What are forces, vehicles participating in search and rescue at sea and in port waters in Vietnam?

 What are forces, vehicles participating in search and rescue at sea and in port waters in Vietnam? (Internet image)

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

1. What are the port waters?

Port waters are the waters under the management of port authorities as announced by state authorities, including the waters in front of the wharf, turnaround area, anchoring area, transshipment area, sheltering area, pilot reception area, quarantine area, navigable channel area, and other auxiliary works.

(Clause 10, Article 3 of Regulation issued together with Decision 06/2014/QD-TTg)

2. What are forces, vehicles participating in search and rescue at sea and in port waters in Vietnam?

According to Article 5 of Regulation promulgated together with Decision 06/2014/QD-TTg, forces, vehicles participating in search and rescue at sea and in port waters are as follows:

- Specialized search and rescue forces and vehicles under the Vietnam Maritime Administration, specialized or part-time search and rescue units under ministries, branches, localities and organizations and individuals.

- Forces and vehicles under the management and use of the Maritime Port Authority, Inland Waterway Port Authority, and Fishing Port Management Board; forces and means of the Police, Army, local organizations and individuals and central agencies stationed locally.

- Other forces and means operating at sea and in seaport waters.

- Forces, vehicles, and equipment to ensure communication, medical emergency, and other guarantees for search and rescue activities.

- Foreign search and rescue forces and means permitted by Vietnamese competent authorities.

3. Rules for cooperation in search and rescue at sea and in port waters in Vietnam

Rules for cooperation in search and rescue at sea and in port waters include:

- Combine all resources to improve the effectiveness of search and rescue at sea and in port waters; prioritize rescue of people and environmental protection;

- Be prepared for responses depending on each area and situation.

- Ensure communications during search and rescue; prioritize receipt and processing of information about search and rescue; promptly report to the competent authority if the situation is deemed beyond the ability of the rescue forces.

- Coordinate the forces and vessels that participate in search and rescue at sea.

- Ensure safety of people and vessels that participate in search and rescue.

(Article 4 of Regulation promulgated together with Decision 06/2014/QD-TTg) 

4, Scope of search and rescue of people and vehicles at sea and in port waters in Vietnam

Scope of search and rescue of people and vehicles at sea and in port waters in Vietnam is prescribed as follows:

(1) Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center is in charge of cooperation in search and rescue within Vietnam’s sea, except for port waters, prohibited areas, and restricted areas at sea.

(2) The People’s Committees of coastal provinces are in charge of cooperation in search and rescue within their provinces, except for port waters, prohibited areas and restricted areas announced by the Ministry of National Defense.

(3) Port authorities are in charge of cooperation in search and rescue within their port waters.

(4) The Ministry of National Defense is in charge of search and rescue in prohibited areas and restricted areas at sea.

(5) National Search and Rescue Committee shall mobilize forces, vehicles of Ministries, regulatory bodies, and local governments to participate in search and rescue in case the location of people and vehicles in distress is not identified; in the contagious zone, and in Vietnam’s sea in case the situation is beyond the ability of the agencies mentioned in (1), (2), (3), (4).

(Article 6 of Regulation promulgated together with Decision 06/2014/QD-TTg) 

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