VietNamNet Bridge – Nine inland waterway tourist vessels en route to HCM City and the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau will undergo safety and environmental protection inspections, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) announced this week.

After last month's fire on a vessel carrying 85 passengers from HCM City to the resort city of Vung Tau, HCM City authorities suspended operation of all such vessels until inspections could be conducted.

No casualties occurred in the blaze, but the vessel's cabin and engine room were destroyed.

A 22-member inspection team led by the ministry's Department of Traffic Safety will check the nine vessels and point out any violations. The Viet Nam Register's Sub-department 6 and enterprises owning the vessels must supply any documents required by inspectors.

Bui Cong Trung, chief executive officer of the Vina Express vessel that caught fire, expressed hope that the inspectors would find any problems and the ships would return to operating.

Previously, inspectors from the HCM City Department of Transport asked the enterprises to fix several issues before February 18. While the repairs were essentially complete, the city authorities wanted to wait for MoT's conclusion before allowing the vessels back on the water.

Source: VNS