Vietnam’s regulations on dredging of local inland waterways

Regulations on dredging of local inland waterways

According to Decree No. 57/2024/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government, dredging of local inland waterways is prescribed as follows:

(1) Procedures for approval for applications for dredging of local inland waters.

Any organizations and enterprises that need to perform self-dredging of local inland waterways (including capital dredging, maintenance dredging, and emergency dredging) using their own funds (without product recovery) shall submit directly or by post or through the online public service system 01 (one) application using the form specified in Appendix III issued with Decree No. 57/2024/ND-CP to the Provincial People's Committee.

Based on the approved strategies, plans, and capital mobilization solutions for the development of inland waterway infrastructure, and the availability of state budget funds for channel dredging, the Provincial People's Committee shall review the application and issue an approval document within 15 (fifteen) days from the date of receipt of the application.

If the application is rejected, the Provincial People's Committee shall issue a response to the applicant with clear explanation.

(2) The project execution process shall comply with the law on inland waterways and relevant legal regulations.

(3) Organizations and enterprises shall follow dredging procedures specified in clauses 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 of Article 12 of Decree No. 57/2024/ND-CP.

(4) Inspection and surveillance shall be subject to Article 18 of Decree No. 57/2024/ND-CP.

(5) Upon completion of the dredging works, the organization or enterprise shall conduct acceptance testing and handover of the completed project to the Provincial People's Committee for management and utilization.

For a channel solely serving a single port investor, the Provincial People's Committee shall consider approving the port operator to assume responsibility for annual maintenance dredging, ensuring adherence to the channel's established standards and technical specifications as published by the competent authority.

In case an organization or enterprise lacks the necessary resources to conduct maintenance dredging or are unable to continue performing maintenance dredging operations, they shall submit a report to the Provincial People's Committee for evaluation and consideration of allocating state budget funds for maintenance dredging of the channel.

Decree No. 57/2024/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government takes effect from July 05, 2024.

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