DECISION

APPROVING THE PLAN ON THE PROTECTION OF MARINE TYPHOON-SIGNALING BUOY STATIONS

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government of September 30, 1992;
Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 24-CP of March 19, 1997 detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Hydro-Meteorological Works and Decree No. 14/1998/ND-CP of March 6, 1998 on Management of State Property;
Considering the proposal of the General Director of Meteorology and Hydrology in Report No. 813/KTTV-VP of September 24, 1999 as well as the opinions of the concerned ministries and branches,

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To approve the plan on the protection of marine typhoon-signaling buoy stations with the following principal contents:

1. General provisions

The system of typhoon-signaling buoy stations installed in the sea areas of Vietnam is a system of important facilities invested by the State to enhance the typhoon forecasting and warning work and the basic marine hydro-meteorological survey, serve the national defense and security tasks, prevent and reduce damages caused by natural calamities, and exploit marine natural resources.

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To safely protect the system of buoy stations is the responsibility of all concerned levels, ministries, branches and localities.

2. Measures to protect buoy stations

a/ Technical measures:

Buoy stations must be installed at places of typhoon- and wind-landing and at places where exist favorable conditions for ensuring their safety and constant operation.

The installation of buoy stations must fully comply with the designs already approved by the competent agency.

During the process of use, all technical criteria for maintenance of buoy stations must be met to ensure their continuous and accurate operation.

b/ Popularization and education measures:

Communication and popularization measures shall be taken to make known the benefits of marine typhoon-signaling buoy stations, thereby educating and mobilizing various forces operating on the sea as well as coastal inhabitants to participate in the protection of marine typhoon-signaling buoy stations.

c/ Administrative and economic measures:

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3. Organization of implementation

The ministries, branches and localities shall, depending on their functions and tasks assigned by the Prime Minister, cooperate in protecting marine typhoon-signaling buoy stations.

Article 2.- Responsibilities of the ministries, branches and localities for the protection of buoy stations

1. The General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology

a/ To assume the prime responsibility for organizing the implementation of technical and economic measures to protect buoy stations, to coordinate with the mass media and the concerned branches and localities in carrying out popularization and education measures to raise the people’s awareness and responsibility in the protection of buoy stations.

b/ To provide the ministries of: Defense, Public Security, Communications and Transport and Aquatic Resources, and the local People’s Committees with notices on the operation status of buoy stations, regarding their locations, operating regimes (including cases of being out of order, drifting…), technical specifications, identification characteristics, the boundary of the safe sea areas of buoy stations, and other characteristics worth noticing.

c/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and concerned agencies in investigating and settling cases involving damages or loss of buoy stations.

2. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Security

a/ Various forces under the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, when patrolling on the sea, shall have to supervise the locations and outward appearance of buoy stations, and promptly notify the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of relevant information for coordination in protecting buoy stations.

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c/ To render timely support in terms of personnel and means for the search for and rescue of buoy stations struck with incidents at the request of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

3. The Ministry of Communications and Transport and the Ministry of Aquatic Resources

a/ To organize the announcement of maritime notices and dissemination of information on the operation of buoy stations supplied by the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology to Vietnamese and foreign ships and vessels.

b/ To request ships and vessels operating on the sea to immediately take preventive measures when detecting acts of infringing upon any buoy stations. If any buoys are detected drifting, damaged or failing to ensure the required specifications, to promptly inform the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology thereof for settlement and provision of information to be announced in maritime notices.

c/ To closely coordinate with the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and concerned ministries, branches and localities in searching and rescuing buoy stations.

4. The Vietnam Television Station, the Radio Voice of Vietnam, and central and local radio stations and newspapers

To coordinate with the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and concerned ministries, branches and localities in carrying out popularization and education measures to raise the people’s awareness and responsibility in the protection of buoy stations.

5. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government Committee for Frontier Issues

To coordinate with the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology in dealing with international relation matters related to buoy stations.

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To consider and balance fundings for the implementation of measures to protect buoy stations according to current regulations.

7. The People’s Committees of coastal provinces and cities

a/ To coordinate with the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology in popularizing the purpose, significance and importance of buoy stations in the prevention and avoidance of typhoons and the exploitation of marine natural resources among their attached organizations and agencies as well as fishermen.

b/ To create favorable conditions for officials of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and other ministries and branches in performing their tasks related to buoy stations in their respective localities.

c/ To coordinate with the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and concerned ministries and branches in searching and rescuing buoy stations.

Article 3.- Commendation and disciplining

Organizations and individuals that have excellently fulfilled their tasks of protecting marine typhoon-signaling buoy stations shall be commended and rewarded according to the common regime of the State.

Organizations and individuals that fail to perform well their assigned tasks or commit acts of infringing on marine typhoon-signaling buoy stations shall, depending on the seriousness of their violations, be disciplined, administratively sanctioned or examined for penal liability as prescribed by law.

Article 4.- Implementation provisions

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The ministers, heads of the ministerial-level agencies, heads of the agencies attached to the Government, and the presidents of the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities shall have to implement this Decision.

FOR THE PRIME MINISTER
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER




Nguyen Cong Tan