Following the deadly boat accident on July 19 that killed 39 people, Quang Ninh will equip all tourist boats in Ha Long Bay with AIS and Very High Frequency (VHF) radios.
According to Tran Van Hong, Head of the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, around 80 per cent of the more than 500 boats have been equipped so far. The remaining vessels are awaiting equipment and are expected to be fully fitted by August 15.
The new system ensures uninterrupted communication independent of mobile networks.
A Ha Long Bay tourist boat installed with an AIS-VHF system (Photo by N.D)
The AIS-VHF system, typically used on offshore vessels, allows seamless information exchange between boats and authorities via VHF radio waves, ensuring broad and stable coverage. It enhances voyage tracking, provides collision alerts, and supports emergency communications.
Once installed, all vessel data will be transmitted to the Inland Waterway Port Authority, the Register, Border Guard, and Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ninh Province for simultaneous monitoring and coordinated incident response.
A Ha Long Bay tour boat operator said that two of the firm’s vessels had previously relied on GPS devices, but frequent signal loss due to their reliance on mobile networks posed challenges.
AIS and VHF installation costs around VND 20 million (around USD 800) per vessel.
The Quang Ninh Military Command has also arranged a military medical ship and two fast-response boats for continuous patrols in Ha Long Bay from August 6.
