Myanmar drafts rules on river boat services

Zaw Myint Thein, deputy director-general of the Maritime Administration Department, said on the side-lines of the “Safety workshop on public river transport in Myanmar” on Tuesday that the government is working on setting proper rules and regulations to provide better public transport to Yangon residents.
“We are now working on safety management systems. Meanwhile, all water transport operations in Myanmar will have to be in line with the inland vessel law. We’re trying to enact the rules as soon as possible,” he said. 
Operation and training manuals for passenger vessels would be published to ensure safety and good maintenance as well as to avoid system breakdowns during operations.
“We need to take two things into serious consideration. One is that vessel owners are commercially profitable and the other is that passengers are safe,” he said. 
The department has the authority to issue operating licences and safety certificates for the ferry business. Yet, companies also need to seek the approvals of state and regional governments to kick off business operations, he said.
“We are now checking if the vessels meet proper safety standards before they go operational. It is mandatory for all companies that are willing to do the ferry business in Myanmar. 
“We have yet to issue safety certificate, as the investigation process is under way,” he said. 
Boarding infrastructure including jetties, crew training and technical assistance played crucial roles in the ferry business, he said, adding that he was concerned for the business. 
“As a regulatory body, we have the authority to set the safety rules and regulations at a very strict and high level to meet international standards. 
“But if the rules and regulations are too high, vessel owners will definitely get into trouble. If the rules are too difficult to follow, we’re worried they may lose their interest in doing the ferry business,” he said.
Ye Phone Pyae, founder and managing director of Kanaung Legacy Group Co, which organised the workshop in cooperation with the Dutch dmbassy, expressed a similar view. 
“It’s really hard for a poor nation like Myanmar to fully practise international rules and regulations on inland water safety. So, we should find the best solution to adapt what is most suitable to our country,” he said. 
The firm would cooperate with both local and foreign companies to ensure safety in water transport, besides giving advice to authorities on their efforts to formulate rules and regulations for maritime transport. 
“Safety goes much beyond such visible things as life jackets and boats. We know perfectly well that the materials used in the construction and designing of vessels cost a fortune. 

Quality stressed 
“But we need to ensure the quality of vessels, particularly their built-in structure,” he said.
Henk Grunstra, product director for cruise and ferries at Damen Shipyards Group, said ferries should be affordable, easy to maintain and have a robust structure with two main engines and fireproof materials of international standards. 
Collisions, overcrowding, fire and the loss of power are the four main factors of ferry disasters worldwide. People should be able to get onboard safely, he said. 
“Compliance is necessary but not enough when it comes to safety,” he said. 
Tint Tint Myanmar Co, which has won the tender for the Yangon water bus concession, recently said its vessels would be run by first-class captains with over 10 years of experience in river transport. 
Its captains have to pass both paper and practical tests to be employed. 
The firm has committed to deliver a 100-per-cent safe, reliable and efficient service. 
Two catamarans were imported from Australia late last month and were inspected by authorities at Nanthida Jetty. 
“We’re working closely with all government authorities to complete regulatory and safety procedures so that we can launch our service very soon,” it said.