ĐÀ NẴNG — The Đà Nẵng People’s Committee has granted licences to 29 cruise boats to operate on the Hàn River and on inshore routes in the Sơn Trà Peninsula for a year (2016-2017).

The city administration also announced yesterday that from 2018 onwards, it will ban under 50-seat boats, old boats and modified fishing boats from carrying tourists.

The announcement said that relevant agencies and departments had inspected all cruise boats and ships sailing on the Hàn River, and granted licences to 24 50-seaters and five newly built boats.

The city has asked owners of licensed boats to adopt top safety and quality standards and strictly abide by new, tightened regulations.

The stricter regulations on granting a cruise licence were put in place after three tourists drowned in the Hàn River last June after their boat capsized..

Investigations found that the boat, which was modified from a fishing boat, was overloaded, carrying 56 tourists, double its allowed capacity. Poor management by the Hàn Port authority was also blamed for the accident.

The boat did not have permission to offer tours on the Hàn River, and most passengers were not wearing life-jackets.

The accident was the worst waterway accident in the city’s history.

Around 700 tourists go on night cruises on the Hàn River everyday. Inshore routes in the Sơn Trà peninsula are particularly popular during summer holidays.

In related news, the city also announced yesterday it would fine traffic violations caught by cameras installed on several major streets.

Last year, the cameras spotted 62 violations on the city’s Thuận Phước Bridge. — VNS