VietNamNet Bridge – A special inspection team, led by the Deputy Minister for Transport Nguyen Van Cong, has been set up to discover the cause of an accident that saw nine people drown last Friday, on the Soai Rap River in HCM City.

Nine people missing in shipwreck in HCM City

The team was ordered to report back to the ministry by August 20, said Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang.

After an initial assessment by the Viet Nam Maritime Administration, overloading and bad weather were blamed for the accident.

The vessel was carrying 30 people at the time but was only permitted to hold 12.

Search and rescue operations were also hampered by poor visibility and bad weather.

The Viet-Czech Technology Joint Stock Company and Oil Pipeline Joint Stock Company have been reported to have taken responsibility for the accident, said a spokesperson.

The company had been using the vessel to transport people without being certified by the authorised agencies, he said. He added that the employees had been travelling from HCM City to Vung Tau without permission.

In addition, the vessel's coxswain has broken safety regulations allowing the vessel to enter or leave port, he added.

The vessel, 8.5 metres in length and 2.29 metres wide, was supposed to be getting a certificate of technical safety in July from the Naval Registry Office.

Source: VNS