Decision No. 613/2000/QD-BGTVT on ensuring traffic order and safety for waterway transportation through bridges on inland waterways

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the regulation on ensuring traffic order and safety for waterways through bridges on inland waterways

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THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 22/CP dated March 22, 1994, stipulating the tasks, powers, responsibilities for state management and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 40/CP dated July 5, 1996 on ensuring traffic order and safety for inland waterways and the Government Decree No. 77/1998/NĐ-CP dated September 26, 1998 amending and supplementing the Government Decree No. 40/CP;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 171/1999/NĐ-CP dated December 7, 1999 detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Protection of Traffic Works for River Traffic Works;

Considering the proposal of the Director of Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration and the Head of Legal Department,

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. Issuing with this Decision the "Regulation on Ensuring Traffic Order and Safety for Waterways Through Bridges on Inland Waterways".

Article 2. Entrusting the Directors of Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration, Vietnam Highway Administration, General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation:

1. Within their respective responsibilities, guide the implementation and organize the execution of this regulation.

2. Organize publicity through mass media so that all relevant organizations and individuals understand and implement this Regulation.

3. Direct traffic inspection forces to cooperate with traffic police and local authorities to strengthen inspections and strictly handle violations.

Article 3. THIS DECISION SHALL TAKE EFFECT 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SIGNATURE.

Article 4. The Heads of the Ministry's Office, Heads of Legal Department, Directors of Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration, Vietnam Highway Administration, General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation, Directors of Provincial Departments of Transport and Public Works; relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATION On Ensuring Traffic Order and Safety for Waterways Through Bridges on Inland Waterways (Issued together with Decision No. 613/2000/QĐ-BGTVT dated March 16, 2000 of the Minister of Transport)

Article 1. The management agencies of bridges on inland waterways shall be responsible for:

1. Placing marking signs indicating the navigable clearance according to the Rules on Waterway Marking of Vietnam as stipulated in Decision No. 1538/QĐ-KHKT dated August 3, 1992 of the Minister of Transport and Posts and Telecommunications (now the Ministry of Transport) and Decision No. 1431/1999/QĐ-BGTVT dated June 15, 1999 of the Minister of Transport;

2. Installing reverse water level gauges at bridge piers (the zero point of the reverse water level gauge is the lowest position of the girder bottom, the indicated height is the water surface level);

3. For bridges where the navigable clearance or width does not meet the technical classification standards for inland waterways as specified in Technical Standard TCVN 5664-1992, measures must be taken to ensure traffic safety and notify the waterway management agency in writing to coordinate and guide watercraft safely through the navigable clearance.

Article 2. When conducting surveys, maintenance, repairs, construction... (collectively referred to as construction) of bridges, the construction units shall be responsible for:

1. Not affecting waterway traffic throughout the construction period;

2. If additional anti-collision protection systems are installed for bridge piers, these systems shall not affect the safety of watercraft passing under the bridge;

3. If it is necessary to restrict or temporarily prohibit waterway traffic, prior approval from the waterway management agency at the section level or higher must be obtained, and public announcement through mass media must be made at least 10 days in advance;

4. Clear all obstructions under the river within the protected area of the bridge after completion of construction.

Article 3. The inland waterway management agency shall be responsible for:

1. Installing navigational aids to guide vessels into the bridge area according to the approved plan;

2. In case it is necessary to change the ship passage span, it must notify the bridge management agency to move the lights and signs of the ship passage span.

Article 4. Before allowing a vessel to depart, the captain shall be responsible for thoroughly understanding the characteristics of the bridges that the vessel will pass on its route such as:

- The position of the ship passage span; - Bridge clearance; - Width of the ship passage span; - Channel conditions, current flow..., to have proactive measures to ensure safety through difficult and dangerous areas.

Article 5. Prior to controlling a vessel through a structure, the captain must:

1. Develop a voyage plan including: Scheme for assembling the formation, assigning specific tasks to each crew member, defining operational procedures for each crew member... when passing the structure;

2. Directly inspect safety equipment such as steering systems, anchors, poles, fenders... especially paying attention when passing structures in areas affected by tides;

3. Inspect and arrange crew members to stand watch at necessary positions, prepare anti-collision equipment according to the established plan;

4. Exercise caution when going downstream through a bridge, particularly for bridges near channel intersections. Only when the channel conditions, hydrology, weather, technical specifications of the bridge and the vessel meet all safety requirements can the vessel be controlled through the bridge. If there is any doubt, the captain must stop the vessel to investigate and seek guidance from the River Section or Management Station.

Article 6. During the time the vessel passes through a bridge, the captain must:

1. Navigate the vessel within the marked ship passage span according to the "Vietnam Inland Waterway Signaling Rules". For bridges with buoys guiding the vessel into the ship passage span, the captain must control the vessel to follow the lane between two rows of buoys;

2. Directly control and command the vessel while passing through the ship passage span to handle any situation that may arise promptly;

3. Reduce the speed of the vessel to a necessary level to ensure active control of the vessel.

Article 7. At night, the captain is only allowed to navigate the vessel through a bridge when the ship passage span has sufficient lighting signals as prescribed.

Article 8

1. During flood season, if the current under the bridge is strong and deemed unsafe, the captain must stop the vessel. While waiting to pass the bridge, barges must be securely moored at a safe location and personnel must be arranged to monitor the vessel to prevent it from drifting and colliding with bridge piers. If multiple convoys are passing the bridge simultaneously, captains should cooperate and support each other, passing each vessel in turn.

2. At bridges with traffic control stations managed by the inland waterway authority, the captain must strictly follow the station's instructions.

Article 9. It is strictly prohibited for the captain to:

1. Secure the vessel to the bridge abutment;

2. Navigate the vessel side-by-side or avoid, overtake another vessel while passing through a bridge;

3. Control the vessel through a bridge when lacking the required crew members;

4. Moor the vessel within the protected area around the bridge.

Article 10. The owner of the vehicle shall be liable for the dispatching of the vehicle and the driver who does not meet the current standards as prescribed.

Article 11. The bridge management agency, inland waterway management agency, owner of the watercraft, captain of the vessel... violating the provisions of this Decision shall be subject to handling in accordance with the law.