Bac Ninh takes measures to regulate inland waterway terminal operations.

BAC NINH - The situation of many unlicensed or expired inland waterway terminals operating cargo handling activities in the province is becoming increasingly complex, posing a potential risk to waterway safety, affecting dike systems and water flow during the rainy season. In response to this, functional forces are intensifying inspections and strictly handling violating terminals, resolutely preventing any disregard for the law.

Many wharves are in violation of regulations.

In accordance with Plan No. 47/KH-SXD dated April 3, 2026, of the Department of Construction, the unit established two teams to conduct simultaneous inspections of inland waterway terminals in the province during April and early May. Through the inspection of nearly 190 inland waterway terminals in many riverside localities, the authorities discovered that a large proportion of the terminals were operating without permits or with expired permits.

Specifically, there are 122 unlicensed wharves and 23 wharves with expired licenses. Notably, among these, 32 wharves are still operating and loading/unloading goods despite not being licensed or having expired licenses, and penalties have been recommended.

An unlicensed waterway terminal is located on the Thuong River in Tan Tien ward.

The violations are mainly concentrated in communes and wards such as Vu Ninh, Yen Phong, Trung Kenh, Dong Viet, Canh Thuy, Yen Trung… In particular, the Vu Ninh ward area has a series of unlicensed wharves that are still operating, including limited liability companies such as Truong Hang Materials, Tien Hoai, Quan Cuong, Hai Duong, Dao Huong…

In Trung Kenh commune, the inspection team discovered many unlicensed wharves operating for loading and unloading goods, such as those belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Pham Van Thang, Nguyen Van Quyet, and Nguyen Thi Dam… In Dong Viet commune, the wharves of Mr. Nguyen Van Chat, Le Van Chin, and Tran Van Khanh were all recommended for closure and fined for organizing the loading and unloading of goods at the waterway wharves without meeting the necessary legal requirements.

In the coming period, the Department of Construction will continue to coordinate with the police force and local authorities to strengthen surprise inspections and strictly handle wharves that deliberately operate illegally. In particular, the Department will continue to review all remaining wharves to classify and handle them according to regulations.

Notably, in April, the Traffic Police Department (Provincial Police) caught Mr. Do Manh Diep, residing in Pho Moi residential area, Thuan Thanh ward, red-handed for organizing the unloading of goods at an unlicensed inland waterway terminal on the Cau River.

Here, authorities discovered Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, a boat captain residing in Vinh Thanh commune ( Phu Tho province ), anchoring his vessel to load and unload goods in an unlicensed area. Additionally, the inspection team found that Mr. Nguyen Tien Doan's dock in Nenh ward was also loading and unloading goods at an unlicensed waterway. The team requested the local authorities to prepare a case file for appropriate action.

According to the Department of Construction, many dock owners, despite not having been granted permits or having expired permits, continue to operate due to the high demand for the transportation and delivery of construction materials. Meanwhile, in some localities, inspection and enforcement efforts have not always been sufficiently rigorous, leading to prolonged violations.

Take strict action to prevent recurrence.

Unauthorized wharves not only violate regulations on inland waterway traffic but also pose numerous risks to the safety of dikes and flood drainage, especially with the rainy and stormy season approaching. Many wharves have arbitrarily installed cranes, built piers close to the riverbank, and stockpiled construction materials within the dike protection corridor, increasing the risk of bank erosion and compromising waterway safety.

The riverside dock area along the Cau River belonging to Mr. Do Manh Diep, in Pho Moi residential area, Thuan Thanh ward, is operating illegally.

According to the Law on Inland Waterway Traffic and related decrees, inland waterway terminals must be publicly announced or licensed to operate, ensuring compliance with regulations on waterways, traffic safety, dike corridors, and disaster prevention. However, in reality, many terminals still operate illegally, without meeting the necessary legal requirements.

In response to this situation, provincial leaders have repeatedly conducted direct inspections and demanded strict handling of violations. The province's stance is to strictly handle violations while simultaneously reviewing and removing procedural obstacles for wharves that meet the requirements and conform to the planning, in order to bring their operations into order.

Following the provincial directive, inter-agency inspection teams led by the Department of Construction, in coordination with the police and local authorities, have intensified patrols, issued citations, and ordered the cessation of operations at numerous violating wharves.

Most recently, following violations by Mr. Do Manh Diep, residing in Pho Moi residential area, Thuan Thanh ward, on April 7th, the Traffic Police Department of the Provincial Police fined Mr. Diep 27.5 million VND and Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, from Vinh Thanh commune (Phu Tho province), 7.5 million VND; and revoked their captain's professional competency certificates for a specified period. The People's Committees of the wards and communes of Vu Ninh, Yen Phong, Yen Trung, Nenh, etc., are also coordinating with functional forces to complete dossiers to handle violations as requested by the inspection team.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc An, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, in the coming time, the Department will continue to coordinate with the police force and localities to strengthen surprise inspections and strictly handle wharves that deliberately operate illegally. In particular, the Department will continue to review all existing wharves to classify and handle them according to regulations. For wharves that meet the requirements, functional agencies will guide them in resolving land-related issues and licensing procedures. For wharves that violate dike corridors, are not in accordance with planning, or have repeatedly violated regulations, the Department will resolutely suspend operations and require the demolition of the infringing structures.

The decisive handling of unlicensed wharves not only aims to restore order in inland waterway traffic but also creates a deterrent effect, preventing prolonged violations, contributing to ensuring dike safety, and bringing riverside wharve operations into order.

Minh Linh

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-chan-chinh-hoat-dong-ben-thuy-noi-dia-postid445425.bbg