The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport on Thursday permitted hydrofoils to resume operation after a fire-caused temporary halt since early this year as per instruction by the city People’s Committee and the Ministry of Transport.

The scene of the fire in January (Photo: SGGP)

Vina Express Company, whose hydrofoil burst into flame, reported that they have repaired damaged hydrofoils and got technical safety and environmental protection certificates from the Register Agency No.6.

The HCMC Fire Fighting and Prevention Police Department has also checked and taken over their ships, it said.

Vina Express is one of the three hydrofoil service suppliers on HCMC-Vung Tau route.

The Transport Department has tasked the HCMC Inland Waterway Port Authority to work with relevant sides to examine the safety of hydrofoils before giving their operators licenses and closely monitor the boats’ operation. Any issue beyond their competence should be reported to the department.

A 20 year old hydrofoil of Vina Express carrying over 90 passengers from HCMC to the neighboring city of Vung Tau burst into flame on January 20 without casualty.

On the following day, City People’s Committee Chairman Le Hoang Quan temporarily halted the operation of all hydrofoils in the city for safety inspections from January 22.