VietNamNet Bridge – Seaport authorities complained that they have lost many customers because of stricter control over overloaded vehicles.

The large ports in Hai Phong and Quang Ninh have been complaining about the decrease in the number of customers, while the smaller ports have become more bustling, with more vehicles going in and out.

Customers are inclined tend to go through smaller ports because the ports’ developers ignore their overloaded vehicles, while large ports do not.

In late 2014, the head of the Vietnam Maritime Bureau, Nguyen Nhat, who had discovered that most of the overloaded vehicles were departing from ports, said that stiff punishment would be imposed on ports that allow vehicles to carry more goods than permitted levels. They would also have their business licenses revoked.

“There will be no more overloaded vehicles by 2015,” he said.

However, the problem has continued.

Bui Quang Dao, general director of Cai Lan Port in Quang Ninh province, said only large port developers require the weighing of vehicles before they leave the ports.

Meanwhile, smaller ports, especially the privately run ones, “welcome” all vehicles.

Dao complained that the number of customers has dropped dramatically since the day the port authorities began examining vehicle loading.

“Small ships and goods owners told me that they left our port because we did not allow them to carry as many goods as demanded, which made their production costs higher,” Dao said.

The large ports belonging to Hai Phong, Dinh Vu and Vat Cach, which require weighing of vehicles before they leave the ports, are facing the same situation.

A meeting was held in late 2014, where the Hai Phong Port Authorities asked port developers to strictly follow the regulation on verifying vehicle loading. However, it was ignored.

“I am sure that eight out of every 10 ports have loosened their control over vehicle loading to attract more customers. If we don’t, we will die of starvation,” said the director of a private port.

At the meeting, all the participants were asked to promise not to let overloaded vehicles go in and out the ports. All of them pledged to follow the regulation, but no one can be sure if they will fulfill their commitment.

Meanwhile, inspectors admitted that it was very difficult to catch overloaded vehicles red-handed.

An inspector in Hai Phong City said that overloaded vehicles would not leave the ports if they saw inspectors at the entrance door to the ports.

If inspectors discover overloaded vehicles on the roads, far from the ports, port developers would deny their responsibility for the overloading, saying that the vehicles might have received more goods after they left the ports.

Lao Dong