Hai Duong worries about ferries again when the storm season comes

Although not allowed to carry cars, Sy ferry (Thanh Ha) still ignores the regulations, people on the ferry do not wear life jackets (Clip recorded on May 23)

Ignoring the rules

Every day, Ms. NTT in Tan Tien commune (Gia Loc) often rides her motorbike from home to Nua market (Thanh Ha) to sell noodles. Lang ferry connecting An Phuong commune (Thanh Ha) and Binh Lang commune (Tu Ky) is very familiar to Ms. T. Thanks to this ferry, Ms. T. has shortened the distance by dozens of kilometers. Each operation from getting on the ferry to turning around is performed skillfully by Ms. T., proving that she has traveled a lot. Ms. T. also prepared small change to pay for the ticket. "Compared to the passenger ferries around here, Lang ferry is one of the biggest ferries, small trucks can also pass through", Ms. T. said. When asked about wearing a life jacket, Ms. T. said: "The life jacket is on the ferry, whoever wants to wear it can wear it. But why wear it, it only takes a few minutes to get to the destination by ferry, put it on and then take it off, it's a waste of time".

Ferry passengers not wearing life jackets occurs in many places. In photo: Lang ferry terminal (Thanh Ha)

Wearing a life jacket when crossing a ferry is a mandatory regulation, but not everyone follows it. The situation of passengers ignoring not wearing a life jacket when crossing a ferry is still happening in many places. Only when the authorities check will it be strictly implemented. According to people with a lot of experience with rivers, if you have a water accident without being equipped with a life jacket, drowning is very likely to happen. Especially during storms, accidents can happen at any time.

Although not allowed to carry cars, on the morning of May 23, the single-blade ferry at Sy ferry terminal (Thanh Ha) still brazenly carried trucks. Carrying cars across the river without a license violates regulations on waterway traffic safety, potentially endangering the safety of people and vehicles crossing the river. If you do so just for a little profit, it is very dangerous.

Resolutely handle violations

Inter-sectoral working group inspects compliance with regulations of ferry terminals and vehicle owners

Kinh Mon River is a large river with a deep riverbed. The single-blade ferry at Bai Mac ferry in Thuong Quan commune (Kinh Mon) crosses the river every day to pick up and drop off passengers from both sides of Thuong Quan commune, with hundreds of passengers. Mr. Bui Van Son, the ferry driver, said that during the rainy season, there are many heavy rains, strong winds, and big waves, making it difficult for watercraft to travel. Heavy rain can cause riverbank erosion, posing many dangers. Therefore, before the rainy season, Mr. Son often prepares lifebuoys, life-saving equipment, and life-saving equipment... "We have signed a commitment with the traffic police to comply with inland waterway traffic laws," Mr. Son said.

To proactively ensure inland waterway traffic safety during the 2024 storm season, the Waterway Traffic Police Team, under the Traffic Police Department ( Hai Duong Provincial Police), has proactively deployed many measures. Along with strengthening the dissemination of legal regulations on inland waterway traffic safety and measures to respond to storms and floods; organizing the signing of commitments with vehicle owners, the traffic police force has increased patrols, controls, and strictly handled violations. From the beginning of the year to mid-May, the authorities have sanctioned 196 violations with a total fine of nearly 500 million VND.

Currently, the province has 59 inland waterway ports and 65 operating vessels, many of which play an important role in trade. In 2023 and the first four months of 2024, there were two waterway traffic accidents in the province, with no casualties.

The nature of waterway accidents is very catastrophic and unpredictable, so entering the peak of storms and floods in 2024, authorities need to increase inspections and resolutely handle violations; boat and ferry owners, vehicles, and passengers need to raise awareness and strictly comply with traffic regulations to have safe boat trips.

According to Article 17 of Decree 139/2021/ND-CP of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the field of inland waterway traffic, the act of exploiting and using a vehicle not in accordance with the registration will be fined from VND 1,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 for a non-motorized vehicle with a total tonnage of up to 15 tons or a capacity of up to 12 people, a motorized vehicle with a total main engine capacity of less than 5 horsepower or a capacity of less than 5 people; A fine of from VND 3,000,000 to VND 5,000,000 for a motorized vehicle with a total main engine capacity of from 5 horsepower to 15 horsepower or a capacity of from 5 to 12 people. Fines from VND 5,000,000 to VND 7,000,000 for non-motorized vehicles with a total tonnage of over 15 tons to under 250 tons or a capacity of over 12 people to under 50 people, and motorized vehicles with a total main engine capacity of over 15 horsepower to 135 horsepower or a capacity of over 12 people to 50 people.

Article 16, violating regulations on safety equipment and tools of vehicles, fine from 500,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND for the act of not equipping or not equipping enough life jackets or personal life-saving buoyancy devices as prescribed, the fine is calculated for each life jacket or personal life-saving buoyancy device.

Article 3, Clause 3, Decree 139/2021/ND-CP stipulates a fine of VND 1,000,000 to VND 2,000,000 for people who do not wear life jackets or do not carry personal life-saving flotation devices when participating in traffic on passenger vehicles across rivers (boats, ferries, etc.)

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