Ensuring fishing vessel safety during stormy season

Safety of fishing vessels from sea to shore

Through tropical depressions at the beginning of this year's rainy season, most of Binh Dinh's fishing vessels currently fishing offshore received warnings and promptly moved to safe waters.

According to assessments of Binh Dinh's agricultural industry, this year, the rate of fishing vessels receiving natural disaster warnings is much higher than before. This shows that ensuring communication connections from the mainland with fishing vessels at sea during the stormy rainy season has contributed to minimizing damage to people and property for fishermen.

“In addition to the authorities constantly upgrading equipment to serve forecasting and early warning of natural disasters, fishermen's awareness of natural disaster prevention has been enhanced. They proactively maintain connection to the mainland, and seriously implement the instructions of the authorities, contributing to improving the safety level for fishing vessels operating at sea during the rainy and stormy season", Mr Tran Van Phuc, Director of Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shared.

According to Mr Nguyen Huu Nghia, Director of Binh Dinh Fisheries Branch, in the work of ensuring the safety of fishing vessels, the province's authorities support fishermen with full equipment and machinery, so access to warning information is very stable. The effectiveness of preventing natural disasters at sea is even more effective when ship owners, captains and fishermen receive warnings and deploy appropriate response measures.

The system of anchoring and shelter areas at fishing ports in Binh Dinh has also been properly arranged, ready to welcome ships and boats to avoid storms. At the storm shelter anchorage area for fishing vessels and Tam Quan fisheries logistics service (Hoai Nhon town, Binh Dinh), currently, fishing vessels have moved to concentrated anchorage in Area D, so the problem of overloaded anchorage area has been resolved.

Mr. Huynh Trung Hau, owner of fishing boat BD 98693 TS in Tam Quan Bac ward (Hoai Nhon town) shared: “This year, the new fishing port is spacious, enabling vessels to dock, and buying and selling products is easier and more convenient than before. The arrangement of the new anchorage point is accomplished scientifically and reasonably, ensuring that the ship can safely take shelter from the storm, and all ship owners are in joy".

“The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has advised the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to propose that ministries and central branches soon invest in upgrading and expanding Binh Dinh's fishing port system. This is to meet the infrastructure and anchoring and shelter requirements of 5,954 fishing vessels registered to participate in exploitation; Of which 3,287 units are registered to exploit oceanic areas and 1,105 units are registered to exploit offshore areas. In addition, Binh Dinh also has nearly 1,590 fishing boats operating in coastal areas," said Mr Tran Van Phuc, Director of Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Soldiers assistance at sea

In addition to the efforts of Binh Dinh's agricultural sector on fishing vessel safety during the rainy and stormy season, there is also the contribution of this province's border force, readying to rescue fishermen when situations arise.

According to Major Pham Dang Tho, Captain of Border Guard Squadron 2 (Binh Dinh Border Guard), right from the beginning of the year, this unit has identified rescue work as a key task, especially during the stormy season. At the same time, this unit issued a thematic resolution to carry out the tasks of natural disaster prevention, search and rescue, and recovery at sea; and organize officers and soldiers in the unit to properly prepare.

Officers and soldiers of Border Guard Squadron 2 are always ready to face big waves and strong winds; they prepare means and technical equipment; especially regular specialized training in naval and rescue work.

“When an incident occurs at sea, after approaching the distressed fishing vessel, we set the goal of rescuing the people first, then considering options to rescue the vehicle. Officers, soldiers and ship crews regularly exchange experience so that we can effectively carry out search and rescue tasks at sea", Captain Nguyen Thanh Nhat, Captain of Border Guard Squadron 2 shared.

“Currently, the unit has maintained a standing force of 2 ships, 2 canoes and 20 officers and soldiers ready to support and ensure the safety of fishing vessels and fishermen entering port areas in the province to anchor and take shelter from storms. In addition, the unit also maintains 24/7 crews to promptly receive information, handle incidents and accidents in the maritime border area and help people when situations arise", said Major Pham Dang Tho, Captain of Border Guard Squadron 2.