The
Prime Minister has asked the Ministries of Transport and Finance to investigate
suspected corruption at a southern port authority that made headlines recently
for its unfair treatment to tugboats.
Several newspapers have reported the alleged
unfair treatment by the Vung Tau Port Authority, which tugboat companies argue
gives preferential treatment to some at the expense of others, the PM said in
the statement issued Tuesday, the Sai Gon Tiep Thi reported.
Some reports also alleged that the port
authority imported three Mongolian boats without paying tariffs.
The ministries have been asked to report on
the investigation by October 15.
Officials from the Vietnam Maritime
Administration met with local tugboat firms and the Vung Tau Port Authority
about the issues September 7, but the agency has not announced any conclusions
on the matter.
Investigators from the administration and the
Ministry of Public Security have also been sent to Vung Tau, which neighbors Ho
Chi Minh City, to inquire about the allegations.
A report on the Saigon Tiep Thi last month
said that Le Van Chien, director of the Vung Tau Port Authority, has
established two family firms, Bien Xanh Transport JSC and Vung Tau Towing
Company, Ltd., which were the only two that recently received exceptions from
many harsh regulations imposed by the authority.
The regulations banned boats longer than 300
meters from entering local ports and asked towing companies to use at least two
towers equipped with Azimuth propellers.
Many tugboat companies, such as SP – PSA, a
joint venture between Saigon Port and a Singapore firm, and Hai Van Transport
Company, Ltd., are now unable to bring in their customers, many of whom use
boats of 302 meters or longer.
Many container boat owners had to hire the two
preferred firms knowing that they are
not as capable as some others, sources said.
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