The Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration has decided to suspend a series of Chief Representatives of the Kinh Mon, Binh Duong and Long An Inland Waterways Port Authorities and related Port Authority Inspectors after recent incidents of watercraft crashing into An Thai Bridge (Kinh Mon River, Hai Duong), Con Do Bridge (Nha Le Canal, Ha Tinh) and Ghenh Bridge (Dong Nai River, Dong Nai).

Ghenh Bridge

Speaking to a VietnamPlus reporter at noon on March 25, Director of the Inland Waterways Administration Hoang Hong Giang said that the Administration has requested a 15-day suspension of a series of officials responsible for related areas.

Specifically, the Chief Representative of Kinh Mon Inland Waterways Port Authority, head of Waterway Inspection Team No. 2 (An Thai Bridge case) was requested to be suspended.

In addition, the leaders of the Inland Waterways Administration also suspended the operation of Ha Binh shipyard (An Thai bridge case) because of intentionally putting the vessel on the sled without permission; recommended that the competent authority revoke the business license of the enterprise whose ship crashed into the bridge; and consider the responsibility of the relevant waterway management station.

Regarding the case of the barge collapsing the Ghenh bridge, the two Port Authority Chief Representatives (in Binh Duong and Long An) who managed the port and wharf where the tugboat docked and left before collapsing the Ghenh bridge, and the Chief Inspectors of Inspection Teams No. 5 and 6 (in the Ghenh bridge case) were also put on the suspension list by the Department.

Regarding the ship crash at Con Do Bridge (Ha Tinh), the Director of the Inland Waterways Administration requested a document requesting the Ha Tinh Department of Transport to review the responsibilities of relevant individuals and groups.

According to VN+