Can ship owners sell food and drink to seafarers onboard a ship in Vietnam?

Can ship owners sell food and drink to seafarers onboard a ship in Vietnam?

Article 67 of the 2015 Maritime Code provides for food and drink for seafarers onboard a ship as follows:

1. The ship owner shall be responsible for providing free food and drink which must ensure an adequate amount, nutritional value, accepted quality standards, diverse nature, and conformity to food safety and hygiene requirements for seafarers onboard a ship; must accord with religious beliefs, values and cultural identities of seafarers.

2. The ship owner or any person appointed by the ship owner must regularly carry out checking and keeping a record of the following contents:

a) Supply of food and drink;

b) Storage warehouse, barrel and other devices used for storage and preservation of food and potable water;

c) Galley and other appliances used for preparing and serving meals.

3. The ship owner shall be responsible for assigning a chief cook and catering attendants who serve seafarers with meals. Where there are fewer than ten seafarers aboard a ship, appointment of a chief cook is not compulsory but that of a catering attendant is required.

4. The Minister of Health shall adopt regulations on food and potable water hygiene and safety criteria, and food and drink serving per each meal for each seafarer working onboard a ship.

Pursuant to current regulations, the ship owner must be responsible for providing free food and drink to seafarers onboard a ship. It is against the law that the ship owner does not provide it but sells it.

What are responsibilities of ship owners for providing medical care services for seafarers onboard the ship in Vietnam?

Clause 2, Article 68 of the 2015 Maritime Code stipulates that medical care for seafarers is as follows:

2. The ship owner shall be responsible for providing medical care services for seafarers onboard the ship in accordance with the following provisions:

a) Protect and take care of health of seafarers working onboard a ship in a similar manner to medical care services provided for inland employees in terms of medicines, medical equipment and supplies, healthcare manuals, healthcare information and medical consultation;

b) Ensure that all seafarers shall have access to medical examination and treatment at healthcare service providers or dental centers located at the port where the ship docks;

c) Take measures to prevent marine occupational accidents and illnesses through dissemination and education of healthcare knowledge for seafarers.

Best Regards!