Japan provides patrol boats to Nghe An

(Baonghean) -Nghe An recently held a ceremony to receive the Hamakaze patrol boat donated by the non-profit organization International Small Vessel Recycle Project (Japan).

Notably, this campaign will open a larger plan to provide dozens of fishing boats to Nghe An fishermen, and thousands of fishing boats to Vietnamese fishermen in general from the Japanese people.

The International Small Vessel Recycle Project (Japan) non-profit organization was founded on the idea and aspirations of a Vietnamese youth, at that time a student at the Japanese University of Economics - Mr. Tran Thuc Hieu, currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of KOBE Vietnam Trading and Service Company Limited and Mr. Muraoh Hideki - former Principal of a Police School in Japan - who mobilized Japanese friends to join the non-profit organization.

Coast guard ship donated by Japanese non-profit organization to Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Le

With the aim of providing ships and boats that have been used in Japan to Southeast Asian countries, focusing on Vietnam. Among them, Nghe An is the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh and patriot Phan Boi Chau - the one who laid the foundation for the Vietnam - Japan relationship.

At the end of April 2017, the International Small Vessel Recycle Project (Japan) non-profit organization donated to Nghe An a Hamakaze composite-hulled patrol boat with a capacity of 9 passengers and 1 crew member, 30CV engine capacity, one of the small but quite modern patrol and rescue boats, although used, it is still quite new.

What is special is that this aid is the beginning of a larger plan, a plan to provide dozens of fishing boats to Nghe An fishermen and thousands of fishing boats to Vietnamese fishermen in general from the Japanese people. These boats will be inspected by the authorities of the two countries, requiring them to be over 80% new before being delivered to fishermen.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Ky - Director of Nghe An Department of Transport said: "The reception of fishing boats has been reported by the Provincial People's Committee to the competent authorities and has been approved. Nghe An Province has submitted to the Prime Minister and received opinions from ministries and branches on using Japanese composite-hulled boats and regulations on boats that must be 80% new or more.

Pursuant to Decision No. 1464-UBND dated April 13, 2017 of the Provincial People's Committee on receiving the ship of the International Small Vessel Recycle Project (Japan), the Provincial People's Committee has agreed to assign the Department of Transport to carry out procedures to receive and use the ship to serve the state management work according to the tasks and functions of the Department. At the same time, the Department commits to effectively use and promote the function of the Hamakaze ship.

The project to provide fishing boats to Nghe An fishermen was implemented with the aim of bringing Nghe An fishermen closer to Japanese technology, so that they can apply it to production and supply products that the Japanese market needs, in order to increase economic value and ensure social security.

In addition to aid through the Government and national security channels, this civil activity also has the meaning of clarifying the affection for the Vietnamese people from the Japanese people, especially the people of Nghe An province. “We are committed to implementing the project only for the purpose of strengthening support for Vietnamese fishermen.

In the coming time, the Non-profit Organization will provide aid, sell at preferential prices, and support Nghe An fishermen to build 2,000 new composite-hulled boats to provide to fishermen in the hope of helping Nghe An fishermen exploit more effectively than the current wooden boats.

At the same time, the Japanese Government promised to purchase products caught by fishermen," affirmed Mr. Muraoh Hideki - Chairman of the Board of Directors, Japanese Non-Profit Organization.

In particular, through the ship aid work, through people-to-people diplomacy channels, the International Small Vessel Recycle Project (Japan) will act as a bridge to promote the image of Nghe An province, contributing to calling on Japanese investors to come and learn about investment cooperation in the province.

At the same time, the organization continues to have many activities to support Nghe An in various fields. In the near future, it is promoting the implementation of a ship repair and building factory in Vietnam. When it comes into operation, the factory will supply ships not only to Vietnam but also to other Southeast Asian markets.

Chau Tuan