Tasks and powers of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center

Tasks and powers of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Internet image)

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

1. Location and functions of Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center

- Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center is a humanitarian service unit under the Vietnam Maritime Administration, performing the function of presiding over and coordinating search and rescue activities in Vietnamese waters, except for seaport waters, prohibited and restricted areas at sea.

- The Center has legal status, can use its own seal, can open an account at the State Treasury, is headquartered in Hanoi city, and has a transaction name written in English: "VIETNAM MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE CO-ORDINATION CENTER", abbreviated: VIETNAM MRCC.

(Article 1 of Decision 2727/QD-BGTVT 2015)

2. Tasks and powers of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center

The tasks and powers of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center include:

- Develop and submit to the Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration for approval according to his/her competence, or submit to competent authorities for approval 5-year and annual plans, programs, projects, and schemes on the development of search and rescue activities in the maritime domain.

- Coordinate search and rescue:

+ Develop a search and rescue coordination mechanism at sea, submit it to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, report to competent authorities for approval, and organize implementation after approval;

+ Develop a plan for coordination in search and rescue at sea and organize the implementation or submit it to competent authorities for consideration, approval, and implementation after being approved;

+ Directly command and manage the Center's search and rescue forces; assume the prime responsibility for coordinating search and rescue activities in Vietnam's waters, except for seaport waters and prohibited and restricted areas at sea; in case of a rescue situation beyond its ability to respond, the Center reports to the National Committee for Search and Rescue and follows the direction of the Committee;

+ Join and coordinate with other search and rescue forces to conduct search and rescue in seaport waters and prohibited and restricted areas at sea under the management of the leading agency;

+ Participate and coordinate in maritime search and rescue with countries and international organizations in accordance with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory;

+ Have the right to mobilize and command people, means, and equipment of organizations and individuals to participate in search and rescue at sea;

+ Be on duty 24/24 hours a day to receive information, handle, and promptly respond to distress situations occurring in the waters under the responsibility of search and rescue in Vietnam;

+ Organize and carry out statistical monitoring of people, vehicles, and equipment of relevant forces in the sea area where the incident occurs in service of search and rescue;

+ Organize search and rescue coordination exercises for the Center's search and rescue forces and other search and rescue forces according to the approved search and rescue coordination plan.

- Organize the management of the specialized search and rescue fleet of the Center to ensure technical requirements and always be ready to search and rescue when there are people in distress at sea as well as when performing rehearsals and coordinating rehearsals.

- Participate in international cooperation in search and rescue at sea in accordance with Vietnamese law, bilateral and multilateral agreements, and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory. .

- Join with functional forces in ensuring maritime safety and security and contribute to protecting Vietnam's sovereignty over sea and islands when required; Participate in fire prevention and fighting and prevent environmental pollution at sea when requested by competent authorities.

- Propagate and disseminate laws related to search and rescue activities at sea to relevant organizations and individuals in the fields of search and rescue and traffic safety at sea according to the plan approved by the Ministry of Transport.

- Organize professional training in search and rescue operations for relevant organizations and individuals.

- Decide or submit to the competent authority to decide on timely commendation of collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in participating in and coordinating search and rescue; propose competent authorities to handle violations according to the provisions of law.

- Organize the management apparatus, officials, and employees and use approved payroll according to regulations; implement the salary regime and the regimes and policies on treatment, reward, and discipline for officials and employees under the management of the Center; develop a project on job positions and rank structure of public employees for the Vietnam Maritime Administration to consider and submit to the competent authorities for approval.

- Officials and officers of the Center, when performing their duties, must wear uniforms provided in accordance with the regulations of the Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

- The Center is allowed to use funding from the state budget and other revenue sources to perform assigned tasks and manage assigned finances and assets according to the provisions of the law.

- Carry out research and application of science and technology in the field of search and rescue at sea; develop and deploy information technology application programs and projects; Build an information database to serve management and exploitation in the field of search and rescue at sea.

- Directly have relationships with relevant organizations and individuals to carry out assigned functions, tasks, and powers according to the provisions of law.

- Implement statistical and reporting regimes according to regulations.

- Perform other tasks and powers assigned by competent authorities.

(Article 2 of Decision 2727/QD-BGTVT 2015)

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