Reforming River Management Systems in Developing Countries: A Case Study from the Red River System

摘要

A new waterways management regime built around a Marine Aids Modernization program is being implemented in a pilot section of rivers in Vietnam. The program is designed to improve navigation safety and reduce marine aids costs in a very high traffic area. In Vietnam, river navigation systems are economically vital, with 30% of all cargo transported by water nationwide and more in certain regions. In supporting this transportation system, the provision of a reliable, 24 hour aids to navigation service in a flood prone, shallow, complicated river system used by unsophisticated mariners, has proved difficult. Vietnam faces the same issues as other countries: reliable equipment is expensive, and the servicing infrastructure has very limited government resources. A reduction in costs and improvement in service was imperative. On a pilot river system, after a comprehensive review, more than 400 low cost, solar powered LED navigation lights were installed. Several lightweight polyethelene buoys and longer range, low maintenance lights were also installed in an "open water" section of the corridor. Critical technical, operational and management training were also provided. The results achieved have been considerable. The transit time on the length of the corridor has been reduced from three days to two days. The significance is underscored when it is pointed out that the volume of cargo in this corridor is greater than North America's St. Lawrence Seaway. In terms of infrastructure support savings, the Vietnamese Inland Waterways Administration (VIWA) is in the process of reducing the ten support bases in the corridor to three with a reduction in operating costs of up to fifty per cent staff. VIWA has also made significant advances towards international standards for aids to navigation systems and has improved small vessel safety inspection capability. Of particular interest to those involved in river and small harbour transportation, is the description of how a small capital investment in very low maintenance, and environmentally friendly technology, can result in significant improvement to traffic movement and safety and much reduced long term costs. Confirmation of the concept of Marine Aids Modernization, with similar results has been reported by the Canadian Coast Guard in a region of Canada with dozens of small remote ports. Recognizing that much of the world's marine navigation takes place on river systems, and in small ports, a template for the replication of this program is provided.