Procedures for registering permanent passenger transport on waterway route from mainland to islands in Vietnam as of June 1, 2024

 Procedures for registering permanent passenger transport on waterway route from mainland to islands in Vietnam as of June 1, 2024 (Internet image) 

Regarding this matter, LawNet would like to answer as follows: 

On April 10, 2024, the Minister of Transport issued Circular 10/2024/TT-BGTVT on amendment to Circulars on management of waterway route from mainland to islands in Vietnamese seawaters.

Procedures for registering permanent passenger transport on waterway route from mainland to islands in Vietnam as of June 1, 2024

Procedures for registering permanent passenger transport on waterway route from mainland to islands in Vietnam under Appendix I attached to Circular 10/2024/TT-BGTVT are as follows:

(1) Applicants shall submit permanent passenger transport registration to Departments of Transport in person or via post service or online public service system or other appropriate means. The registration consists of:

- Passenger transport operation registration using form under Appendix II attached to Circular 16/2013/TT-BGTVT;

- Original copies or electronic original copies or electronic copies or certified true electronic copies of written consensus or agreement signed with port, dock authorities which watercrafts enter to pick up and drop off passengers;

- Original copies (in case of in-person submission) or original electronic copies or certified true electronic copies (in case of submission via post service, online public service system, or other appropriate means) of: Vehicle registration certificate; Vehicle technical safety and environmental protection certificate effective and appropriate to the operating route.

(2) Procedures: Departments of Transport shall receive, inspect the registration, and proceed as follows:

- In case of in-person submission: where the registration is inadequate, Departments of Transport will return the registration and guide the applicants to supplement the registration; where the registration is adequate, Departments of Transport shall request written approve from local maritime port authorities, local inland waterway port authorities affiliated to Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration (hereinafter referred to as “port authorities”) where mainland-to-island waterway route is located within 3 working days after receiving the registration. Port authorities must respond in writing within 3 working days after receiving the written request;

- In case of submission via post service or online public service or other appropriate means: where the registration is inadequate, Departments of Transport must request the applicants in writing to supplement the registration within 2 working days after receiving the registration. Where the applicants fail to supplement the registration within 30 days after receiving the written request, Departments of Transport shall conclude processing of the registration. In this case, if the applicants wish to register permanent passenger transport, they must start the procedures from the beginning.

Where the registration is adequate, Departments of Transport shall request port authorities where mainland-to-island waterway route crosses in writing within 3 working days after receiving adequate registration. Port authorities must respond in writing within 3 working days after receiving the written request;

(3) Within 3 working days after receiving written response from agencies and entities under Clause 2, Article 3 of Circular 16/2013/TT-BGTVT (amended in Circular 10/2024/TT-BGTVT), Departments of Transport shall consider and issue written approval using form under Appendix II attached to Circular 16/2013/TT-BGTVT in person or via post service or online public service system to the applicants.

In case of rejection, Departments of Transport shall issue written response stating reason for rejection.

More details can be found in Circular 10/2024/TT-BGTVT which comes into force from June 1, 2024.

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