Busy tourist boats are polluting Ha Long Bay

Asides from freight ships, there are about 485 tourist boats operating in the UNESCO recognised world heritage site. These boats release large amounts of untreated waste and oily leaks from running machinery.

The level of oil in the water at various locations in Ha Long Bay is 4.3 times higher than acceptable standards. These levels at Bai Chay and Nam Cau Trang ports are 1.1 and 4.1 times higher than standard.

In October 2014, Quang Ninh Department of Transport asked all boat owners to install oil waste separator filters by the end of the first quarter of this year. However, only 165 boats had completed the improvements as of May. The local authorities of Quang Ninh then announced that boats that fail to install the separator by July 15 would be forced to halt operation but the number meeting the requirement only increased to 210.

Boat owners said improvements would cost as much as VND19 million (USD852) and they claimed they weren’t convinced by their efficiency.

As pollution is threatening the environment in Ha Long Bay, Mac Quang Gieng, vice director of Transport Department, said they would carry out the warning.

"Starting from November, the 153 boats that don't have separators will be suspended. We’ll let the owners keep one of their boats in operation, while they install the filters,” he said. "By December 15, all boats must have completed the upgrades."