Latest procedures for announcing the inland waterway port operations in Vietnam

Latest procedures for announcing the inland waterway port operations in Vietnam (Internet image)

On February 19, 2024, the Ministry of Transport issued Decision 161/QD-BGTVT announcing amended and supplemented administrative procedures in the field of inland waterways within the scope of management functions of the Ministry of Transport.

Latest procedures for announcing the inland waterway port operations in Vietnam

(1) Procedure

* Submit administrative procedure documents:

Before putting the inland waterway ports project into operation, the inland waterway ports owner submits an application for a declaration of operation according to the following regulations:

- For inland waterway ports receiving foreign waterway vessels: Submit an application to the Vietnam Inland Waterway Department (for inland waterway ports on national inland waterways, specialized inland waterways connecting to national inland waterways, inland waterway ports have water and land areas both on national inland waterways and on local inland waterways, inland waterway ports are in seaport waters connected to national inland waterways), and the Department of Transport (for inland waterway ports on local inland waterways, specialized inland waterways connecting to local inland waterways, inland waterway ports in seaport waters connected to local inland waterways in provinces and centrally run cities) for appraisal.

- For inland waterway ports that do not accept foreign waterway vessels: Submit application to Vietnam Inland Waterway Department (for inland waterway ports on national inland waterways, specialized inland waterways connecting to national inland waterways, inland waterway ports have water and land areas both on national inland waterways and on local inland waterways, inland waterway ports in seaport waters connected to national inland waterways, except inland waterway ports receiving foreign watercraft and other cases decided by the Ministry of Transport) or Department of Transport (for inland waterway ports on local inland waterways, specialized inland waterways connecting to local inland waterways, inland waterway ports in seaport waters connected to local inland waterways and inland waterway ports in provinces and centrally run cities, except for cases where inland waterway ports receive foreign waterway vessels and other cases decided by the Ministry of Transport).

* Resolving administrative procedures:

- In case of receiving the application directly, if the application is complete, a receipt will be issued and the results will be returned within the prescribed time limit; In case the dossier is not completed as prescribed, immediately return it and instruct the organization or individual to complete the dossier again; In the case of receiving documents through the postal system, the online public service system, or other appropriate forms, if the documents are not complete as prescribed, within 02 working days, from the date of receipt of the dossier, the dossier-receiving agency shall issue a document to the organization or individual via the postal system, the online public service system, or other appropriate forms, clearly stating the reasons and requests for additional and complete documents;

- For inland waterway ports receiving foreign watercraft: within 05 working days from the date of receiving complete documents according to regulations, the Vietnam Inland Waterways Department and Department of Transport will evaluate the documents and; if eligible, they shall report to the Ministry of Transport. Within 05 working days from the date of receiving complete documents and an appraisal report, the Ministry of Transport issues a decision to announce the operation of inland waterway ports.

- For inland waterway ports that do not accept foreign waterway vessels: within 05 working days from the date of receiving complete documents as prescribed, the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, or the Department of Transport, issues a decision to announce the operation of inland waterway ports.

(2) Submission methods

- Submit directly, via the postal system, via the online public service portal, or by other appropriate forms.

(3) Components and quantity of documents:

* Profile components:

- Application for announcement of inland waterway port operations according to the form;

- Certified copy or copy and present the original for comparison of the document approving the investment project to build inland waterway ports from the competent authority;

- Certified copy or copy and present the original for comparison of documents on land use to build inland waterway ports issued by a competent authority;

- Copy of decision approving the project or technical design of inland waterway ports;

- Minutes of acceptance of completed construction works and put them into use; As-built drawings of the floor plan, vertical projection, and cross-section of the inland waterway ports project;

- Minutes of acceptance of the results of searching for obstacles in port waters; minutes confirming the establishment of signals at the port;

- Copy of the technical safety and environmental protection certificate of pontoons and mooring buoys subject to registration (if using pontoons as wharves);

- Acceptance document on fire prevention and fighting from the competent authority according to regulations;

- Copy of certificate of security compliance for inland waterway ports receiving foreign waterway vessels (for inland waterway ports receiving foreign waterway vessels);

- Copy of the competent authority's decision announcing the opening of specialized channels (if any) for cases where inland waterway ports have specialized channels.

(In case of submitting the application online, the application components are the original or electronic copy of the corresponding application components according to regulations).

* Number of documents: 01 set.

(4) Processing time limit:

- For inland waterway ports receiving foreign watercraft:

+ Time limit for dossier appraisal: Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of complete dossier as prescribed.

+ Time limit for issuance of announcement decision: Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of complete documents and appraisal report.

- For inland waterway ports that do not accept foreign watercraft: within 05 working days from the date of receipt of complete documents as prescribed.

More details can be found in Decision 161/QD-BGTVT, taking effect on March 10, 2024.

Ho Quoc Tuan

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