 |
Goods being unloaded at Lotus Port on the Sai Gon River in HCM City. —VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Phan |
HCM CITY — Managers of domestic ports and wharves in HCM City have committed to ensure safety, order and environmental hygiene, according to the Department of Transport's Domestic Waterway Division.
Ngo Dinh Quang, head of the division, said that drivers of boats and owners of ports and wharves had complied with waterway laws, especially storm and flood-prevention regulations, following a successful education campaign.
In addition, his office has offered training in waterway transport laws for owners of ports and wharves.
Despite the new effort to encourage compliance with regulations, the number of ports and wharves operating without a license has increased, up to 52 from 47 in 2009.
The fines for non-compliance are too low, according to Quang.
As part of its campaign, the waterway division said it had been working with People's Committees at the district level to organise forums and conferences with the participation of more than 40 companies that own ports and wharves.
The authority pledged that it would ensure procedures for issuing licences for domestic ports and wharves would adhere strictly to the law.
By the end of 2009, there were 268 ports and wharves operating, of which 47 worked without a licence.
Of the 221 ports and wharves operating with licenses, 44 of them have reached "model standards" set by the city's Transport Department, an increase of 65 per cent compared to 2008. — VNS
