The principle of military vessel inspection in Vietnam as of February 27, 2024

The principle of military vessel inspection in Vietnam as of February 27, 2024 (Internet image)

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

1. What is military vessel inspection?

Military vessel inspection is the activity of inspecting, classifying, and issuing certificates of technical safety and environmental protection for military vessels in terms of construction, conversion, modernization, acquisition, procurement, importation, repair, and operation.

(Article 1 of Clause 3 of Circular 02/2024/TT-BQP)

2. The principle of military vessel inspection in Vietnam as of February 27, 2024

The principle of military vessel inspection from February 27, 2024, is regulated in Article 4 of Circular 02/2024/TT-BQP, which includes:

- New, converted, modernized, purchased, imported, received, repaired, and in-operation military vessels must be inspected and issued certificates of technical safety and environmental protection in accordance with national standards, national technical regulations, relevant international conventions, regulations of the State, and the Ministry of National Defense.

- Military vessel inspection ensures independence, honesty, objectivity, compliance with national standards, national technical regulations, relevant international conventions, regulations of the State, and other standards accepted by the Ministry of National Defense.

- Military vessel inspection is carried out by inspection agencies and inspection facilities within the Defense Ministry. Inspection organizations outside the Defense Ministry can only conduct military vessel inspections with permission from the Ministry of National Defense.

- Inspection facilities and vessel inspectors can only perform inspection activities within their authorized scope and tasks, in accordance with the recognized fields and specialties of inspections.

- Relevant agencies, units, organizations, and individuals must strictly comply with the regulations on military vessel inspection as stipulated by the State, the Ministry of National Defense, and the regulations on state secrets and military secrets protection.

- The inspection activities of military vessel inspections do not replace or override the responsibilities of technical inspection agencies, quality inspection agencies for using units, vesselbuilding and repair facilities, and industrial product manufacturing facilities for vesselbuilding and repair.

3. Types of inspections for military vessel inspections in Vietnam

- The types of inspections for military vessel inspections include:

+ Initial inspections, including: inspections and technical supervision of newly constructed vessels; inspections of received, purchased, or imported vessels; or changes in inspection organizations.

+ Periodic inspections, including: annual inspections; inspections during operations; periodic inspections for in-operation military vessels.

+ Unusual inspections.

+ Inspections for conversions, modernizations, and repairs.

- The content and timeframes for these types of inspections are implemented according to the regulations in the national standards system, national technical regulations, and regulations of the Ministry of National Defense.

Specific requirements for each inspection period will be adjusted accordingly to the vessel's classification, actual technical conditions, operating areas, vessel lifespan, results of previous inspections, and the unit's vessel usage plan.

(Article 6 of Circular 02/2024/TT-BQP)

4. System of agencies and facilities for military vessel inspection in Vietnam

- The Department of Standards, Metrology, and Quality is the advisory agency to the Chief of the General Staff, assisting the Minister of National Defense in formulating policies and measures for state management of military vessel inspection.

- Military vessel inspection agencies at different levels have the function of advising and assisting commanders in organizing and implementing military vessel inspection activities within their authorized scope.

- Military vessel inspection facilities have the function of directly carrying out military vessel inspection activities within their authorized scope.

(Article 7 of Circular 02/2024/TT-BQP)

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