The Maritime and Waterway Sector Proactively Responds to Typhoon No. 13 (KALMAEGI)

In response to the complex developments of Typhoon No. 13 (internationally named KALMAEGI), a strong storm with a wide impact area, which is forecast to directly affect the central coastal region from Da Nang to Khanh Hoa, the Viet Nam Maritime and Waterway Administration has urgently directed the entire sector to implement comprehensive and coordinated prevention and response measures for all possible scenarios, ensuring the absolute safety of human life, vessels, and maritime and waterway infrastructure.

Forecasted track of Typhoon No. 13 (Source: National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Viet Nam)

Pursuant to the direction of the Ministry of Construction, from 5 November 2025, the Viet Nam Maritime and Waterway Administration established four working missions to conduct inspections and provide guidance on storm response preparedness in key coastal areas.

Among them, the working mission led by Administrator Le Do Muoi conducted on-site inspections and assessments of preparedness measures for Typhoon No. 13 in seaport areas of Khanh Hoa and Binh Dinh provinces. The mission also reviewed the duty rosters, readiness status, and capacity to implement disaster prevention, response, and search and rescue (SAR) tasks of maritime authorities, units, and enterprises operating in areas forecast to be directly affected by the typhoon.

During the working session, the mission received reports on force mobilization, preparedness levels, and response plans for Typhoon No. 13 from relevant agencies, units, and enterprises, and carried out field inspections at critical locations and areas with a high concentration of maritime infrastructure and coastal industrial facilities, including Nam Van Phong Port, Hon Khoi Port, HD Hyundai Shipyard (Khanh Hoa Province), as well as Quy Nhon Port and Thi Nai Port (Gia Lai Province).

Mr. Le Do Muoi, Administrator of the Viet Nam Maritime and Waterway Administration, inspects Typhoon No. 13 response and preparedness measures at the HD Hyundai Shipyard Port Area, Khanh Hoa Province.

Administrator Le Do Muoi highly commended the proactive and prompt spirit demonstrated by relevant units in their preparedness efforts, particularly the organization of plans for the safe arrangement and deployment of vessels to designated storm shelters, the thorough inspection of wharf and berth systems, cargo-handling equipment, and storage yards, as well as close coordination with local authorities to ensure the safety of coastal residential areas.

The Administrator requested all units to maintain a proactive grasp of the situation, continuously update information on the typhoon’s developments, sustain 24/7 duty rosters, and develop flexible response plans to promptly handle all disaster scenarios, thereby ensuring the absolute safety of human life and property.

He emphasized: “Port operators and managing entities must strengthen mooring, reinforcement, and protection measures for maritime structures and port facilities, as well as properly cover and secure bulk cargo yards to prevent adverse impacts on local communities when the typhoon makes landfall.”

At the same time, he instructed the Viet Nam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (VMRCC) to establish rapid response teams to work in coordination with the forward command posts for Typhoon No. 13 response, with a view to proactively mobilizing resources and ensuring readiness to deploy search and rescue (SAR) operations upon request.

Administrator Le Do Muoi requested all maritime sector units to urgently implement typhoon prevention and response measures with a spirit of “proactivity, decisiveness, and safety.”

Participating in the working mission, Mr. Bui Van Minh, Director General of VMRCC, shared practical experience in storm response and urged port authorities and port enterprises to draw lessons learned from Typhoon No. 3 in 2024 (YAGI), avoiding complacency or negligence in preparedness, response, and post-storm recovery efforts.

Administrator Le Do Muoi’s working mission meets with Quy Nhon Maritime Administration on Typhoon No. 13 response in the South Central Coast.

In addition, the remaining three working missions, led by the Deputy Administrators, were assigned to inspect and direct typhoon prevention and response efforts in coastal areas from Quang Ngai northwards and from Nha Trang southwards.

Deputy Administrator Hoang Hong Giang inspects Hoa Phat Dung Quat General and Container Port.

In Quang Ngai, Deputy Administrator Hoang Hong Giang chaired a meeting with local competent authorities and units of the maritime and inland waterways sector, directing strict typhoon watchkeeping, enhanced information coordination, and the timely guidance of vessels to move out of danger areas, thereby ensuring the absolute safety of human life and assets.

Deputy Administrator Hoang Hong Giang chairs a meeting on Typhoon No. 13 response in Quang Ngai Province.

Across the entire system, VMRCC has implemented the highest-level duty and watch regime, maintaining 100 per cent personnel readiness, establishing mobile response teams ready for immediate deployment upon orders, and closely monitoring the developments of the typhoon as well as vessel operations within the affected areas.

The Center has closely coordinated with Maritime Administrations, Coastal Radio Stations, the Border Guard Force, and local authorities to maintain an up-to-date overview of available search and rescue assets and resources of relevant agencies, ensuring prompt mobilization and coordinated response in the event of maritime incidents or emergencies during the typhoon.

Specialized search and rescue vessels, together with Regional Centers I, II, III, and IV, have completed all preparedness measures, fully equipped with life-saving appliances and ready for rapid deployment when required.

With a proactive, responsible, and highly determined approach, the entire maritime and inland waterways sector of Viet Nam is concentrating forces and assets, strengthening inter-agency coordination, and implementing synchronized response measures to help ensure the safety of human life, vessels, and maritime infrastructure as Typhoon No. 13 approaches the mainland.

SAR forces remain on standby for immediate deployment when required.