The Waterway Port Authority under the Department of Construction does not perform maritime duties.
According to Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BXD of the Ministry of Construction regulating the organization and operation of maritime port authorities and inland waterway port authorities (effective from August 15, 2025), the management scope of maritime port authorities includes seaport waters and areas assigned according to regulations of the Minister of Construction.
Maritime port authorities and inland waterway port authorities under the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration are responsible for participating in developing and implementing tasks according to programs and plans for developing green ports, green ships and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Illustration photo).
The inland waterway port authority system will consist of two groups: port authorities under the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration, and port authorities under the Department of Construction.
For inland waterway port authorities, the scope of management may include one or more components such as: ports, inland waterway wharves and anchorage areas on national inland waterways; specialized waterways connecting to national or local waterways; intersection areas between national and local waterways; routes and areas assigned by competent authorities.
Based on regulations, the Minister of Construction or the Provincial People's Committee (if decentralized) will decide to announce the specific management scope of each port authority.
Notably, the Circular clearly stipulates: inland waterway port authorities under the Department of Construction only perform tasks in the field of inland waterway transport within the assigned scope, and do not perform tasks related to the maritime field.
In addition, maritime and inland waterway port authorities under the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration will participate in developing and implementing programs and plans to develop green ports and green ships, contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting green energy transition.
Participate in implementing tasks and plans on green ports and green ships.
The Circular specifically stipulates 14 tasks and powers of maritime port authorities and inland waterway port authorities under the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration.
In which, port authorities participate in developing and organizing the implementation of legal documents , strategies, planning, programs, projects and proposals.
Maritime port authorities and inland waterway port authorities organize the implementation of regulations on management of maritime and inland waterway activities; inspect and supervise maritime and inland waterway activities of organizations and individuals within the scope of management.
Licensing and supervising ships and inland waterway vehicles entering, leaving and operating at seaports, ports, inland waterway wharves, anchorage areas and management areas according to regulations.
Port authorities shall not allow ships and inland waterway vehicles to enter, leave or operate at seaports, ports, inland waterway wharves, anchorage areas and management areas when they do not meet the conditions for maritime safety, maritime security, maritime labor, fire and explosion prevention and environmental pollution prevention according to the provisions of Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member, or when the ports, inland waterway wharves and anchorage areas do not meet the conditions for operation according to the provisions of law.
At the same time, confirm the submission of maritime protests according to the provisions of law; implement the decision to arrest ships, release arrested ships by competent authorities and temporarily detain ships according to regulations.
At the same time, organize coordination of activities between relevant state management agencies; organize inspection and supervision of the implementation of planning for seaports, ports, inland waterway wharves, and anchorage areas within the scope of management according to regulations; inspect business conditions for exploiting seaports according to regulations.
Regarding transportation, port authorities will manage maritime transport according to regulations; inspect container safety at seaports in the management area; inspect and supervise the implementation of the confirmation of the total volume of maritime transport containers according to regulations; control vehicle load; and supervise maritime service prices according to regulations.
In addition, check the loading of goods from ships and inland waterway vehicles to seaports, ports, inland waterway wharves, and anchorage areas and from seaports, ports, inland waterway wharves, and anchorage areas to ships and inland waterway vehicles or between ships and inland waterway vehicles in the waters of seaports, ports, inland waterway wharves, and anchorage areas.
Organize the registration of ships, crew members and issue documents related to ships and crew members according to regulations.
In particular, participate in developing and implementing tasks according to programs and plans for developing green ports, green ships, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, converting to green energy, and using energy economically and efficiently.
Port authorities are also responsible for maritime and waterway safety and security, fire and explosion prevention and environmental protection; organizing the implementation of ship registration, crew registration and issuing documents related to ships and crew.