Tasks and powers of the Maritime Security Information Center in Vietnam

Tasks and powers of the Maritime Security Information Center in Vietnam (Internet image) 

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

1. Position and functions of the Maritime Security Information Center in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 1 of Decision 1663/QD-BGTVT in 2023, regulating the position and functions of the Maritime Security Information Center as follows:

- Maritime Security Information Center is a public service unit under the Vietnam Maritime Administration; functions as Vietnam's permanent agency to receive, process, and transmit maritime security information in accordance with Vietnamese law and the International Code on Ship and Port Security and other relevant legal provisions.

- The Maritime Security Information Center has legal status, has its own seal, opens an account at the State Treasury, and is headquartered in Hanoi.

- The Maritime Security Information Center has a transaction name written in English: THE MARITIME SECURITY INFORMATION CENTER, abbreviated as MSIC.

2. Tasks and powers of the Maritime Security Information Center in Vietnam

Specifically, Article 2 of Decision 1663/QD-BGTVT in 2023 stipulates the tasks and powers of the Maritime Security Information Center in Vietnam, including:

- Develop and submit to the Vietnam Maritime Administration for approval or competent authorities to approve programs, plans, projects, and schemes in the field of maritime security information.

- Participate in developing national standards, technical regulations, and economic-technical norms on maritime security information to submit to the Vietnam Maritime Administration according to regulations.

- Participate in developing draft legal documents on maritime security information; issue individual administrative documents and professional documents on maritime security information under the authority of the Maritime Security Information Center according to regulations.

- Organize the implementation of legal documents, plans, standards, technical regulations, and economic and technical norms on maritime security information.

- Propagate and disseminate legal regulations related to receiving, processing, and transmitting maritime security information according to the plan approved by the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

- Receive, process, and transmit maritime security information to ensure transparency 24/24 hours a day, promptly, accurately, and in accordance with the law on security.

- Receive information about maritime security levels and changes, maritime security information, and security measures that need to be applied from the Vietnam Coast Guard and competent agencies under the Ministry of Public Security for transmission to: ships, mobile platforms, port facilities, and other relevant Vietnamese agencies; and foreign competent authorities when requested.

- Receive maritime security information from ships, mobile platforms, port facilities, foreign competent agencies, or other organizations and individuals and promptly notify the Vietnam Coast Guard, competent agencies under the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant agencies of Vietnam. In the event of receiving information from a ship or mobile platform flying a foreign flag, it must be notified to the competent authority of that country/territory and relevant Vietnamese agencies.

- Notify competent authorities and relevant organizations of maritime security alarms from ships that are not realistic.

- Participate in maritime security incident drills with domestic agencies, businesses, and foreign anti-terrorism organizations according to regulations.

- Practice connecting maritime security information with domestic agencies and businesses and foreign anti-terrorism organizations according to regulations.

- Receive information related to maritime safety and the prevention of marine environmental pollution due to ship operations.

- Organize, manage, use, and exploit Automatic Identification System (AIS) information from ships operating on coastal transport routes; water transport routes from shore to islands are under the management responsibility of the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

- Develop plans for training, fostering, and professional training on receiving, processing, and transmitting maritime security information to officials of the Maritime Security Information Center to submit to the Vietnam Maritime Administration for approval.

- Implement information exchange related to maritime security between Vietnam and international maritime security organizations; coordinate with competent authorities and relevant organizations to perform other tasks related to maritime security information.

- Receive citizens, resolving complaints, denunciations, feedback, and recommendations of organizations and citizens according to authority; implement anti-corruption and negative practices; practice thrift; combat waste; and handle violations of the law by individuals under the jurisdiction of the Maritime Security Information Center.

- Participate in building and organizing the implementation of the overall administrative reform program of the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

- Officials of the Maritime Security Information Center who directly work on receiving, processing, and transmitting maritime security information when on duty must wear prescribed clothing.

- Manage organizational structure, payroll, officials, and workers; Implement salary regimes and other benefits, rewards, and disciplinary policies for officials and employees under the management of the Maritime Security Information Center; Train and foster officials and workers under the management of the Maritime Security Information Center; build and submit to the Vietnam Maritime Administration the organizational structure, job positions, and officer rank structure of the Maritime Security Information Center.

- Manage finances, assets, and assigned budget sources according to the provisions of law; can use funding from the state budget and other legal revenue sources according to the provisions of law.

- Implement statistical and reporting regimes according to regulations.

- Perform other tasks and powers assigned by competent authorities.

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