Boat pilot suspected of being guilty of fatal collision in the Mekong Delta arrested

Phan Thanh Duoc, 42, was detained by police in Tan Chau town for water vessel piloting violations.

On April 19, he was driving the Hang Chau Tourist Express Boat, which was carrying 42 tourists from Phnom Penh in Cambodia to Chau Doc, when it was hit by the ferry on the Tien River in An Giang province.

A 36-year-old guide was killed and a Frenchman and a German were injured.

Authorities said Duoc failed to control his speed and distance from the other vessel, leading to the collision.

Hoang Thi Minh Dang, the company that organizes tours on the ship, said on Saturday that Duoc has all the necessary qualifications for the position and has more than 10 years of experience.

Nguyen Khanh Hiep, director of An Giang Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said there would be an assessment of Hang Chau’s activities and any violations would be punished.