Saigon Port Saigon Port Authority Safe speed for navigation Regulation

Saigon Port and a number of its members:

Saigon Port:
Address: 3 Nguyen Tat Thanh, District No.04, Hochiminh City.
Tel: + 84 8 940 1825-940 1826.
Fax: + 84 8 940 0168
Telex: 812772SGPORT VT
Director: Tran Van On.

A number of its member:

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Saigon Port Authority:
Address: 1A Truong Dinh Hoi, Ward No.18, District No.4, Hochiminh City.
Tel : + 84 8 825 5475
Fax: + 84 8 940 4828
Director: Phung Quang Tung.

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Safe Speed for navigation !

Ships of all kinds, while navigating on the channels shall resort to the proper and safe speed so far as practicable. On the narrow channel lanes hereafter mentioned, unless it is impossible and otherwise provided for by law, the ships/vessels shall navigate at the limited speeds as follows:
- From Den Do headland to lower section of Ben Nghe port, not exceeding six (06) knots.
- From Ben Nghe port to the turning area at higher section of Tan Cang berth, not exceeding five (05) knots.
For more information, please click "Saigon Sea-port Regulations"

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SAIGON SEAPORT REGULATIONS

DECISION
by the Director of Port Authority of Saigon
issuing the "Saigon Sea-port Regulations"

THE DIRECTOR
of Port Authority of Saigon

• On the basis of Decision No. 533 /QD -TCCB -LD dated 22 March 1991 by the Minister of Transportation, Communication -Post on the establishment of Port Authority of Saigon.
  
• On the basis of Decision No. 2349/QD -TCCB -LD dated 20 November 1991 by the Minister of Transportation, Communication -Post on promulgating the provisional regulations on the organization and activities of Port Authority.
  
• On the basis of Article 4 of "the Regulations on the Management of Shipping Activities at Sea-ports and in the Maritime Navigable Zones of Vietnam" promulgated with Decree No. 13/CP dated 25th February, 1994 by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
  
• On the basis of the official Correspondence No. 867/PCHH dated 12 September 1995 by the Vietnam National Maritime Bureau on issuing "Saigon Sea-Port Regulations".

DECIDES

Article 1:
To issue, together with this Decision, "Saigon Sea - Port Regulations".

Article 2:
The present decision enters into force on the 1sst of December 1995, all the previous provisions contrary to the present decision are hereby repealed.

Article 3:
The organizations or individuals owning means of water transportation or conducting any activity relating to or in the Saigon Sea- Port waters, and the heads of the related sections of Port Authority of Saigon shall take responsibility for implementing the present decision.

SAIGON SEA-PORT REGULATIONS
(Issued with Decision No. 214/CVSG 95 dated 17 October 1995).

Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1:
The present Regulations particularly stipulates for the rules on maritime activities in the Saigon Port waters, which are made on the basis of "the Regulations on the Management of maritime activities at sea-ports and in the marine navigable zones of Vietnam" promulgated with Decree No. 13/CP dated 25 February 1994 by the Government.

Article 2:
The provisions of the present Regulations govern every organization, individual and every sea-going ship operating within the Saigon Port waters, including the ships passing the waters only.
Neither individual nor organization, who observes negligently the provisions of the present Regulations when conducting activities in Saigon Port waters, is exempted from liability. All violations of the provisions of the present Regulations thereof are to be dealt with under the existing laws.

Article 3:
Saigon Port waters herein after called Port waters as stipulated in Decision No. 1331/QD-PCVT dated 2 July 1993 by Minister of Transportation. The waters comprises: waters in front of berths, wharves belonging to the port enterprises situated in Ho Chi Minh City area, and Dong Nai province area from three-way crossroads Den do to the heart of Bridge Dong Nai; the shipyards; the port entrances/exits fairways; the areas for anchorage and lighterage and storm-avoiding; and the Quarantine area (details referred to in Appendices I).

Chapter II
PROCEDURES FOR THE PORT ENTRANCE AND EXIT

Article 4:
The foreign vessels which are already granted the port entrance/exit permits by the Vietnam National Maritime Bureau, before entering Saigon Port waters, those papers shall be submitted to the Port Authority of Saigon.

Article 5:
1. Vietnamese ships of more than 200 GRT and foreign ships shall obey the provisions prescribed in Item B Chapter III, Decree 13/CP dated 25 February 1994 by the Government on the procedures for the port entrance and exit.
2. All the ships referred to in Item 1 this Article shall stop in anchorage area of Vung Tau to make procedures for entering ship. After the procedure for entering ship is cleared or otherwise the Director of the Port Authority gives instructions, the ships shall be permitted to continue the course to the port area under the Schedule of the Port Authority.

Article 6:
1. Vietnamese ships of less than 200 GRT returning from abroad may perform the entrance procedures in the anchoring area of Vung Tau, the anchoring area of Nha Be or in berths after completing the Medical Quarantine procedures in the anchoring area of Vungtau.
2. Vietnamese ships with aggregate capacity of less than 200 GRT having the local course have not to stop at the anchoring area of Vungtau before entering the port, however, shall keep contact to the Port Authority of Saigon awaiting the instructions on anchoring position within the port area.
3. Ships of local route may pass the procedures at the Port Authority of Saigon.

Article 7:
Vessels carrying dangerous goods shall report as prescribed in Article 17/1/a of Regulation on Management of Maritime Activities at Sea-ports and in the Maritime Navigable Zones of Vietnam, simultaneously inform the Port Authority of the following details:
1. Guidance on the features of dangerous goods.
2. Safety measures for human, vessels and goods during the process of loading/unloading.

Chapter III
PROVISIONS ON MANOEUVRING, BERTHING, MOORING, ANCHORING

Article 8:
1. Only ships and vessels of less than 230 metros in length and of less than 9.5 metres draft are permitted to enter / leaving the Port waters, except for Vung Tau anchoring area and Thieng Lieng lighterage area. In whatever and every case, tonnage of each ship or vessel entering the port shall conform with the permitted tonnage applied to the berths and buoy wharves to be moored.
2. The Director of the Port Authority of Saigon shall take into consideration of each particular case whether to permit ships/vessels of more than 230 metres in length and of more than 9.5 metres in draught to enter the port.
3. Only ships and vessels of less than value H in height calculated in Appendix II are permitted to enter the ports from the higher section of berth no. K15 of Ben Nghe Port toward the upstream wards of Saigon river.

Article 9:
Foreign ships/vessels and Vietnamese ships/vessels of more than 150 GRT having course from Vung Tau to Saigon and vice versa shall navigate in the passages and channels which had been surveyed, including: a part of Ganh Rai Bay, Nga Bay river, Long Tau river, Nha Be river, Saigon river (to Saigon Bridge) and Dong Nai river (to Dong Nai bridge) (See Appendix I). All ships that take a short-cut route or go off the above passages and channels are strictly prohibited.

Article 10:
Ships and vessels while navigating in the passages, so far as safe and practicable, shall keep appropriately close to the starboard of the channels.
On narrow channels, ships / vessels shall not take a short cut or cross the channels.
On the narrow channel lanes and at the pressing bends, ships / vessels shall not avoid or overtake each other.

Article 11:
Ships of all kinds, while navigating on the channels shall resort to the proper and safe speed so far as practicable. On the narrow channel lanes hereafter mentioned, unless it is impossible and otherwise provided for by law, the ships/vessels shall navigate at the limited speeds as follows:
- From Den Do headland to lower section of Ben Nghe port, not exceeding six (06) knots.
- From Ben Nghe port to the turning area at higher section of Tan Cang berth, not exceeding five (05) knots.

Article 12:
1. Ships/vessels that take over or enter the turning area shall be prohibited, if there is any other ship/vessel in this area and if the above action intervenes in the process of turning of the other ship/vessel therein.
2. Ships/vessels on turning shall use appropriate means of communication to notify approaching ships and vessels of the present situation as well as their own maneuvering schedule when the other ships/vessels are in the proper and safe distance.

Article 13:
1. The following areas are stipulated as the turning areas for ships/vessels (see details in Appendix III):
a. The turning area of three-way crossroad of Te canal is utilized for ships entering or leaving Tan Thuan Port, Ben Nghe Posts and the lower section ports of Ben Nghe. However, the turning of ships/vessels in this area should be limited if possible.
b. The turning area of My Canh is utilized for ships entering and leaving Saigon Port and the lower section ports of Saigon Port.
c. The turning area of the lower section of Tan Cang is utilized for ships/vessels entering and leaving Ba Son Port and Tan Cang.
d. The turning area of higher section of Tan Cang is utilized for ships/vessels entering and leaving Tan Cang.
2. Depending on the actually different situation, ships/vessels may turn about to leave, to moor berths or buoys on the spot or alongside other ships/vessels to ensure safety as well as not to interfere other ships/vessels' course and anchorage.

Article 14:
Ships/vessels of less than 20 metres in length, and rowing boats with oars that could operate safely in within the waters between anchorage buoy lines and the closest shore, shall not navigate in the main channel lanes.

Article 15:
Sand-carriers which have been loaded shall navigate in the limited waters from Nha Be or Cat Lai to Tan Cang from the second hour after the highest level of the day's second tide till the end of the day (calculated according to Tide Calendar of Vietnam).

Article 16:
Ships/vessels having the same direction of navigation, regardless of going separately or in team (exclusive of towed means of water), are not permitted to keep close and to go abreast, otherwise they shall go one by one and in safe distance from other ships/vessels.

Article 17:
1. Junks, barges, when ship or berth - mooring permit by Director of the Port Authority have not been granted, shall not anchor to buoy, berth or moor alongside the ship in the Port waters except for stipulated gathering areas.
2. By obtaining a permit thereupon, the means pointed out in the Item 1 this Article may navigate only from gathering position to the mooring position in the scheduled time and course.

Article 18:
1. Junks, barges with tonnage of 200 tons or more mooring alongside the vessel to handle cargo shall not stand in more than two parallel lines; and junks and barges with tonnage of less than 200 tons shall stand in more than three lines.
For Berth No. M1 and No. M2 of Saigon Seaport, junks and barges shall moor by one.
2. Ships/vessels, junks and barges shall not moor alongside the ships anchoring at Berth No. 14 and No. 15 of Ben Nghe Port for cargo handling, except for oil, water and food supply, piloting , fire- fighting ships or other similar service ships. Junks and barges may be considered to moor alongside ships by one at berth No. 14 and 100 metres from the higher section of berth No. 15 so far as practicable by the Director of the Port Authority.
3. Junks and barges may moor alongside the ships anchoring at the buoy No. 21B, 23A, 23B on the bank of Thu Thiem, however, shall not to interfere the regular course of the river - means of transportation operating in this area.

Article 19:
1. Non-propelled means of transportation when mooring alongside other ships/vessels for cargo handling shall be fully equipped with standing-by proper tugboats.
2. Means of transportation, which moor alongside the ship manoeuvred according to the Schedule of the Port Authority, shall move to other position regulated by the Port Authority no later than 30 minutes before the ship is manoeuvred.

Article 20:
1. Ships/vessels, which have tonnage of more than 1000 DWT and are not normal tugboats, shall be compulsory to use auxiliary tugboats when turning, maneuvering to moor and leave berths, buoys and other ships/vessels and to bear all appropriate costs and expenses.
Ships/vessels having capacity of less than 1000 DWT may request for auxiliary tugboat if necessary.
2. In normal conditions, the employment of auxiliary tugboats are provided for as follows:
- For ships/vessels with tonnage from 1000 T up to 3000 T, 01 tugboat having power of 500 HP or more is required.
- For ships/vessels with tonnage from 3000 T up to 5000 T, 02 tugboats having power of 500 HP or more are required.
- For ships/vessels with tonnage from 5,000 T up to 10,000 T, 02 tugboat having power of 500 HP, at least one of which having power of 1,000 HP are required.
- For ships/vessels with tonnage from 10,000 T up to 15,000 T, 02 tugboats having power of 10,000 HP is required.
- For ships/vessels with tonnage of more than 15,000 T, 03 tugboats having power of 500 HP, at least two of which having power of 1,000 HP are required.
Tugboats with large tonnage could be replaced by ones of the smaller provided that aggregate tonnage shall be not less than the aforesaid tugboats' tonnage.
3. Upon the permit of the Director of the Port Authority of Saigon, ships fitted with many side and stern propellers or auxiliary equipment, when maneuvering to moor, to leave berths, buoys or other ships/vessels, may reduce tugboat service.
4. When navigating in the abnormal conditions, tugboat service employment for each ship shall be particularly regulated by the Port Authority of Saigon.

Article 21:
Ships/vessels designing to pass the Port waters to enter the ports or the shipyards at the higher section of Saigon bridge and the higher section of Dong Nai bridge shall submit the Port Authority of Saigon a permit granted by the port or the shipyard where the ship intends to enter.
The ships/vessels thereon obtaining the permit shall observe the maneuvering schedule made by the Port Authority of Saigon.

Article 22:
1. Ships/vessels operating regularly on the fixed courses including passenger - ships sailing to the neighboring provinces, hydrofoil ships, restaurant-tourism ships shall register their schedules to conduct upon a permit by the Port Authority of Saigon. In case there have been any changes, the registration procedure from beginning is required.
Shipmasters of the aforesaid ships/vessels are responsible for notifying the Director of the Port Authority of Saigon of the sudden shifting of the ship's departure time, if any, no later than one (1) hour before maneuvering.
2. Decorating lights being designed and used in the aforesaid ships/vessels provided in Item No. 1 shall surely neither be mistaken nor intervene in the lighting scope or the remote visibility of any other lights or marine signals being fitted in the ships as stipulated in the existing regulations.

Article 23:
Ships/vessels anchoring in Nha Be anchorage area shall be posited by the Port Authority of Saigon. The diagram of Nha Be anchorage area is provided in details in Appendix No. IV. In case ships/vessels change anchoring position or define anchoring position by themselves, the co-ordinates of the anticipated anchoring position shall be notified to the Port Authority and maneuvering to the position shall be started upon the acceptance of the Director of the Port Authority.
After the anchorage is completed, shipmasters of the aforesaid ships/vessels shall define their ship's exact anchoring position, marking in sea map (including marking a safe circle) and then inform the Port Authority of the position.

Chapter IV
REGULATION ON PILOTAGE

Article 24:
1. While taking responsibility for piloting ships, pilots are obliged to regularly notify the Director of the Port Authority by VHF of any maritime dangerous changes, unsafety or environmental pollution risks which they have seen.
2. While piloting the vessels, if there occurred any incident of the vessel, the pilot shall notify immediately by VHF, and thereafter make a writing report to the Director of the Port Authority of Saigon within twenty four hours of its occurrence.

Article 25:
If any ship does not navigate under the maneuvering schedule of the Port Authority, Pilotage Company, when receiving the ship's request for pilots, shall inform the Port Authority of the case. In all cases, pilots are only permitted to pilot ships upon these ships are navigating according to the maneuvering schedule of the Port Authority.

Chapter V
REGULATION ON SANITATION

Article 26:
1. All ships/vessels operating in the Port waters intending to bump and let out dirty water, oil sludge, wastes, oil or oil compounds and other poisonous wastes into specialized means shall obtain a permit by the Port Authority to carryout the above work.
2. Pumping and letting out referred to in Item 1. this Article are compulsory for ships/vessels anchoring in the Port waters in the period of more than 15 days (exclusive of ships being repaired in shipyards and ships of non-operating main engines as well as light-engines). In such case, the above ships/vessels shall submit for a permit as stipulated in Item 1. this Article.
3. Garbage and rubbish shall be collected as per the rule in order that the service agent could remove them once every two days.
4. Persons and facilities to do service of collecting and removing wastes shall obey the rules on sanitation and environment protection. Service agencies collecting wastes , oil sludge ... are obliged to submit effective methods of disposal of the wastes to the Science, Technology and Environment Department of Ho Chi Minh City and then to actualize these methods provided that there is a permit of the above agent.
5. Shipmasters of ships/vessels shall facilitate to the agencies mentioned in Item 1 and Item 3 this Article and pay relevant fees as provided for in the rule.

Article 27:
Ships/vessels are permitted to depart, fumigate within the quarantine isolation ward as stipulated in Appendix No. I or other places provided by the Port Authority upon the acceptance of the Director of the Port Authority.

Article 28:
1. The placing of fishing traps/nets or other fish-catching facilities in the Sea-Port waters shall be considered whether to permit by the Director of the Port Authority and other local State-authorities of fishing. Traps/nets shall be place at the right position on the right time as stipulated in the permit. Any change in position shall be approved by the Director of the Port Authority. In whatever and any case, the position of traps/nets shall be displayed the signals and forms as provided for by Appendix No. V.
2. Traps/nets shall be placed far from works such as sea-lights, light-houses, shape-buoys, anchorage buoys in a distance of not less than 200 metres, far from river crossroads and bends in a distance of not less than 200 metres (upon good visibility), or 500 metres (upon visibility limited by terrain).
Placing of traps/nets in zigzag shape and dovetailing sawtooth pattern on channels are strictly prohibited.
3. The owners of traps/nets, when those are not utilized, shall demolish all of stakes and destroy or discharge other obstacles made by traps/nets.
4. The employment of moveable traps/nets, drift nets, dredge nets or other means to catch other sea products which obstruct courses of ships are forbidden.
5. All of ships engaged in fishing from Den do crossroad to Saigon bridge shall be strictly prohibited.

Article 29:
The Director of the Port Authority of Saigon shall consider whether to permit to grope, dive, salvage or other underwater work on condition of full and due fitting of labour safety equipment as well as warning signals and shapes as prescribed in the regulations.

Article 30:
1. Organizations intending to hold military marches, sport games or crowed demonstrations within the Port waters shall apply in writing to the Port Authority of Saigon no later than fifteen (15) days before the scheduled date, and then await a permit by the Director of the Port Authority for carrying out the activities.
2. The above mentioned events shall not intervene in the regular activities in the Port waters.
3. Ships/vessels exclusive of sports and tourism ships shall apply for a permit by the Authority. Upon the permit, the schedule for operation shall be registered to the Port Authority.

Article 31:
In consideration of influence on maritime safety assurance, sanitation, security, environment pollution prevention therein, before implementing projects to construct ports or projects in the Port waters, if any, the investors shall:
-Submit before the Port Authority the license granted by Vietnam National Maritime Bureau.
-Notify the Port Authority of the necessary measures during survey and implementation period of time in order to ensure the common safety thereby within the area.

Chapter VI
COMMUNICATIONS

Article 32:
1. All vessels on entering / leaving ports and during their operating time in Port waters shall constantly keep communications with the Port Authority by VHF on the following channels:
- Channel 16 for general contact.
- Channel 09 and 77 and other stipulated ones for working contact.
2. Signal letters of ships/vessels or of organizations or of individuals to be raised shall not exceed three (3) times every call/answer. Each call shall be at least three (3) minutes from the previous one. Call / answer shall be taken quickly on the general channel and transferred to working channel right after connecting to the other.
3. All ships/vessels, organizations and individuals shall not interfere with the operation of the Port Authority through channels 09 and 77

Article 33:
Ships/vessels when anchoring in the Port waters shall be on VHF duty with special caution within the first ten (10) minutes of every even hour's daily, especially stand-by duty is required in bad weather.

Article 34:
Channel 14 is particularly used for pilots. During the navigation of the ships, a VHF watch shall be exercised on channel 14 if the ships are equipped with two (2) VHF watch or more.

Chapter VII
PREVENTION AGAINST FROM FIRES, EXPLOSIONS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION FROM SHIPS

Article 35:
All relevant Ports and agencies shall work out measures of fires and explosions extinguishing, salvage and rescue, environmental pollution prevention within their due port waters.

Article 36:
All ships/vessels shall strictly take measures in fires and explosions extinguishing appropriate to the cargo engaging / handling. Ships/vessels shall be fitted with auxiliary fires and explosions extinguishing equipment if necessary and in such case it is required an approval by the specialized and responsible fires prevention force.

Article 37:
All ships/vessels navigating or loading/unloading dangerous cargo shall exhibit a B-shaped flag in day time and a red light in night time at the all-around most visible position.

Article 38:
Loading / Unloading and transporting dangerous cargo shall comply with provisions prescribed in International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code issued by IMO.

Article 39:
1. Vessels engaged in carrying oil or oil products, hereinafter called "tankers" shall be permitted to handle cargo in the specialized ports.
Regarding to the purpose of entering shipyards for being repaired or normal ports for handling other general cargo, before ships enter yards or ports, the hatches and holds shall be well-cleaned, ventilated and then approved on the basis of a survey by the Port Authority and the other authorized agencies.
2. In particular circumstances, the Director of the Port Authority shall consider whether to permit vessels other than oil tankers to moor ports exclusive of cargo handling in conditions of their conformity with the existing rules on fires and explosions prevention appropriate to the kind of goods as well as on maneuvering and anchoring vessels.

Chapter VIII
IMPLEMENTATION PROVISION

Article 40:
The present regulation shall take effect from December the 1st 1995. All previous regulations of the Port Authority of Saigon, which are contrary to this Regulation, are now annulled.
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