Quang Ninh tightens safety rules on travel boats in Ha Long Bay

Relevant agencies in Quang Ninh province have inspected 135 travel boats licensed to work in Ha Long Bay and found technical errors on the boats.
After the Truong Hai No. 6 sunk, killing 10 foreign and 2 local tourists in early February, Quang Ninh authorities have inspected 135 out of the total 151 tourist boats, concentrating on the boats that offer overnight services.
Inspectors discovered some boats did not maintain periodical technical inspections and some had technical errors.
Two boats had their cabin roofs downgraded, 37 had baffles that were not watertight, 41 lacked standard firefighting and pumping systems, 9 had 108 below standard life-jackets, and 25 did not have instruction boards on the use of safety equipment.
In addition, 59 sailors in 10 boats did not have certificates on fire training and 24 staff did not have professional certificates.
The inspection group has proposed Quang Ninh authorities to tighten inspection and heighten the technical and safety standards of travel boats.
The new regulations will be issued in March 2011.