A decision to establish a representative office of the Nha Trang Maritime Port Authority in Truong Sa island district, central Khanh Hoa province, was announced on November 15.

The creation of the representative office is stipulated in Decision No.568/QD-CHHVN issued by the Director of the Ministry of Transport’s Vietnam Maritime Administration (VMA).

Addressing the ceremony in Khanh Hoa’s Nha Trang city, VMA Director Nguyen Nhat said the establishment of the office would help ensure the management of shipping operations and ensure the freedom of navigation in line with Vietnam’s law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It also demonstrates Vietnam’s presence in and management of the sea areas and islands under its sovereign control, helping safeguard the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

Pham Van Chuong, Director of the Nha Trang Maritime Port Authority, said the authorities would also coordinate with relevant agencies on search and rescue missions at sea as well as environmental pollution prevention.

The VMA also announced the demarcation of the waters of Truong Sa seaport, based in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. The waters are defined in the ministerial Circular No.21/2014/TT-BGTVT.

VNA/VNN