The Hanoitmes - Seven seaports will experimentally apply electronic customs declarations as of June 9 under a new decision by the Prime Minister. 

The ports involved in the pilot project include Hai Phong, Da Nang, Vung Tau, Sai Gon, Hon Gai, Quy Nhon and Nha Trang.  

Under Decision No 22/2011/QD-TTG, applicants can complete necessary procedures via the internet within eight hours before the ship arrives or within two hours before it departs from the port.  

Paperwork must still be submitted, however, within two hours of ships mooring or leaving the port. Port customs officials will have o­ne hour to respond to the ship's requirements as soon as they receive completed documents.  

The head of the Vung Tau Seaport Border Guard Command, Sr Lt Col Nguyen Nhuan Quynh, said his office has implemented electronic procedures since March to save time and facilitate the work of both border officials and customs applicants.  

The Vung Tau command is in charge of about 50 international ports in the southern provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai and Binh Duong, with about 30 ships coming and going from the ports everyday.  

Now, with e-procedures submitted earlier, the ships are able to go straight to or leave the ports, carrying out their tasks without delay, and the authorities are also able to master more data about the ships coming and going, he added.