Miraculous changes in Truong Sa: “Second home” of fishermen (part 2)

The ports in Truong Sa are becoming a solid support for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea.

On the journey with the Navy delegation to Truong Sa, Da Tay Island appeared before our eyes with a large port, dozens of fishing boats of fishermen were anchored. In the area of ​​​​taking in rocks and fresh water, fishing boats were bustling in and out...

When the delegation arrived, fishing boat BTH98997 from Binh Thuan province also docked at Da Tay island waiting to refuel with ice and fresh water. Mr. Vo Thanh Trong, owner of boat BTH98997, said that he and his fellow fishermen have been fishing in the Truong Sa archipelago for 3 years and this was the second time they docked at this island.

Tay A Rock Island is increasingly invested in and modernized.

"The ports in Truong Sa not only provide fuel and fresh water for free, but also support fishermen when fishing for long periods at sea. Each of our trips usually lasts 15-20 days, so we need to refuel and refuel... Especially when there is an accident or a storm, big waves and strong winds, the ports become a place to take shelter from storms, with full services like on land, helping us to stay at sea with peace of mind," said Mr. Trong.

Mr. Nguyen Thai Hung (residing in Binh Thuan), owner of fishing boat BTH9899, ​​said that in the past, whenever there was an accident, fishermen had to ask other boats to tow them back to the mainland to wait for repairs. However, in recent years, the ports on Truong Sa archipelago have been invested in, built and provided with full services, so fishing boat owners like him can stay at sea with peace of mind, without having to miss their trips out to sea like before.

The docks of Da Tay Island and Sinh Ton Island are safe storm shelters for fishermen going out to sea.

"In April 2023, my ship's propeller shaft was broken and could not continue. Luckily, it was near the dock of Da Tay Island, so I was able to dock for repairs. The logistics services on the island are sufficient for fishermen. It is also like a "second home" here, helping fishermen take shelter when storms come..." - Mr. Hung expressed.

For many years, Da Tay Island has been a logistics destination for many fishing boats from Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai, Binh Thuan provinces. Fuel, food, and provisions are sold to fishermen at the same price as on the mainland. Fresh water is provided to fishermen free of charge.

Damaged fishing boats will be repaired free of charge, and fishermen will only have to pay for spare parts at mainland prices (if replacements are required). The Da Tay Island Fisheries Logistics Service Center is capable of major repairs to severely damaged fishing boats instead of having to tow them back to the mainland.

Speaking to a reporter from Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Bach, Political Commissar of Da Tay Island, said that the island's port has an area of ​​over 13 hectares, is protected from the wind by a dike, and can accommodate up to 200 fishing boats at the same time, making it convenient for fishermen to take shelter from storms during offshore fishing trips.

Da Tay Island dock can accommodate 200 fishing boats at the same time.

"Like the recent Tet holiday, there were 3 fishing boats of fishermen from Binh Dinh coming to celebrate Tet on the island and the soldiers and working forces on the island shared and supported the fishermen. Or like the storm in April, the boats could not reach the mainland, the island also supported the boats with rice and fresh water to ensure safety" - Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Bach "boasted".

Song Tu Tay island's fishing port is nearly 6 hectares wide, capable of accommodating hundreds of large-capacity fishing boats.

Fisherman Vo Thanh Trong (second from right), owner of ship BTH98997, with border guards and soldiers at the port of Da Tay island

Captain Nguyen Van Kien, captain of the Song Tu Tay Island Fishing Logistics Service Team, informed that there is a fishing logistics service station on Song Tu Tay Island, which repairs and supplies oil and fresh water to fishermen's fishing boats at the same price as on the mainland. The station's mission is to support fishermen in exploiting seafood offshore on the Truong Sa archipelago; rescue fishermen in distress at sea; support repairing damaged boats and selling fuel at the mainland price and providing free fresh water or food according to fishermen's needs.

Captain Kien affirmed: "Here, officers and soldiers do not hesitate to face difficulties and hardships to repair boats for fishermen, helping them feel secure when going out to sea to exploit seafood."

Song Tu Tay island port has the capacity to accommodate hundreds of large fishing boats.

On Sinh Ton Island, attached to the fishing logistics service station is a modernly invested lock covering an area of ​​over 3.2 hectares, with a capacity of hundreds of large-capacity fishing vessels. Officers and soldiers on Sinh Ton Island always thoroughly grasp and effectively carry out search, rescue and salvage missions, considering this one of the combat readiness missions.

It can be affirmed that the activities of the ports on Sinh Ton, Da Tay, Song Tu Tay, Truong Sa Lon islands... have contributed to accompanying fishermen to go offshore, contributing to protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Truong Sa is the inviolable sovereignty of Vietnam.

The locks are not only a solid support and a reliable address for ships going out to sea for long-term fishing, but also create a foundation to promote the development of the marine economy.

Ice production, seawater filtration for fresh water

On Da Tay Island, the vocational logistics service center under the Bien Dong Seafood Exploitation Service Company Limited (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) provides logistics services for fishermen's boats such as food, necessities, fuel; repairs damaged boats, rescues and salvages at sea. These include an ice factory, a seafood processing factory and a system of slipways to pull fishing boats ashore for repair.

Ice production for fishermen at Da Tay island port

Activities at the ice factory and the Da Tay island dock area are bustling. Ice is transported from the factory to supply fishing boats of fishermen docking at the dock.

In addition to ice production, the center also invested in a system to filter seawater into fresh water with a ^3,000m3 tank. The center also buys seafood from fishermen at the same price as onshore.

Article and photos:

Thai Phuong

Source: https://nld.com.vn/phong-su-but-ky/doi-thay-ky-dieu-o-truong-sa-ngoi-nha-thu-2-cua-ngu-dan-ky-2-20230601163325938.htm