>> Ha Long Bay accident prompts tighter scrutiny over boats
Hundreds of tourist boats in Bai Chay port, Ha Long City, refused to carry travellers on morning June 10 because many operators had to suspend services.
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| Tourists waiting on the morning of June 10 |
A new regulation, enacted by provincial government in Quang Ninh, took effect on June 10, included new requirements for tour boats in the bay, boat owners said. But many operators have failed to meet the stipulations of the new law.
The local government now requires any passenger boat to have an automatic firefighting system, along with GPS and cameras, the owners noted.
All crew members on these boats must also have a high school diploma, together with a nationally recognised certificate in their field.
One owner of a passenger boat in Ha Long Bay said, “The regulation didn\'t give us enough time to prepare. The necessary upgrades were difficult, and we had no better choice but suspend our services.”
A provincial official confirmed that many boats had failed to meet new standards, but he emphasised that all the requirements are important to ensure safety on the bay.
Provincial authorities have yet to make any further moves to deal with the situation.