Circular 50: Regulations on Piloting and Navigation of Inland Waterway Vessels

Circular 50: Pilotage Regime for Inland Waterway Vessels (illustrative image)

Circular 50/2014/TT-BGTVT stipulates that foreign waterway vessels must have pilots when operating on inland waterways or entering and leaving inland ports. Vietnamese inland waterway vessels and seagoing ships may request pilots if deemed necessary when entering and leaving domestic ports. The navigation guidance shall be conducted by maritime pilots. The requirements for the time of providing pilots are as follows:

- Except in emergency cases where pilots are required to prevent accidents, the pilot request must be notified to the Port Authority and relevant pilot organization at least 06 hours before the expected pilot pickup time.- If, after requesting a pilot, one wishes to change the pilot pickup time or cancel the pilot request, the Port Authority and relevant pilot organization must be informed at least 03 hours before the expected pilot boarding time.- The pilot is responsible for waiting at the agreed location for no more than 04 hours from the expected pilot boarding time. If this time limit is exceeded, the pilot request shall be considered canceled, and the shipmaster must pay the pilot waiting fee according to regulations.- No later than 01 hour after receiving the pilot request, the pilot organization must confirm to the Port Authority, ship owner, or ship owner’s agent about the location and time the pilot is expected to board the ship. If the pilot boards later than the confirmed time or at the wrong location, causing the ship to wait or move to another location, the pilot organization shall pay the waiting fee for such delay according to regulations.

For details, see Circular 50/2014/TT-BGTVT, effective from January 1, 2015.

Ty Na

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