on the mechanism and policies for managing the price of inland waterway vessel inspection services

CIRCULAR

Regulations on mechanisms and policies for managing prices of inland waterway vessel inspection services

On the basis of Law on Prices dated June 19, 2023;

On the basis of The Inland Waterway Traffic Law dated June 15, 2004 amended and supplemented by Law No. 48/2014/QH13 dated June 17, 2014;

Decree No. Decree No. 85/2024/NĐ-CP dated July 10, 2024 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Prices;

Decree No. Decree No. 33/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 25, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Construction;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Planning and Finance and the Director of the Vietnam Inspection Agency;

The Minister of Construction issues this Circular to regulate mechanisms and policies for managing prices of inland waterway vessel inspection services.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. Scope of Regulation: This Circular regulates mechanisms and policies for managing prices of inland waterway vessel inspection services (excluding inland waterway vessels for national defense, security purposes and fishing boats) within the service of inspecting transport vehicles.

Article 2. Applicability: This Circular applies to state agencies, inspection units, organizations, and individuals related to the provision and use of inland waterway vessel inspection services.

Article 2. Unit of Price Calculation for Inspection Services Based on Time of Work Execution

Clause 1. Daywork is the unit of price calculation for inspection services based on time of work execution.

Clause 2. The time of work execution is calculated from the moment the inspector arrives at the site to conduct the inspection until the moment they leave the site, confirmed by each representative of the organization or individual using the inland waterway vessel inspection service (hereinafter referred to as the customer) for each inspection conducted by the inspector at the site.

Clause 3. Principles for Determining the Number of Dayworks for Price Calculation

Point a. Daywork is calculated according to each inspection conducted by the inspector at the site.

Point b. The minimum time for calculating the price of inspection services per work session is 0.5 daywork. If the work time exceeds four hours, it will be calculated as follows: additional time under two hours is counted as 0.25 daywork; if the additional time is between two and four hours, it is counted as 0.5 daywork.

Clause 4. In cases where inspection services require multiple inspections at the site, the price of inspection services is calculated based on the total number of dayworks determined according to Clause 3 of this Article.

Clause 5. The travel time of inspectors from the inspection service provider to the site and back, waiting time for conducting inspection services, and time spent preparing inspection records are not included in the work execution time for price calculation.

Article 3. Principles for Determining Prices

Clause 1. Specific service inspection prices for inland waterway vessels set by the inspection service provider shall not exceed the maximum price of inland waterway vessel inspection services as decided by the Minister of Construction.

Clause 2. The maximum price and specific service inspection prices for inland waterway vessels do not include: value-added tax; fee for issuing certificates; accommodation, travel, communication costs, overtime pay, and holiday pay for inspectors as stipulated to perform inspection services.

Clause 3. The inspection service provider may collect actual incurred accommodation, travel, communication costs, overtime pay, and holiday pay for inspectors performing inspection services in accordance with current regulations.

Clause 4. Value-added tax and certificate issuance fees are collected in accordance with current laws.

Clause 5. In cases where periodic inspections of inland waterway vessels fail to meet standards after two inspections, the inspection service provider collects the specific price of periodic inspection services as listed and additionally charges the specific price of irregular inspection services when continuing to inspect non-compliant items from the third inspection onwards.

Clause 6. In cases where the inspector has arrived at the site for inspection upon request but the customer cancels the inspection or safety conditions are not met as required for inspection, the customer must pay the costs as stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article.

Clause 7. When the inspection service provider conducts annual inspection services and dockside inspections simultaneously for the same vessel, the provider may charge 100% of the specific price of annual inspection services and 50% of the specific price of dockside inspection services.

Clause 8. The specific price of design documentation review services for new construction and modification of products from the second unit onwards in the same batch of similar products reviewed at the same location is calculated at 30% of the specific price of design documentation review services for new construction and modification listed by the inspection service provider.

Clause 9. The specific price of design documentation review services for new construction, conversion, file preparation, modification, and standardized model for vessels carrying two levels is calculated at 130% of the specific price of design documentation review services for new construction, conversion, file preparation, modification, and standardized model listed by the inspection service provider.

Clause 10. The specific price of design documentation review services for new construction, conversion, file preparation, modification, and standardized model for vessels carrying three levels is calculated at 160% of the specific price of design documentation review services for new construction, conversion, file preparation, modification, and standardized model listed by the inspection service provider.

Clause 11. The specific price of design documentation review services for new construction, conversion, file preparation, modification, and standardized model for vessels carrying four levels is calculated at 190% of the specific price of design documentation review services for new construction, conversion, file preparation, modification, and standardized model listed by the inspection service provider.

Clause 12. In cases where customers request inland waterway vessel inspection services on days off as prescribed by law, the inspection service provider may charge additional wages for inspectors corresponding to the actual working time confirmed by the customer.

Article 4. Responsibilities for Implementation

1. The Vietnam Inspection Agency is responsible for:

a) Implementing this Circular.

Point b. Organizations are responsible for receiving price declaration forms in accordance with Clause 5 of Article 28 of the Price Law.

Clause 2. Inspection service providers are responsible for declaring, posting, and publicly disclosing information about the prices of inland waterway vessel inspection services in accordance with the law on prices.

Article 5. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from January 8, 2026./.