Launching fishing boat to Hoang Sa fishing grounds
On the afternoon of December 4, at the water wharf of Binh Chau commune, Binh Son district (Quang Ngai), witnessed by the Quang Ngai Provincial Federation of Labor, the 410CV fishing boat, 17m long, 4.6m wide, 2.6m high, was launched in the joy mixed with tears of the "fisherman - "young grandfather" Vo Van Tam (38 years old), in Tay village, An Vinh commune, Ly Son district - the person mentioned in the report: "Heavy debt to Hoang Sa" more than 2 months ago.
To get this new ship, in addition to the 500 million VND support from the program "Net of love for fishermen of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa", launched by Lao Dong Newspaper, Tam had to "work hard" and borrow more than 1 billion VND to fulfill his dream of personally piloting the ship back to the Hoang Sa fishing grounds.
After more than 20 years at sea, this is the 5th ship and also the one with the largest engine capacity, owned by Tam. Of the 4 previous ships, 1 was illegally confiscated by China, 1 was sunk by waves at Xa Cu Island. Tam had to sell the other 2 to pay off debt. “Through Lao Dong Newspaper, knowing that I would receive 500 million VND in support, I immediately left Ly Son Island to go to Binh Chau School (Binh Son District) to set up a keel to build a ship to go back to Hoang Sa to fish and make a living, because if I don’t go back to that fishing ground, I feel very pressured and uncomfortable” – Vo Van Tam confided.
Leaders of Quang Ngai Provincial Federation of Labor and fisherman Tam's family held a boat launching ceremony.
Photo: PK
Listening to Tam's story, we can see that his life has suffered too many disasters. After China illegally confiscated his 320CV fishing boat, worth nearly 100 taels of gold, in 2006, Tam was imprisoned for 85 days and nights, which was no different from being in prison before being released. From being the owner of a billion-dollar ship, Tam became a traveling companion for several years. In 2010, Tam saved up, saved up, and borrowed money to buy a new ship. However, after only a few trips at sea, the ship was sunk by a storm. Not only that, when the new 410CV ship was about to launch, Tam was heartbroken when his youngest son, a 6th grader, passed away forever, under the cruel knife of a student at the same school. “Indeed, if I had not received the support of the Labor Golden Heart Fund and the Quang Ngai Provincial Labor Federation, I do not know when I would have had the conditions to build a new ship to go out to sea and stay at sea for a long time.”
Also at this wharf, on September 26, 2012, Lao Dong Newspaper, Quang Ngai Provincial Labor Federation coordinated with local authorities to organize a handover ceremony and launch a 450CV ship built by the "Net of Love for Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Fishermen" Program as a gift to fisherman Tran Phuong - in Chau Thuan Bien village, Binh Chau commune, Binh Son district - whose ship was illegally confiscated by China. In addition, another fishing boat, with a total cost of more than 3 billion VND, also built by the Labor Golden Heart Fund as a gift to the Fishermen's Union of An Hai commune (Ly Son district) is gradually being completed.
“Together with the Labor Golden Heart Fund and our compatriots across the country, we will always accompany fishermen, providing material and spiritual support to help them feel secure in making a living at sea during this difficult time,” affirmed Ms. Ngo Thi Kim Ngoc, President of the Quang Ngai Provincial Federation of Labor.
According to NLĐ-M
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