Recently, the Ministry of Transportation has issued the Circular No. 49/2014/TT-BGTVT dated 15 October 2014 on provisions of safety examination of containers shipped through the port of Vietnam.
Safety examination of containers includes: Check the safety certification plate of container and check the security status of the container.
The port authority shall examine the safety certification plate of container in terms of: how is the safety certification plate mounted to the container; size of the safety certification plate; the parameters indicated on the safety certification plate of container (including the dates of inspection and maintenance).
The competent port authority shall check the security status of containers in accordance with provisions of national technical regulations on examination and production of containers transported on vehicles in terms of: composition of containers and the cover of containers.
The circular also stipulates the suspension of operation of containers for cases such as the container is not mounted a safety certification plate or the mounted plate is not as regulated; the containers are not checked, not undergone period maintenance; the container is damaged, there is the risk of unsafe under the provisions of national technical regulations on inspection and production of containers transported on vehicles.
Vietnam Maritime Administration cooperates with the local Customs Department and Vietnam Register office to examine the safety of containers.
This Circular shall take effect on 15 December 2014.