Regulations on charges for container handling services at seaports in Vietnam as of July 1, 2024

Regulations on charges for container handling services at seaports in Vietnam as of July 1, 2024 (Internet image) 

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

1. Regulations on charges for container handling services at seaports in Vietnam as of July 1, 2024

Specifically, Article 10 of Circular 12/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulates the charges for container handling services at seaports in Vietnam as follows:

- The handling service charge bracket levied on oversized and overloaded freight containers, containers that carry dangerous cargo and containers subject to special handling and storage requirements must not exceed 150% of the charge bracket in a given decision of the Ministry of Transport. In case the seaport enterprise needs to use specialized equipment to assist in the cargo handling, the extra charge shall be negotiated by the two parties.

- The "Vessels (barges) ↔ Barges, cars, boxcars at wharves" service shall only be provided when the cargo has fully complied with regulations on customs supervision, weight inspection and other regulations before being loaded or unloaded.

- Regarding new container transport routes at the ports in Region II and the Mekong Delta, port enterprises may apply container handling charges that are 80% of the charge bracket in a given decision of the Ministry of Transport for 03 years from the day on which the new route is officially opened.

2. Division of seaport regions for container handling services and towage service at seaports in Vietnam as of July 1, 2024

Regarding container handling services and towage service, Vietnam’s seaport system is divided into 03 following regions:

- Region I:  seaports located on 20 degrees north latitude, including seaports from Quang Ninh to Nam Dinh.

- Region II:  seaports located between 11,5 degrees latitude and 20 degrees latitude, including seaports in  Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan.

- Region III:  seaports located on 11,5 degrees south latitude, including seaports in  Ho Chi Minh city, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Can Tho, An Giang, Vinh Long, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Long An, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh.

(Article 7 of Circular 12/2024/TT-BGTVT)

3. Currency of container handling services at seaports in Vietnam as of July 1, 2024

Currency of container handling services at seaports in Vietnam is stipulated in Article 4 of Circular 12/2024/TT-BGTVT as follows:

- The charges for pilotage service, use of wharves, docks and mooring buoys, container handling services and towage service shall be levied on international vessels in Vietnam Dong or United States Dollar.

- The charges for pilotage service, use of wharves, docks and mooring buoys, container handling services and towage service shall be levied on domestic vessels in Vietnam Dong.

- The conversion of United States Dollar to Vietnam Dong shall be made as prescribed by law.

More details can be found in Circular 12/2024/TT-BGTVT which comes into force from July 1, 2024 and replacing Circular 39/2023/TT-BGTVT.

Nguyen Ngoc Que Anh

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