Progress Report 2004

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Navigation Programme

The Navigation Programme aims to balance the demand for expanded use of the river with environmental needs through the new MRC Navigation Strategy.

The new programme is now in the first stages of implementing its five components: Socio-economic Analysis and Regional Waterborne Transport Planning; Legal Framework for Cross Border Navigation; Traffic Safety and Environmental Sustainability; Information, Promotion and Coordination; and Institutional Development.

The actual implementation of the programme will commence in September 2005, following the preparation phase, which started in July 2004.

Most of the work during 2004 has been involved with setting up the logistics of the programme and identifying financial partners.

Discussions with the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank on funding of components 1,2 and 4 progressed well. Discussions with potential donors from Belgium, France and Finland have been positive and talks with the EU are planned. Coordination also took place with JICA on transport projects in the Lower Mekong Basin.

A partnership-building mission to Europe in April 2004 resulted in close connections with other river and navigation commissions such as the Rhine and Danube Commissions for Navigation, Inland Navigation Europe, the European Commission, the International Maritime Organisation, the Permanent International Association for Navigation Conferences and maritime academies. These talks continued throughout 2004.

Other achievements included:

• The completion of an institutional strengthening and capacity building project for navigation in Cambodia.
  
• The production of a full hydrographic atlas of the Lower Mekong Basin in GIS and PDF formats. These charts, which also include the Bassac and Tonle Sap, have been digitised according to the International Hydrographic Office (S-57) standard and will make the updating of all data concerning the river very easy.
  
• The implementation of the final steps for the start up of the Design of the Master Plan for Waterborne Transport on the Mekong River System in Cambodia.
  
• Increased cooperation with China and Myanmar through the Navigation Affairs Bureau in Yunnan.
  
• Incorporation of the navigation strategy and programme into the Basin Development Plan.