VISHIPEL Prepares for WTO Integration

With more than 50 years of operations and a skilful and qualified staff, the Vietnam Shipping Telecommunications Company (VISHIPEL) is responsible for maritime communications development and safety operations. According to Do Xuan Truong, General Director of Vishipel, telecommunications have played an important role in maritime economy by providing information connections for all people at sea.

 

VISHIPEL has recently been licensed to conduct several national key projects and programs involving maritime communications, such as a project to install coastal radio stations, a project to set up Inmarsat earth station operators (LES Haiphong), and a program to accomplish administrative procedures at Vietnam's seaports. Among them, the operations of coastal radio stations are among the most important projects implemented by the company.

 

Regarding its importance in maritime economy, the Prime Minister has already approved a project to develop and expand a coastal radio stations network in Vietnam with financial and technical assistance from the Japanese government. The project has followed the GMDSS (Global Marine Distress and Safety System) technology to provide maritime search and rescue and all-day maritime guard services at all frequencies with a view to prevent sea pollution, smugglings, and piracy; to broadcast maritime alerts on weather and hydrometeorology forecasts, and supply other public services for efficient shipping.   

 

VISHIPEL has to date installed as many as 32 coastal radio stations, an Inmarsat land information satellite station in Haiphong and a LUT/MCC operator along the Mong Cai coastal area to Ca Mau in Vietnam. In the first six months of this year, the VISHIPEL's coastal radio stations have provided maritime safety services for 5,370 vessels and emergency information for another 5,800 vessels (inshore: 82 cases consisting of 46 fishing boats and 36 vessels). During this time, 440 victims were rescued while 49 others were lost. These figures have shown the efficient operations of the coastal radio stations, which have helped reduce sea accidents and minimize both human and property losses.

 

In particular, VISHIPEL is currently operating an Inmarsat land information satellite station in Haiphong (LES Haiphong). LES Haiphong is now unique in Vietnam and one of 32 stations in the world. It also provides fax, telex, data safety information and maritime emergency services, which are expected to benefit not only the maritime sector but others as well. Inmarsat is mobile satellite communications providing direct fax, data, and telex communications worldwide and transferring both text and voice message at the best quality. The Inmarsat service is known as the most useful communication system for seafarers. In addition, the coastal radio stations have also played a key role in offshore fishing sector.

 

In developed countries, all fishing boats are required to be equipped with GMDSS in order to have connection with coastal radio stations. In Vietnam, only 6,000 offshore fishing boats have to date been installed with location and radiotelegraphy equipment. The figure is far lower than that given by the Ministry of Fisheries, which estimated up to 75,000 fishing boats.

 

Communications between fishing boats and coastal radio stations are highly appreciated as natural calamities have frequently occurred in Vietnam's territorial waters. Thus, the government should pay due attention to help local fishermen install the necessary facilities for their fishing boats in order to minimize possible risk. "VISHIPEL are expecting further relaxing of the regulations from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications for the operations of coastal radio stations," Truong added.

 

At present, coastal radio stations run by VISHIPEL are providing data safety information and maritime emergency services in Vietnamese for the fisheries sector. These services include health and rescue services, all-day maritime emergency, hydrometeorology information, and six weather forecasts per day, which will be updated twice a day in bad weather or be broadcasted every fifteen minutes in emergency situations in order to help local fishermen make preparations for unfavourable conditions.

 

In 2005, the Aquatic Resource Protection Department under the Ministry of Fisheries has cooperated with VISHIPEL in encouraging fishermen to equip their fishing boats with radiotelegraphy facilities to bring them into contact with the ompany's coastal radio stations. The move is aimed at increasing safety for offshore fishing boats.   

 

Thanks to such above-mentioned infrastructure, VISHIPEL is ready for WTO integration, which will boost maritime economy and help Vietnamese enterprises enhance their competitive status in the world market.