Directive No. 39-TTg on Ensuring Safety for Fishermen and Fishing Vessels Operating at Sea

DIRECTIVE

On ensuring safety for people and fishing vessels operating at sea

 For people and fishing vessels

_______________________ 

In recent times, although the State has issued many regulations requiring local authorities and fishermen to take measures to prevent and limit risks to people and fishing vessels when encountering natural disasters, in reality, due to complacency, the implementation of these regulations has been lax, arbitrary, lacking in supervision and inspection, and without decisive measures, thus in recent years, storms have caused significant losses in terms of human lives and property. In 1996 alone, a typhoon claimed hundreds of fishermen's lives and resulted in substantial losses...

To proactively prevent and minimize damage to people and property of fishermen caused by storms, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Ministry of Fisheries shall immediately carry out the following tasks:

- Review current regulations, amend and supplement specific provisions on equipping safety and rescue equipment for people and fishing vessels such as life jackets, firefighting tools, communication devices, etc., suitable for different water areas, types of vessels, and the financial capacity of fishermen, ensuring that all fishing vessels must have minimum safety equipment when going to sea.

- Coordinate with People's Committees at all levels and relevant sectors to regularly organize short-term training courses to guide fishermen on necessary knowledge regarding safety equipment and their usage; produce and supply sufficient safety and rescue equipment to fishermen in a timely manner.

- Develop an overall plan for flood and storm prevention in the sector and specify detailed locations for vessel mooring and evacuation sites in each region and locality.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to organize registration and issuance of permits for fishing vessels equipped with adequate safety and rescue equipment.

- Establish Search and Rescue Centers for fishers and fishing vessels in each area according to Decision No. 780/TTg dated October 23, 1996 of the Prime Minister, coordinating with the National Committee for Air and Sea Search and Rescue and related sectors to promptly search and rescue fishermen when accidents occur.

2. People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall be responsible for educating fishermen and owners of fishing vessels about the benefits and importance of fully equipping safety and rescue equipment, so they voluntarily comply with state regulations. They shall organize inspections of fishermen's compliance with these requirements. If safety conditions are not met as prescribed, fishermen shall not be allowed to go to sea, and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall bear responsibility for fishermen's deaths due to lack of prescribed safety equipment.

3. The Ministry of Transport shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministries of Fisheries and Defense to organize communication networks and maritime safety systems (lighthouses, buoys, markers, etc.) along river and sea routes.

4. The Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with the National Committee for Air and Sea Search and Rescue, shall stipulate the time and method for organizing the firing of storm warning signals and rescue operations for people and vessels in distress.

5. The Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Fisheries, shall study and propose policies and specific measures to encourage fishermen to purchase safety and rescue equipment, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for decision in the first quarter of 1997; Direct insurance agencies to organize compulsory insurance for seafarers and encourage voluntary insurance for vessel hulls.

6. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall consider allocating annual financial plans for the Fisheries, Defense, Public Security, and Transport sectors to effectively carry out preventive and rescue work for people and fishing vessels.

7. The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention shall closely coordinate with the Ministry of Fisheries, the General Administration of Meteorology and Hydrology, the General Post Office, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, as well as mass media outlets, to promptly provide information and announcements on abnormal weather conditions, especially during the rainy season, to enable fishermen to proactively venture to sea and avoid accidents while fishing at sea.

8. The National Committee for Air and Sea Search and Rescue shall direct the Ministry of Fisheries and related ministries and sectors to promptly organize rescue operations for fishermen and fishing vessels when accidents occur.

The Prime Minister requests that Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities within their scope of responsibility urgently organize the strict implementation of this Directive and report back to the Prime Minister.