Viet Nam Maritime Administration (Vinamarine) has submited a request to Binh Dinh Province People’s Commitee for a licence to dump 439,000cu.m of waste mud into Quy Nhon City’s sea.

Quy Nhon Port requires dredging. — Photo maps.google.com

If approved, the waste mud would be dumped near buoy number zero, at least 2.5km from the coast.

On Tuesday, Dang Trung Thanh, director of Binh Dinh Province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the department has collaborated with Vinamarine and other related forces to investigate and evaluate dossiers.

According to Thanh, Quy Nhơn Port’s inlet is getting clogged, obstructing the arrival and departure of large vessels. To receive 50,000DWT (deadweight tonnage) ships, Vinamarine proposed the plan to dredge 439,000cu.m of mud to the Ministry of Transport, which got approved.

Recently, it has submitted another application to Binh Dinh Province authority for waste dumping.

“We are carefully investigating and considering the proposal since this is a controversial issue. It requires ensuring traffic flow through Quy Nhon Port as well as protecting the environment and people’s lives,” Thanh said. — VNS