The Vietnamese Maritime Administration is currently organized as shown in Figure 1

　

　

Ministry of Transport (MOT) is the governmental body responsible for overall maritime affairs in the whole country. It works through two executive agencies, namely the Vietnam National Maritime Bureau (VINAMARINE), and the Vietnam Register (VR).

　

　VINAMARINE is the national maritime administration in the whole country, with control over all state-owned enterprises, private companies, organisations and individuals.

　

　VR is a specialist support unit that is known as a national classification society; it classifies and issues technical certificates of sea-going vessels.

　

　VMP is under the control of the Ministry of Defence, and is responsible for protecting the sovereign rights of Vietnam in the Exclusive economic zone (EEZ)including sea areas and continental shelf.

　

　

　VINAMARINE was established by the Ordinance of Vietnamese Government No. 239/HDBT dated 29 June 1992, it is the State Competent Authority that controls the Vietnam Shipping Industry as regards both administrative and commercial aspects.

　

　According to Article 1 of the Ordinance No. 239/HDBT, VINAMRITNE is the authority of state maritime administration in the whole country. On behalf of Minister of Transport and being responsible to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Bureau exercises the functions of the state administration over the maritime sector throughout the country, including all state-run maritime units (belonging both to central and local authorities) organisations and individuals (foreign organisations and individuals functioning in the territory of Vietnam are also included). The organisation chart of

　

　

VINAMARINE is shown in Figure 2.

　

　In order to give a better understanding of the maritime administration system in Vietnam, the major agencies, which fall under the direct control of VINAMARINE, will also be showed in parts below

　

　There are 21 Port Authorities located thought the country, each of which is acting as the local maritime administration in the area for which it is responsible maritime area. The port authority system is a part of the national maritime administration as provided in Article 58 of the Vietnamese Maritime Code: "A specialised agency conducting maritime administrative tasks at sea-port waters and regional navigable zones is referred to as a port authority".

　

　When conducting maritime safety inspection and investigating maritime casualties and accidents, the port authorities have a permanent link to VINAMARINE for assistance and advice. This ensures that actions taken by port authorities are considered carefully, especially in cases of detention of ships.

　

　VMS was founded in May 1975, as the sole agency responsible for maritime safety in Vietnam. The new administrative framework was formed on 1 January 1995 with responsibility not only for conventional aid to navigation services but also for new services such as search and rescue, vessel safety, protection of the maritime environment and hydrography. It also carries out maintenance once of the lighthouse and light beacon system in the whole the country. At present, maritime safety services are carried out by three regional VMS, which are under the direct control of VMS, in the whole country.

　

　VMSI was founded by Prime Minister Decision No. 204/TTg dated 28 December 1992. This Decision gives VMSI powers to:

　

　This organisation was established in 1996. Under the control of VINAMARINE VMIRCC commands directly and co-ordinates search and rescue activities at sea of forces and units which belong to the Vietnam maritime industry. It is also responsible for co-ordinating internal and external forces in order to search for and rescue vessels in distress at sea.

　

　The structure of this organisation includes VMRCC head-quarters in Hanoi and three regional VMRCC at Haiphong VMRCC in the north, Danang VMRCC in the centre and VungTau VMRCC in the south. These regional centres perform SAR services along the shore and offshore in the assigned area and region. Moreover, they take responsibility of SAR co-ordination in adjoining areas if need, be according to assigned command of VMRCC.

　

　In addition, each port authority under VINAMARINE also has an SAR office to co-ordinate SAR activities with the regional maritime SAR co-ordination centres within the waters for which they are responsible.

　

　VISHIPPEL, under VINAMARINE, is charged with operating and maintaining the communication system, includes five international registered coastal radio stations and eight national radio stations. Those seven stations are keeping watch around the clock for search and rescue, medical assistance, weather forecasts at sea, commercial services and so on.

　

　VISHIPEL now has plans to improve and increase the number of coastal station along the country; a Land Earth Station (LES) has also been build in Vietnam

　

　In order to reach the performance goals imposed on IMO member, MOT established "Vietnam Secretariat to IMO" by a decree No. 1195QD/PC-VT, dated 29 September 1993. Its main duties are:

　

　VINAMARINE established Vietnam Liaison Office to IMO, as an executive office assist the Vietnam Secretariat to IMO in its exercise of the above duties.

　

　

　VR has been delegated by MOT to carry out surveys and issue technical certificates and classification of Vietnames flag ships in compliance with the national standards, rules and regulations or the requirements of the international conventions which Vietnam has signed.

　

　With 70 agencies and service centers and number of technical staff of about 400 located whole the country, VR has had now extended its technical service activities over the transport industry in Vietnam. It also had technical co-operation with other classification associates such as the Russian Register of Shipping, the Germannischer Lloyd, the Lloyd's Register (LR) and the Bureau Veritat (BV).

　

　

　VMP is established in 1998. Under the control of MOD (see Figure 3), the main duties of VMP are to exercise the State sovereign jurisdiction and control over Vietnamese territorial waters, EEZ and continental shelf VMP also co-operates with other related authorities, including foreign authorities, in search and rescue, oil pollution protection, anti-piracy and anti-smuggling patrols at sea.

　

　

　

Minister: Mr. Le Ngoc Hoan

Address: 80 Tran Hung Dao Str. Hanoi, Vietnam

Telephone: +84. 4. 825 3301

Fax: +84. 4. 826 7291

　

Chairman: Mr. Bui Ngoc chau

Address: 11A Lang Ha Str., Hanoi, Vietnam

Telephone: 84.4.8561372

Fax: 84.4.8560729

Email : Vinamarine@fmail.vnn.vn

　

General Director: Mr. Nguyen Van Ban

Address: 126 Kim Nguu, Hanoi Vietnam

Telephone: +84. 4. 971 4243

Fax: +84. 4. 821 1320

Email: vr@fpt.vn

　

Commander: Mr. Ho Minh Giap

Address: 276 Da Nang Str., Hai Phong, Vietnam

Telephone: +84. 31. 695467

Fax: +84. 31. 761921

　

Rector: Mr. Tran Dac Suu

Address: 484 Tran Quoc Toan Str. Haiphong, Vietnam

Telephone: +84. 31. 829 109

Fax: +84. 31. 735 282

Email: Tdsuu@hn.vnn.vn

　

Rector: Mr. Le Ngoc Chinh

Address: 2B Da Nang Str. Haiphong, Vietnam

Telephone: +84. 31. 766 425

Fax: +84. 31. 766 425

　

Rector: Mr. Phung Son Hai

Address: 131 Nguyen Khoai Str. HoChiMinh City, Vietnam

Telephone: +84. 8.940 1618

Fax: +84. 8. 940 1618

　

Director: Mr. Nguyen Chu Hoi

Address: No. 246 Da Nang Str., Hai Phong City, Vietnam

Telephone: +84. 31. 761 523

Fax: +84. 31. 761.521

Email: nchoi@hio.ac.vn

　

Director: Nguyen Tac An

Address: No. 1 Cau Da Str. Nha Trang City, Vietnam

Telephone: +84. 58. 590 035

Fax: +84. 58. 590 034

Email: haiduong@dng.vnn.vn