Vietnam fines boat captain for alcohol violation while carrying S.Korean tourists in Nha Trang Bay

Traffic police in Khanh Hoa carried out a surprise inspection of passenger boats operating in Nha Trang Bay on Saturday, focusing on vessels transporting tourists to and from island destinations.

During the inspection at Nha Trang’s tourist boat pier at around 3:00 pm, officers checked a passenger boat that had just returned from a morning tour, carrying 37 South Korean tourists, according to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters at the scene.

Officers asked the crew to present vessel registration papers, the captain’s professional certification, and crew records. 

The captain and boat owner appeared hesitant before eventually providing the required documents, during which police found that the captain, identified as N.N.T., had violated alcohol limits with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.120 mg per liter.

The captain told officers he had consumed alcohol the night before but still operated the passenger boat the following morning, according to police. 

He said he would not repeat the violation.

Police fined the captain VND4 million (US$160) and temporarily suspended his captain’s license, authorities said.

Officers later conducted alcohol tests on the captain of another passenger boat, which had just docked at Nha Trang’s tourist pier after carrying nearly 10 passengers.

The captain was found not to be in violation of alcohol limits, police said.

However, the captain failed to present required documents, including his captain’s license, at the time of inspection. 

Waterway police subsequently suspended the vessel and instructed the boat owner to submit the necessary paperwork.

The inspection also uncovered safety shortcomings on several boats and speedboats, including fire extinguishers that were rusted and unfit for use, police said.

The Khanh Hoa provincial traffic police said they would step up safety awareness campaigns for boat captains and owners, focusing on emergency escape skills and compliance with inland waterway safety regulations.

Authorities said violations such as alcohol impairment, overloading passengers, and operating vessels without valid inspection certificates would be handled strictly in accordance with regulations.