DECISION No. 1431/1999/QD-BGTVT OF JUNE 15, 1999 ON THE INSTALLATION AND MANAGEMENT OF INLAND WATERWAYS NAVIGATION SIGNAL DEVICES IN SHIP CLEARANCES OF RIVER BRIDGES

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

Pursuant to the Ordinance on Protection of Traffic Works of December 2, 1994 of the National Assembly Standing Committee;

Pursuant to Decree No.22/CP of March 22, 1994 of the Government stipulating the function, tasks, powers, State management responsibilities and organizational structure of the Ministry of Communications and Transport;

Pursuant to Decree No.40/CP of July 5, 1996 and Decree No.77/1998/ND-CP of September 26, 1998 of the Government on ensuring inland waterways navigation order and safety;

At the proposals of the Director of the Legal Department and the Director of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration,

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To stipulate the installation and management of inland waterways navigation signal devices in ship clearances of river bridges, as follows:

1. When constructing river bridges, the bridge project owners shall have to clear and remove all obstacles in the riverbed after the construction is completed, and install inland waterways navigation signal devices in ship clearances (hereafter referred to as the signal devices) according to the guidance of inland waterways managing units.

Upon conducting the pre-acceptance inspection and putting the bridges into use, the bridge project owners shall have to hand over such signal devices and the dossiers recording the sweep, clearance and removal of obstacles in the riverbed within the bridge protection area to the inland waterways managing units.

2. For the existing bridges where, due to historical reasons, the prescribed signal devices have not yet been installed or inadequately installed, the inland waterways managing units shall have to additionally install and manage signal devices. The bridge managing units shall have to coordinate with the inland waterways managing units and create favorable conditions for the installation and management of signal devices by the latter.

3. In cases where the ship and boat navigation lanes are changed requiring alteration of ship clearances, the inland waterways managing units shall notify the bridge managing units thereof in writing. The bridge managing units shall have to coordinate with and create all favorable conditions for the inland waterways managing units to promptly re-position the signal devices.

4. The responsibilities of the inland waterways managing units are defined as follows:

a) The inland waterways managing unit under the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration shall be in charge of the bridges on the centrally-managed inland waterways routes.

b) The inland waterways managing units under the provincial/municipal Communications and Transport Services or the provincial/municipal Communications and Public Works Services shall be in charge of the bridges on other inland waterways routes.

Article 2.- The Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, the Vietnam Land Road Administration, the Vietnam Railways Union, the provincial/municipal Communications and Transport Services and the provincial/municipal Communications and Public Works Services shall conduct the inspection and examination of all bridges and signal systems thereon, as well as the sweep of obstacles in the riverbed within the bridge protection areas they are in charge of; draw up plans for installation and management of signal devices, and clearance and removal of obstacles (including at old bridges that have no longer been used) according to Article 1 of this Decision, then submit them to the Ministry of Communications and Transport and the provincial/municipal People�s Committees, in order to get operating fund allocation quotas according to the annual plans.

Article 3.- This Decision stipulates the division of responsibilities for installing and maintaining signal devices on the river bridges between the Inland Waterways Service and the Land Road and Railways Services, and takes effect 15 days after its signing. The installation and maintenance of signal devices on other projects or obstacles shall continue to comply with Decision No.1538-QD/KHKT of August 3, 1992 of the Ministry of Communications and Transport.

Article 4.- The head of the Ministry of Communications and Transport�s Office, the director of the Legal Department, the director of the Planning and Investment Department, the director of the Finance and Accountancy Department, the director of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, the director of the Vietnam Land Road Administration, the general director of the Vietnam Railways Union, the directors of the provincial/municipal Communications and Transport Services and the provincial/municipal Traffic and Public Works Services and the concerned organizations and individuals shall have to implement this Decision.

For the Minister of

Communications and Transport

Vice Minister