VIENTIANE: The Department of Waterways under Laos’ Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Marine Department of Thailand’s Ministry of Transport have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on standardised regulations relating to navigation safety and pollution prevention in the Mekong River.
The agreement was signed in Bangkok, marking a significant step forward in regional cooperation on sustainable river transport and environmental protection.
Director General of the Waterways Department, Khamla Phommavanh, and Director-General of Thailand’s Marine Department, Kritphet Chaichuay, signed the agreement.
The MoU represents a milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation and aligning navigation regulations with the principles of the 1995 Mekong Agreement.
Officials said the agreement aims to promote freedom of navigation along the river while enhancing safety standards for vessels, passengers, and cargo.
The partnership also seeks to reduce and prevent pollution caused by shipping activities in order to preserve the river’s fragile ecosystem and support sustainable development throughout the region.
The agreement further supports Laos’ long-term ambition of transforming itself from a land-locked nation into a land-linked regional logistics hub.
As part of the initial implementation phase, both countries agreed to introduce five core regulations developed through collaborative studies and consultation.
These include regulations on waterway traffic management, vessel safety technical standards and inspections; emergency response coordination during maritime accidents, search and rescue operations, including wreck removal; and the issuance of certificates of competency for crew members in both Laos and Thailand.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two nations will establish a Bilateral Steering Committee within the next six months to oversee and advance implementation of the MoU.
Officials plan to introduce an additional eight regulations by 2035 as part of broader efforts to update and standardise Mekong River governance.
During their visit to Thailand, the Lao delegation also toured Thailand’s waterway traffic control centre, maritime training facilities, and modern port infrastructure to learn about their operation. - Vientiane Times/ANN
