Improve communication efficiency, ensure safety for fishermen at sea

(Baonghean) -On the morning of October 6, Nghe An Department of Information and Communications coordinated with the Regional Radio Frequency Center VI to organize a conference to evaluate the coordination in implementing the licensing of fishing vessels using long-range HF communication equipment and shore stations to communicate with fishing vessels in the province.

Attending the event were representatives of the leaders of the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command, the Provincial Committee for Natural Resources and Environment Office, Ben Thuy Coastal Information Station, the Department of Exploitation and Protection of Natural Resources, and the Department of Culture and Information of Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc districts and Cua Lo town.

In recent times, with the attention of all levels and sectors, and the coordination of relevant units, the use of HF long-range communication equipment at sea has become increasingly popular, especially for offshore fishing vessels and coastal stations communicating with fishing vessels. Since 2009, 102 long-range communication devices (ICOM) have been supported for the People's Committees of coastal communes and wards and owners of fishing vessels throughout the province. However, compliance with state regulations on registration for licenses to use frequencies and radio equipment before putting them into operation and use by organizations and individuals is still limited. Many ship owners have not complied with regulations on licensing for HF long-range communication devices, HF coastal stations communicating with fishing vessels operate spontaneously, without licenses to use radio frequencies, so the effectiveness in rescue and relief is not high and causes mutual interference.

At the conference, relevant units made recommendations and proposals focusing on the following contents: Pay attention to organizing training courses on the management of maritime communication systems in coastal districts; review and compile statistics on fishing vessels using HF long-range communication equipment and coastal stations to guide licensing procedures and implementation. Strengthen propaganda on mass media about state regulations to coastal wards and communes; strengthen the inspection of licenses for vessels using HF long-range communication equipment before going to sea... to raise people's awareness in complying with state regulations on frequency and efficiency of communication systems, ensuring safety for fishermen's exploitation activities at sea.

Khanh Ly