Vessels Over 50 Meters in Length Departing from the Dock: Are Tugboats Required?

Based on Clause 1, Article 64 of Decree 58/2017/ND-CP, the use of tugboats for assistance when vessels enter, leave, and operate at seaports is as follows:

Vessels with a maximum length of 80 meters or more, when maneuvering to dock, leave the wharf, mooring buoys; alongside other vessels; relocate, move within the channel, turn around within the waters in front of the wharf, mooring buoy waters, water areas, and water areas within the port waters and the management area of the Maritime Administration, must use tugboat assistance as per regulations.

*** Vessels with a maximum length of 80 meters or more, when leaving the wharf, must use tugboat assistance. However, Clause 4 of this Article stipulates: "Besides the provision of Clause 1 of this Article, the Captain may request tugboat assistance if deemed necessary."***

=> Therefore, in the case of a vessel with a length of 50 meters, it is not mandatory to use a tugboat when leaving the wharf. However, the Captain may still request tugboat assistance if deemed necessary.

Sincerely!