This is according to results of a test conducted by the bay’s management board which is obviously concerned because Ha Long Bay is a newly voted a Unesco world heritage site.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board told VietNamNet that tourist boats and cargo ships account for much of the pollution. Only 20% of tourist boats are equipped with standard water waste treatment systems, it says. Cargo ships are also responsible for the problem because they illegally discharge water mixed with oil.
To solve the problem, the board aims to ask tourist vessels to install waste filters and proposes to implement regular checks on boats to tease out vessels that are old and unfit for purpose.
Cargo ships are being asked to move to Cam Pha Port in order to unload goods instead of anchoring in the bay.
There is also speculation of a proposed merger between Nam Cau Trang Port with Ha Khanh Port to reduce oil pollution around the docks which could take place as early as 2013.
