Meeting reviews safety measures in Ha Long Bay

HA LONG (VNS)— Ha Long Bay rescue agencies met with the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province on Monday review safety and injury prevention measures, following a spate of waterway accidents.

The two agencies currently in charge of bay rescues - the Ha Long Bay Management Board Rescue Centre and the local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Centre of Diving and Rescue for Underwater Sports - have both been labelled ineffective due to lack of staff and equipment.

The Quang Ninh Province's Port Department said the provincial People's Committee needs to provide more resources for the agencies in charge and must step up co-operation between local authorities and concerned provinces to ensure safety on the bay.

The Waterway Traffic Police of Quang Ninh Province suggested increased inspections of waterway vehicles in ports and increased management over fishing villages, beaches and areas where boats stay, to ensure they are meeting required safety standards.

Other agencies also asked the People's Committee to approve the plan to step up rescue work and fire prevention for Ha Long Bay to 2015, with a vision until 2020.

Vu Thi Thu Thuy, deputy chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province said the committee had asked relevant local agencies to develop on-site rescue plans as an urgent solution.

She added that the committee was developing long-term plans to organise training courses to raise the awareness and capacity of those in the tourism sector, especially boat operators.

Meanwhile, also on Monday, the Hai Phong Border Guard steering committee announced that the two sailors and dead body, all of Chinese nationality, involved in a shipwreck on the area of Bach Long Vy Island District had been safely returned to China.

Earlier last week, the Bach Long Vy Border Guard Station 58 had accepted the sailors and dead body, which were rescued by Vietnamese fishermen. — VNS