"Decommissioning" hydrofoil boats that do not meet safety standards.

We are determined not to allow hydrofoil boats to operate if passenger vessels do not meet technical requirements and traffic safety conditions.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has just commented on the Ministry of Transport's proposal to halt the operation of hydrofoil high-speed boats in the Ho Chi Minh City - Ba Ria-Vung Tau area.

Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Transport to direct and guide localities with hydrofoil operators to review legal procedures and inspect the technical condition and safety of the vessels; and to resolutely prohibit operation if passenger vessels do not meet technical requirements and safety conditions.

The Deputy Prime Minister has directed that hydrofoil boats that do not meet safety standards be prohibited from operating.

"The Ministry of Transport needs to review and supplement legal regulations on the obligations and responsibilities of business owners, crew members, and operators in ensuring the safety of passenger vessels," Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai emphasized.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister also assigned the Ministry of Transport to take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to review and finalize regulations on business conditions for inland waterway transport, including passenger transport by hydrofoil high-speed vessels, after the National Assembly passes the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Inland Waterway Transport, and submit them to the Government for consideration and decision.

"The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Justice should continue to implement the Prime Minister's directive on drafting a Decree regulating the service life of high-speed passenger vessels in Vietnam," the Deputy Prime Minister requested.

Previously, after inspecting the hydrofoil vessels, the working group from the Ministry of Transport assessed that the defects discovered during the inspection, even if rectified, would only be temporary, unstable, and inconsistent due to the vessels being old (mostly over 20 years old), having been in operation for many years, operating at high frequency, and undergoing numerous modifications and repairs.

Shortly afterwards, the Ministry of Transport submitted a document to the Prime Minister recommending that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee be allowed to continue suspending the operation of hydrofoil high-speed boats on the Ho Chi Minh City - Vung Tau route because they were too old and did not ensure safety.

Currently, the Ministry of Transport has submitted to the Government a draft Decree regulating the service life of high-speed passenger vessels in Vietnam; which stipulates that the service life of hovercrafts should not exceed 18 years, and that of high-speed passenger vessels should not exceed 20 years.

According to Vietnam.net