Vietnam: New points on responsibilities of owners of inland waterway vessels applicable from January 01, 2020

According to Circular No. 39/2019/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, from January 01, 2020, there are new points on responsibilities of owners of inland waterway vessels as follows:

- Render vessel care, maintenance and repair services in accordance with the respective law on ship register and inspection.

- Create the crew directory by using the form given in the Appendix I hereto, and create the logbook necessary for a vessel which is at least 250 tons gross (at least 300 tons gross according to current regulation) or a vessel carrying at least 50 (fifty) passengers by using the form given in the Appendix II hereto.

- Ensure that the minimum number of posts that crew members hold aboard a vessel is equal to or greater than the number of crew members stipulated in Article 18 herein; in case a vessel is underway for more than one day, they shall be responsible for organizing and arranging work in a logical manner in order to ensure conformance to working time regulations set forth in the Labor Code of Vietnam.

- Collect, store and transport waste to receiving places to get them disposed of.

- Provide professional skill training and refresher courses; provide crew members and cadets with drills or practices so that they can successfully deal with emergencies.

In addition to the responsibilities mentioned above, the vessel owner must also bear other responsibilities detailed in Circular No. 39/2019/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, effective from January 01, 2020.

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