Brigade 129, assigned by the Vietnam People’s Navy to manage tasks on the islands, faces many challenges in staff rotation, supply provision, and equipment management, all of which are heavily dependent on the weather.
According to Naval Captain Bui Ngoc Sang, Political Commissar of the brigade, the unit has implemented various measures tailored to the specific operations of the center in order to perform effectively. The leadership selects personnel with strong political awareness and solid professional expertise, organizes training sessions to enhance their skills, and places special emphasis on raising awareness among fishermen about the Party’s guidelines regarding offshore fishing activities.
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Staff from Sinh Ton Island Logistics-Technical Service Center present a national flag to a fisherman. |
With the motto “The center is home, the wharf is a safe place,” over the past five years, the logistics-technical service centers have performed excellently in supporting fishermen during natural disasters and emergencies at sea. Specifically, since 2019, the Sinh Ton Island Logistics-Technical Service Center has welcomed thousands of trawlers and fishermen seeking refuge at the wharf to escape storms and tropical depressions. The center has repaired equipment and machinery for 130 fishing boats, provided over 1,500 m³ of fresh water free of charge, and supplied more than 400,000 liters of DO fuel at mainland prices. It has also donated life jackets, national flags, first aid kits, essential goods, and medicine to the fishermen. Thanks to this practical support, the center has become a trusted "rest stop" for trawlers at sea.
Non-commissioned Officer Tran Van Binh, Deputy Head of the center, shared that the outcomes of their emergency support and outreach efforts have spread widely. Fishermen actively share information about the center’s services, advise one another to dock there during extreme weather, and contact the center for equipment repairs and fresh water as needed.
“The joy of the fishermen is also our joy. We are always dedicated to helping and supporting them, contributing to the success of the ‘Naval troops as the pillar for fishermen to venture out and cling to the sea’ program,” he added.
In addition to supporting fishermen, Sinh Ton Island Logistics-Technical Service Center also plays a role in educating and guiding them to comply strictly with the Fisheries Law and Prime Minister’s Directive No.45/CT-TTg on urgent tasks and solutions to address the European Union’s warning regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The center also raises awareness against fishing in foreign waters.
Senior Captain Bui Quang Tu, Commander of Brigade 129, emphasized that the center continues to play a key role in changing the perceptions and attitudes of fishermen toward Uncle Ho’s soldiers, the naval force, at all wharfs and fishing villages across the country’s seas and islands. It has affirmed its role as a stronghold, enabling fishermen to go further out to sea with confidence, legally exploit marine resources, and contribute to building a people-based defense posture at sea.
Translated by Minh Anh