Progress Report 2006

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Navigation Programme

The development objective of the Navigation Strategy reflects the content of Article 9 in the 1995 Mekong Agreement, and aims to: "promote freedom of navigation and increase the international trade opportunities for the MRC member countries' mutual benefit, and to assist in coordination and cooperation in developing effective and safe waterborne transport in a sustainable and protective manner for the waterway".

The MRC Navigation Programme (NAP) has the following immediate objectives:

• Legal Objective: Establish an appropriate legal foundation and navigation regime for International Mekong Navigation, and ensure its implementation and sustainability
• Trade, Transport and Safety Objective (Physical and Non-Physical): Reduction of non-physical and physical barriers, integrating navigation in the regional transport network and reduction of navigation-related accidents.
• Environmental Objective: To promote the concept of "clean" river transportation, focusing on strategic prevention of environmental damage from waterway infrastructures/works or from shipping or port accidents rather than remedying or combating the impacts.
• Social Objective: Distributing benefits from navigation to the riparian people, improving water transportation during floods, increasing river-based employment.

The NAP started its full implementation in 2006. A total of five components have been identified and will be implemented within a timeframe of five years.

• Socioeconomic Analysis and Regional Transport Planning.
• Legal Framework for Cross-border Navigation.
• Traffic Safety and Environmental Sustainability.
• Information, Promotion and Coordination.
• Institutional Development.

During 2006 the Navigation Programme Office was established. The NAP also established the Navigation Advisory Body (NAB), a high-level body responsible for stimulating a more detailed input of the Member States which will free the MRC Joint Committee from dealing with technical issues. The NAB held its first meeting in October 2006 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

As part of Component 1 of the MRC Navigation Programme, but implemented through indirect bilateral cooperation between Belgium and Cambodia, the “Design of the Master Plan for Waterborne Transport on the Mekong River System in Cambodia” was completed in November 2006. It is the first time that a comprehensive action plan and investment portfolio has been prepared to improve Mekong Navigation in Cambodia. In order to increase regional and international trade, a cross-border development strategy was prepared which will, once implemented, cut transport costs of container shipping by around US$ 42 million per year. Improvement of tourist landing facilities in Siem Reap is among the planned projects. Apart from commercial shipping an integrated action plan and project portfolio is now available to improve accessibility between remote villages along the Mekong shores.

The NAP is in the process of establishing relationships with international partners such as the International Maritime Organisation, the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses, the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine and the Danube Navigation Commission. These will be important partners to develop and assist in the implementation of the international standard for navigation safety and environmental protection measures.

Under Component 2 (through the project Master Plan for Waterborne Transport on the Mekong River System in Cambodia) a comprehensive legal study of the current regime on the Mekong River between Cambodia and Viet Nam to assess and evaluate the existing Hanoi Navigation Agreement of 1998, including the new Draft Protocol, was completed.

Improving the safety of navigation on the Mekong and providing for increased use of the waterway is of paramount importance to the Navigation Programme. In 2006 the NAP collected topo-hydrographic data in digital format for the stretch of the river between Phnom Penh Port and the Cambodia-Viet Nam border. A detailed design for a system of aids to navigation including buoys, beacons and shore installations to international standard was prepared, the contractor/consultant firm selected and the contract signed. The national counterparts in Cambodia who will perform normal maintenance and operational repairs these aids to navigation have been fully trained and are ready to take up their duties. Installation of the navigational aids is due to commence in early 2007.

Transport of petroleum and other hazardous products by waterway is being undertaken on most navigable waterways in the world, but on the Mekong River, commercial shipping is relatively new, and unfortunately not always up to internationally accepted safety standards, in particular when referring to transport of dangerous cargo. In order to prepare the MRC's Member States for this and provide added value, MRC has formulated the Traffic Safety and Environmental Sustainability component to establish safety rules and regulations and harmonise them into one set of regulations for all riparian countries.

A Management Information System for Phnom Penh Port was developed and in 2006 is now operational. A further output formed the basis of a Navigation Programme presentation on water and transport at the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico City, 16-22 March 2006. The NAP is partly funded by the Government of Belgium.