Penalty framework for maritime violations

Article 284,The 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017) stipulates the crime ofDriving a maritime vehicle in violation of maritime regulations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as follows:

1. Any person who operates a maritime vehicle entering or leaving Vietnam or passing through Vietnam's territorial waters and commits one of the following acts, if not falling under the cases specified in Articles 110 and 111 of this Code, shall be subject to a fine of from VND 50,000,000 to VND 200,000,000 or non-custodial reform for up to 03 years:

a) Driving at a speed exceeding the permitted speed in port waters;

b) Operating in an area not permitted for operation according to regulations;

c) Failure to carry out or incompletely carry out procedures for entering and leaving the port, pilotage regime, anchoring, mooring, berthing, side-by-side docking procedures, regulations on hygiene and order, fire safety, and environmental pollution prevention;

d) Failure to comply or improper compliance with regulations on passing, avoiding, overtaking, and giving way in maritime traffic activities or maritime vehicles not having or not ensuring horns, bells, and gongs at prescribed volume;

d) Not ensuring that the travel lights and signal lights meet the prescribed standards, not performing or incorrectly performing the transmission of sound and light signals.

2. Committing a crime causing serious consequences shall be subject to a fine of from VND 200,000,000 to VND 500,000,000 or imprisonment from 01 year to 03 years.

3. Committing a crime causing very serious or especially serious consequences shall be subject to a fine of from VND 500,000,000 to VND 1,500,000,000 or imprisonment from 03 years to 07 years.