Decree of the Government Council of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Regulations for Foreign Ships operating in Vietnamese Maritime Zones

1;'1':CRn~ OF Till'; (;O\"EItNl\lENT COUNCIL OF '1'1 m SOCiAl -1ST HEJIUHUC 01" \'IETNA~ 1 ON IU-:GtrtATIONS I'-Olt FOUEIGN SUII'S OPERATING IN \'IETNAt\lE..O';E i\IARITIi\tE Z()NES On the basisof theGovern ment Council 01g;llliza lion Law appn ivcd by Ihe N;11 i(1I1 ii' Assembly 011 JLIly 14, 1960; 011 the basis of the Governme11 t S t,I tCJ11C11 I 11r Ihe Socialist Hepublic of Victuam (l Jl Ihe te rri torial SCIt, the contiguous Z(] fie, Ihe cxclus ive economic zone ,1IHI Ihe er1111 i Jll' 111 nI shelf, Oil May 12, 1977; For the purpose of preserving lind exercising the sovc rc ignty or 1111' SlJci;lIis t Repuhlic of Vietnam over Vietnamese maritime zones, UECREE.s : ( ~hll ptcr I OFNEI~"l, I'ROV1SI0NS Article J : Foreign ships referred r(J ill tltis decree comprise military and nou-militau shj ps arul all me:II1S of wa ter Ira nspurl not uwi u:rl by Ihe Slaic, collect ives or ci1i7f'!1S {1! the SH.. VN . Article 2 : AU foreign ships operating ill Vietnamese maritime zones (f:lltnillg or leaving, passing IIi~ough, staying and other activities) must respect the sovereigntyof the Socialist Repuhfir. of Vie tmll 11 over ench maritime zone, nnd fully observe Ih~ Iq~l1ril' !iuns in tl1i~ decree as well as the related laws, procedures HIllI other regulations (If the SIt VN issued !ly competent or-galls of the Vietnamese State. Foreign ships operating in Vietnam's maritime zoneS. must submit to supervision nml control by Ihc competent Vietnamese Htlthorities aimed at ensuring respect for alld til forcernent of this decree and the related 1:1wS, procedures and other regulations of til(' SRVN. Article3: Foreign ships desiring to enter Vietnam's maritime zones must observe Ihe following procedures: a) Foreign non-military ships used for transport or commerce desiring to enter the internal waters. or ports of Vietnam must seek permission from the Ministry of ('UIll­ muntcauons and Transport at the ~RVN at least 7 days in advance, and after pcrmisslon is granted, must notify the Ministry 24 hours before entering Vietnam's territorial ~ea. b) Foreign norj-lllilitery ship:> not used for lTilll.'ipurt or couuner cc dcslr jog to enter the ill ternal wa ter or ports of Vietna 11I III usI seek perm ission [mill tile Governme 111 of the SRVN througl] diplomatic channels ,It least 15 days in advance, nnd after permissinn is ~ran ted, must ntHiry the M i\Ii~ll)l 0\ COJl\l\lI\\lil.: ;\\ itlll';) tlm\ .\'\<1 \1:-'pm l 01 \he ';)H.\' H ,j~', hours before entering Vietnam's lerr itru ial sea. c) Military ships (including warships and auxiliary ships) dcsir ing to cuter the COil­ tiguous zone of Vietnam must seck permission from the Government of the SH. VN (Huongh diplnmatk t:' hannels) ~,I It~'{'st ~n {by,> \{\ ad\l~,n('.f' , ~m{\ :\HI.'.f \,(·.\\"k<;,\HI\ ;,". grnnted, must notify the Vietnamese authorities (through the Ministry of Comrnuuicn­ tions and 'I'm nsport) 48 hou rs he lnre enlcring the contiguous zone of Vict0<1 m. Article 4: hll"cign ships coming to vietnam at the invitation 01 the SJ{ VN will lr illn-v special regulations not defined in this decree. Article 'l : lJn!p"s otherwise ;lllthnri7f,d hy 11)(' r,nvf;'fllIlWllf of Ilw Sl~ VN, nflf lt1fll"!' til(l J1 three wnrships of the snme 11i1 Iinnnl i ty mav be prcse "I ximultancously ill tile tcr­ ri1()riaI SC;l or jillerna I waIcrs of Victn.un, and Ihe maxirn11111 stay of nil or any () I slie11 ship must no! exceed one, week. Article 6: Foreign ships, ill force mnjcure or distress, alTcckd hy natural dis'l.'ilns or accidents endangering the safety of the ships or the lives of passellgclti, and compelled to stop or a nc hor j nVietnn m 's len itorin I sen, must j rnmediu fely not ify the ncnrcxI cn 111­ pctcnt Vietnamese authorities. They must submit to ,dl forms of conirollly the Viet, Il~ III esc aUllin rities. A rticle 7 : Tile SR VN reserves lor it scif Ihe righI to come to the help of foreign s11 ifl~ llll'cting with disaster in the inremal waters, territorial sell find contiguous wile of Viet­ nam. Chnplcf 11 CONCRETF RECIII1 A'["lnNs n 1Il FOREIGN SI'III'S OPERATING IN VIE1N!\f\IESE I\t!\RITIME ZONES Anicle 8 : 1\ foreign shir entering Vic! nnIJ1 's ill ternal wa tcrs 111 ust fly, i1part of the COli litI)' of its nationalltym the Vietnamese flag nt the lop of the foremast, III ust fully ob­ serve the regulntiuns issued by the competent Vietnamese organs concerning the sign:d lights proper to each kind of ship and its operations and confonning with the general n.:gtlla lions of intcrn<ltionat mwiga tion. Article 9 : Within Vietnam's internal waters and territorial sea, foreign ships must mnve expeditiously and continuously along the assigned routes nnd corridors and must 110t enter forbidden areas, Article 10: Foreign submnrines (military and civilian) when permitted 10 entcr Vietnam's contiguous zone, territorial sea or internal waters, or to dock at Vietnamese ports, must, withou I exception, surface 8THl hnist the flag or the COli ntry of its nationnlity, Foreign submarines must also tully observe the regulations for foreign surface ships J operating In the contiguous zone, tenitnrial scu or Internal wat ers of Vietu.uu or d(Jr;kill~ at Vietnamese ports. Article 11 : Foreign ships must not erignge In any explnration, surveyor study lor economic or scientific purposes, of natural resources, biological or non-hiological, in Vietnam's territorial sea or exclusive economic zone, unless permilled by the Gover 11­ rnent of the SRVN. Article 12 : Foreign ships are strictly forbidden to undcrtnkc llny net of cillrhing, r v­ ploiling or Irmlins of any prodllct!: ill the territorial scu, contiguous zone r,'r exr,·lm:j, c economic zone of Vietnam unless permitted by the Government of the SRVN. When navigating in thc exclusive ccnnumic zone of Viet nnm foreign rishil1!! ships must remove <Ill their nets and other fishing tackle and store them 111 the ships' holds ;ll1!.! must render inoperative a11 thei r eq II ipment ftlr fish explora I ion, detect ion ;1nd gu idnnr c. Aniclc 1J : Foreign ships opcrn t j I1g i t1 Vic tnnmese run ri t i11IC zones (m<ccpl thvse c 11­ joying spccia i staIus as provided III 1\rl icl e 4.) IIIust not CIIgngc in any of Ihe Inllowi 11 g ads: a) Conduct militaryexercises, use force or the threat of force to threaten Ihe sccurity, or disturb the good order of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam while in the contiguous zone, territorial sea or internal waters of Vietnam; b) Conduct acts prejudicial lo the defence of the peace, security or good order of the SRVN, or carry out propaganda against the SRVNj c) Cause interference witli any of the cunnnunication systems or any other r;ll'ilili,'~ or insta llations ot the SR VN; d) Use any kind of radar or ultrasonic device, any kind of observation, measuring or diving equipment or any bther equipment to measure, surveyor explore geographical. meteorological and hydrological conditions, the seabedstructure, thedepth or any other object of cxploralion In the intei Hal watel S 01 terrlturial sea 'Of Vietnam; e) Shoot films, take photogrnphs, use electronic, acoustic or optical devices. television or any other technical menus nr f~'1l1irrnent to gather intelligence datn, staris tics or other information concerning the security, defence or economy of Vietnam whilc in the Internal waters, territorial sea or contiguouszone of Vietnam: shoot films, tnl:c photographs, draw or otherwise record information regarding equipment or goods ;11 po rtsj rni Ii ta Iy equiprnen t, econ om icestel bIishill enIS or scienl ific resellrch i115t ,,11:11 ionS on the way to or inside the ports; g) Launch, landor toke on board anyIlying object, discluu ge, unload or loml alJomd any military equlprnenl In the internal waters, territorial sea or contiguous zone of Viet­ nam without permission from the SRVN Government; h) Use a Srnoke screen, fire nny kind of gUll or 5igllH I or lise explosives i II Ihe ill tell I; II waters, ter ritorial sea or contiguous zone of Vietnam for wumever ptHpn5.c. o\\w'\ th. to fire ,sigllah ill au emergency or fire il salute in the case of mttttnry sllips pernuucd [11 visit the SRVN; i) Unlo;ld nr load, trade or exchange any kind ot products, goods, mo ncy, precious metals, precious stones; etc, at variance with the provisions 01\ financial, customs :l1ll) quarantine control of theSRVN; k) Disembark or embark people "I vnrinncc with the Imllligr<llion regulations of tlu: SRVN, hide, collaborate with, shelter or assist Vietnamese lawbreakers in the internal waters, territorial sea or contiguous zune of Vietnam. In the C(l~C of emergency, when needing 111 lake a boat victuns found in the illlcrnal waters, territorial Sea or contiguous 7Hnc of Vicunuu, a foreign ship must immedi:l I ely" notify the Vietnamese authorities for appropriate fiction; 1) Create obstacles to the maritime nnvigntiorl or fishing activities or in the f<lisillg and exploitation of maritime resources of the Slate, collectives or citizens of the SR VN in Vjetrmmeso rna riti me zones; m) Make frandulcnt use of disaster signHI:- In unwarruutrrhy stop or ~nchm ill nlC territorial sea or internal waters of Vic Ilia 111; n) Accost or contact another ship, unload or load people or goods outside the (J~. signed places i11 VieInam's territu riB I sea, iIII e rnil Iwaters or ports. Motor 1<1 Unchcs, boa\s and other means of conveyance launched 1,y theship to serve as a mean of H;lISOll nrc tlilowed to move only within areas assigned hy the local authorities. Article 1~! : Before enleting Vktm11l1'~ contiguous Wile, tel ritorlul sea and Imernal waters, foreign ships equipped with rixed or movable weapons, must return these weapons to a non operative position. More concretely: All nmmunulons must be removed from the barrels ;111<.1 locked ill ammunition cases, GUll barre 1:-; and muzzle-looks must be well luhricated :mtl provided with banel coven: or must he wrapped in tarpaulin, A nicle 15 : While in the internal waters. of the SitVN, all foreign ships must seaIIheir cornIII unications and liaison appara tuses and all their electronic means uFohservation, All contact with any place whatsoever, including \he country or the ship's na\inna\i\)', must go through the comrnunicalions center of the Vietnamese port where the ship is docked. All contact by means of Wireless, conunuuication Mgn~15 find semaphore, or with any kilid of object Js tcg;J! tied ;1S 11 viol.uion or the $( were ignty antl sccur i! r (), 11 H' SRVN. Article16: WhHe passing through the ten itorial sen and contiguous zone of Vietnam, nuclear-powered ships, ships transporting radioactive substances or equipill f' 11 I \,sing rad ioact ive s ubsta nces, ur t ra n s po rl ing or usi IIg olher rl :ll1ge rous or toxic !ill b~: t:II\l:C,~, must readily supply to the Vie ITlCll11CSe ;llJ Ihmit ies ~eccs.~a ry tech 11 ical dncume II Is l111d app Iy prot eel ive menstires ~!-! ai 11$ I (hwgc rom and toxic age nts 111 to 11 for III ity \\ iIh Ihe regu la tions on protection ag<t in51 da nge rollS ;:md toxic age nIs nnd Oil pro tcet ion of Ihe environ meI1t and ill conform ity with i111 eTI1;1 t in11,11 agrecmc Ills, Article 17 ~ foreign ships must 11U! throw overboard w,lsle materials III ol1wr lp"ic subatances causing pollution to the living e nvironment in the mnr it irnc Z\ll1U {II la n-l of Ihe SRVN and 111 ust ta ke HII necessu ry IIW,lS 1Ires to preve II t po1111 rio11 of Ihe !iv ing ('11­ vironrnent, alld prevent immediate (If lflng-ll'rlll darnnge In hll111;\11 and ll!hn We. Should the threat of serious pol!u t in11 ill isc, the Govcnunc 11 t or Ihe SR\'N will I.rl:e aII mcasures to avert its conscq lJenccs !llld S;1\'C the me ill the endangcred iI rca.The ship in question will he held responsible nud must pa'i c<.l1\\\,cns;\\io\\ Cm: ~\\\ ilH\W?di',\\t'. ',\\~\\ long-te r rn dn mage caused by l! ie JH JlI II Iii 11I j (l conformity w] III Ihe 1~1\V:'i of the S g VN. A nicle 18 : Foreign ships en1criIlg or le,.r:; Ilg Viet11<1 I11CSC ports must ncccssa rily 1I~l' Vietnamese pilots for guidance in confor mity with the 1;1\vS ;111(1 reguh1tiolls in '-nn;(' of the SR VN, ami must tully obsc rve l lu: regulations of the port where it is docked. Article /9: Except for service I;hiJls \vhich have prim permission, foreign ships arc 1I{11 aHowed to enter the safety ZOJl\.' or S\)(),11lC\rvs (measured Irorn the outerm ost !Joltll s) HI'OU nd such installa tions, s t rue I ures or nr t iiiciaI islands.; inswiled for Ihe pu rp{l.~{'s of the exploration and exploitation of n.u ur.rl resources ill the seabed or subsuil of the xuh­ marine areas by Vietnam or wit h Vic tnn ms Il(.:rmis~lon in the maritime WIlO ilml tru t­ tinental shclf of Vietnam. Ships passi llg ou tside Ihis safe Iy 7"0ne must also comply wil h the regulations regarding safety of nnvigntion in order HoI (() jeopardize the security of these ins tulia t ions. Article 20 : In addition to the regulatiuns provided for in this decree, fOlrii!11 shi".~ must fu IIy observe the. other regulations jn Iorce concern i I1g Ihe marifme zunes, pnrts and [Ittor al.arens ofthe 5RVN. ella ptcr I II CONTROL AND r"IEASURES OF APPLICATION Article2/ : Maritime control D[ the 51{ VN is entrusted to the following forces: a) The Vietnam People's Navy and Ihe People's Army units defending the islands; (, b) Vie Ina mcse border guards; c) The Vietnam People's Police putrolling tile sea; t1) Vietnamese pnra-nulitary force:; nhollnl transport a nd ri~,hiJ\g ::hipf: t'11!l'u.dt'd with snecilied control duties fUU..! hcming specific markings: c) Specialized control force!'. of Ult.'- v'r\riou~ depnrtlncl\t!>: em.tOlm" s<lnit<ll.inn :ln~l quarantine control of the SRVN exercising their control duty in accordance with their areas of competence. Each ruai itirue co utrul furce of Vic tu.uu OjJLliltillg wit l un its C0J11PC1CI1CC n rrcl ;lIT,l of responsibility shall closely cooperate with thei\· control forces 10 carry out llCCCS.<:My conI rol s11 pcrvisory measures. The ships of tile maritime control forces or the SRVN, while on duty, must fly tile na­ tiona1 nag of Vietnam and also the ell\hkm~ of Iheir services, I\'.r:-.ollnel of the inl.'g.\'{i\~ con trot force must be provided with crcdc II t in Is 110m Ihe cum r e ten t alith or it ics ;1IHI must wear clenr il1~igniCl.s. Atticle 22 : Vietnamese maritime control forces have the rollowing duties: a) Dcfending til e sovereignty and other righ Is of the SR V N in the rna ri I ime zones ngail1st n11 schemes <J nd acts of viola tlo11 ill nlIy [mill, within lhc lll~ ritimc zones a11(1 CfJII­ tinentul shelf of Vietnam. h) Supervising and controlling foreign ships npcwling ill tile- internal wntr rs, 11'1"­ ri~nri"l St'.3 alld QmtigUQl1S zone of Vielll;l1l1 flnd enforcing the :'pr1in1\ion nr \hi~ ~kn n.' fllld flll the Inws 11 rid regula tions in force Ulllccr 11 j II!; customs, ~;t II i Iit (il in, fi II< I[ ILl:, l·.\ it, entry, emigration, immigration, etc,of the SRVN. c) Helping the other marltime c0I11roJ rilfir-cs In prnpr.r1y disch;> rgc their control dUly entrusted by the State. Article 23 : For the purpose of exercising the dlilies provided ill Article 22 or this decree, Vietnamese maritime control forces have the following rights: <I) To order a foreign ship to raise the fI,,]!.! of Vietnam or the flag of the countryor its natlonality, and I(J 11 nswcr question ncccsxa ry 10 de tcnuiue tht 11at innali ty uf the ship! the reason and legality of itsoperation in Vietnamese internal waters, territorial sen nnd contiguous zone or to answer suspicions of viulatinn of the rights of Vietnam in H:- CX~ elusive economic zone and its continental shelf: b) To order a foreign ship to stop lor control <lIld search when there is suspicion of viola tion of the sovereignly or oilier rlghIs of VietJ1<11l1 in VicInameso rnarilhue zones. "1 bcsc 1(1) ccs 111<1)', if 11Cl'l~S~:1J y, i,';';jll: :1 w.u Illllg \)j- uu III lh t \\ 1 IPI rc;\ \I 11\' i\'.1\ 'J\il' III IH1:11 ttl cll:1tIgc Its course or reml' Vil'!II:1111CS(' mar itimc 7-()IlI'S; c) To tin}\\' IIp a report, nrrcst the rl\ rc ndi Ill; sllip or pCI'S( 1IIS, p:;11 her nll t'Vilklll'1" Id- I ln­ violation nml take the ship to the pOI!!H binding ~t(]g{' nud 11:11](1 it over tn Illt~ ("()IIl[w!I'l1l uuthorltics For npproprintc nction; d) To use. mili\<lry me(1~;\I\"(·.S, if l\c{"e~~:It"Y, with regard tn l\l~~ (lITt'ndil1!J, ~hip '.dlid\ refuses to comply with the order or whicli ~Il()\\'s <In)' intention to torcihly rr.sist the (]I d"r They may <Ibn exercise the right to plll~IIC nfTclHlirg ship,'; n!!('lllptirlg to lice. Article 2,': Fon-ign ships violntiug the prn':i':iol1s of" fhis decree or !!1CICglll:lI;llIlS ill" tcndcd to vur.vrc i\~, cnfqr~~cl\\('n~ :In; \i:dd,,~ to thc ful\(lwill~ pf'l\;d{if~<; lulw iI11\m,;,'r1.1,~· tlw competent Vicuuuucsc olficr-s: ill (\ Will I\i!l~; h) The \vilhr.lwWfll of permit (1)1\11h(' tlCPl111 ;1\i( \11 ()r j IH' :.;111\) ;llltl i\:; \W l~ll\\m'\ 1l\)\H the mnritituc 7:0F1CS 111ld territory of Vu-uuuu: c) A ruaxiuuuu fine of 10,(1(10 Vic ;\1lll's\~ tlnng t ratccl :l!~:lill:;1 ;1 couunou f(\l('i;'!11 e-rn­ rClley at the prevailing exchange rate]. H the offence is repeated or if it rauxcs c()llsid~'r<lhlc Inssl's 01' grave ("{]!lSctjlll'nCt's. the nrrcnccrs will he brought before tlll';I\lpHl(lli:llC Vicuuuucsr trihuual ;\llllli il'd ;1('. cmdi!\g to the nme.llt law uitue SRVi'-1. ,ll1ic!e 25:;\11 violations C(jllllHill(~d lly hlll";'11 :,hip!\ in Vkt\\;llllCSl".m:ll11l111'.' 7111il ': will he lmnrllcd t.y the proviucinl People's ('(lIlllllilLCC:' or People's COllllllill\'C:; 11[ "iIi, :: dip~r:lly IJI1t.!f!r the ccnl ral Gr.w~"rl\l1\f '11l."I' 1111" t;U \ \' This competence includes tile righl 10 onk-r III provisi(lIl;i1,~ciZltrc nfthc ofleJ1(lifl." :;hips, the cxhihlrs find the offending Iw\~n\\~ for ill'. ~>~tjgn\ioll :Illfl ;lppJ'Oprj;II(~ucfiun ill' cording 10 the pwvisions of Article 2,1 (II ror pr(lSI:~'lltiot1 !lC'l"nll; Ille tribunal d(.'11t"lllil1!, on the gravity of the violation. /lrri(.-le26. Tile Milli:'itlk;~ \)rCt'IIIIIIl!lli~;Jli\!ll";~ml Tr;t!I:.p(lIl~N;,litIlIHIUc!t:l1tc, Ill!" Interior, Fnn.'.ign Trade and Fureign I ilil~, ill ("("-operatio11 with the inlcrcslt-d Mini­ sl rics nnd the Chu irrne n of tile I'coplc \ ( 'oIIImil It -r ~ of the IJI"{)\' in(TS and P!'{ 11'lrs ( '1\111 rnirrt"I;" nftl'lr' !flIVI1<; 1I1Hlpr the rentrul (;(I~'('nml"l\tare tesjl1)l)sillle fur 111(' t'Xl'l'll,i"ll (11 this decree.Z j(/I/llm)' 29, 1~)80.