Vung Tau maritime port authorities denounced of hampering enterprises

Some enterprises, which provide ship towing services in Vung Tau City, complain that they are “more dead than alive” because of the difficulties the Vung Tau port authorities put for them.

While other enterprises have to struggle to exist, Bien Xanh Transport Company and the Vung Tau Towing Company (VTT) have been developing well. According to Saigon Tiep Thi, the two companies have been favored because the companies have been set up by the relatives of Le Van Chien, Director of Vung Tau ports authorities, and Vu Van Khuong, Deputy Chief Maritime Safety Inspector.

Port authorities block enterprises with administrative orders

In order to create most favorable conditions for Bien Xanh and VTT, the Vung Tau port authorities have set up very strict requirements on towing activities, which enterprises still cannot satisfy. However, it is quite a surprise that the two companies – Bien Xanh and VTT – have still been allowed to operate.

On March 10, Liberian Hanzin Germany Vessel with the tonnage of 123,000 DWT docked at Cai Mep Thuong container port with the towing service provided by VTT. The company used three tug-boats, including one Azimuth propeller ship. Meanwhile, the Vung Tau port authorities have stipulated that in order to tug the vessels with the tonnage of more than 80,000 DWT, towing enterprises must use two Azimuth propeller ships which have the minimum capacity equal to 10 percent of the ships’ tonnage.

In early April 2011, the port authorities released a document stipulating that the ships with the length of over 300 meters are now allowed to dock the ports.

The document once made shipping agents and Japanese MoI shipping firm miserable because most of the ships of the firm have the length of 302 meters and they regularly docked at the deep water port in Vung Tau for goods handling.

The ridiculous thing is that right after MoI terminated the relations with VTT’s rivals, in mid April 2011, the Vung Tau authorities released a new document, allowing the ships with the length of no more than 302 meters to dock the ports.

Most recently, the Vung Tau port authorities made another extremely odd behavior on July 28. The story related to the accident incurred by Hao Heng 8 (Panama, 18,100 DWT).

The ship got an accident one week ago when it crashed into a pier. On July 26, the port authorities allowed the ship to enter Posco Port with the support of a tug boat. On 2.30 pm of July 28, Hao Heng finished its works at the port and nearly got fully recovered. However, the port authorities then released a document, forcing Hao Heng 8 to get repaired right at the Posco port before leaving for the anchoring area. Meanwhile, the navigator believes that if Hao Heng 8 could get the support of two tug boats with the capacity of over 2000 horse power, it will be able to leave the port safely.

Only after asking for the intervention of the Vietnam Maritime Bureau, on July 29, Hao Heng 8 was allowed by the Vung Tau port authorities to leave Posco port. With the stay at Posco for repair, Hao Heng 8 had to spend 17,000 dollars.

The ship owner said that since the towing company lacked a tug boat, he had to contact VTT to charter a ship. VTT then asked for the sky high fee of 10,000 dollars, while the market price was just 1000 or 1300 dollars.

Business environment damaged

Some towing service companies in Vung Tau complain that the unhealthy competition has forced them to “sit idle”. SP-PSA, a joint venture between the Saigon Port and a Singaporean company, which has a modern fleet (each of the ship is valued at four million dollars), for example, does not have many jobs to do.

SP-PSA has sent letters to shipping agents to talk about the weak capacity of the local towing enterprise (implying VTT). In the letter, Managing Director of SP-PSA said that at 6pm of May 25, a big container ship of CMA, could not leave CMIT port when using VTT’s service. The leave could only be implemented the next day which badly affect the business schedule of shipping agents.

The Hai Van Transport Service Company has also said that Hai Van’s fleet has five ships, but three of which have been moved to HCM City because of no job in Vung Tau. The five ships are worth 60 billion dong, and the company is being burdened with the bank loan interest rates.

Meanwhile, the owner of a ship, who asked to be anonymous, told Saigon Tiep Thi that though he knows VTT is not capable enough, he still has to use the services of VTT, or he will “get a lot of troubles”.

Source: SGTT

Tags: Vung Tau maritime port