Developing a large capacity fleet - The direction of a coastal commune

(Baonghean) -Along Van creek (Dien Chau), fishing boats are lined up close together, covering the entire riverbed. On the docks and under the boats, fishermen are repairing and preparing logistics and machinery for large-capacity ships in the most thorough manner so that the first "lucky" fishing trip of the year will be smooth sailing.

That was the bustling scene in the fishing village of Dien Bich commune, Dien Chau district that I witnessed close to the full moon day of January. In the homeland of those who follow the profession of "eating waves, talking wind", the most impressive thing is probably the image of fishermen with shiny dark skin, salty taste of the ocean, loud and generous voices, but when interacting with them, they are very simple and gentle. One of them is fisherman Nguyen Nam Hai. While working at the headquarters of Dien Bich commune, I was told by Mr. Thach Dinh Nghia - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee about the "unique" work of this fisherman. The story is not a big deal for fishermen in other coastal areas, but it is a turning point for the seafaring profession in Dien Bich. "Mr. Hai is the first person who dares to spend billions of dong to build new ships with high capacity to go out to sea", Mr. Nghia said.

The offshore fishing fleet of Dien Bich fishermen anchored at Lach Van wharf.

When I met Hai and asked him about the shipbuilding, he said: "It's nothing, my job is to make a living on 5cm of wood, so I try to borrow money to invest in a sturdy ship, to go out to sea for a long time, to create high economic efficiency, and to be safe from the wind and waves." After the 105CV ship was completed in November 2012, he and his fellow sailors had ridden the waves and gone out to sea 4 times before the Lunar New Year holiday. Each trip out to sea following the trawling profession that his ship is doing usually lasts at least 4 days, including the time to go and return. "Each of our trips out to sea is much safer than before. After the full moon of January, the ship will open the sea again, praying for calm seas and a full hold of shrimp and fish," Hai said, his voice full of hope.

Having bought a new boat, despite having to carry a heavy debt burden, but looking at the results of all 4 sea trips before Tet, it can be seen that the direction that Mr. Hai is investing in is completely correct. Because after deducting the investment cost of nearly 30 million VND per trip and paying 4 million VND monthly salary for 3 fellow sailors, he still has savings to reinvest and pay off debts.

Hai is one of many fishermen in Dien Bich who have actively responded to the policy of the 21st Party Committee of the commune for the 2010-2015 term. The Dien Bich Party Committee has identified the marine economy as a key economic sector in the locality through the development of a large-capacity fishing fleet for offshore fishing, gradually reducing the small fleet for nearshore fishing. “According to the resolution, by 2015, Dien Bich will have 50 ships over 90CV for offshore fishing, but by the end of 2012, we had 55 ships over 90CV. Thus, the commune has completed the target 3 years ahead of schedule,” said Mr. Nguyen Viet Man - Secretary of the Dien Bich Party Committee. The correct policy of the commune Party Committee is spreading widely and proving its direct effectiveness in the locality.

In 2012, the total output of aquatic products of the whole commune reached 7,852 tons, with an economic value of more than 94 billion VND. The seafaring profession directly created jobs for nearly 1,000 workers with a stable income, an average of 4 million VND/month. In addition, the seafaring profession also attracted workers to work in fishing logistics services, purchasing and processing aquatic products. For example, the seafood processing profession brought an economic value of nearly 5.5 billion VND to the people of Dien Bich. “The policy of converting to large-capacity fishing vessels of the Commune Party Committee has proven effective in practice. We are determined to continue to mobilize fishermen to convert through the pioneering role of Party members as we have done for a long time. However, in reality, the most difficult problem currently hindering the acceleration of the conversion of the fleet is capital. It is very difficult for fishermen to borrow capital, while the whole commune still has more than 170 vessels with a capacity of less than 90CV,” Mr. Man worried.

Faced with that situation, most of the boats are over 90CV in Dien Bich, fishermen have to buy old boats from South Central localities such as Quang Ngai to repair and convert them to suit the trawling profession. Fisherman Tran Van Son, Hai Nam hamlet sold his traditional pointed boat for 150 million VND a few years ago, then borrowed money to buy back 2 old 90CV boats from Quang Ngai fishermen to go to sea. Since switching to a pair of large boats, his business has been much better than when he was still going to sea in the open sea. In 2012, after deducting the cost of going to sea and paying 4 million VND/month in salary, buying crew insurance for 6 fishermen working on the boat, his family earned a net profit of more than 200 million VND. “The Commune Party Committee’s policy of converting to large-capacity vessels is very correct. If the development momentum continues as in 2012, fishermen will be very excited and continue to invest in large vessels. However, I, like myself, still do not have the ability to build new large-capacity vessels, while borrowing capital is very difficult, so I have to accumulate gradually to do it,” Mr. Son confided. Faced with this situation, recently, the People’s Council of Dien Chau district agreed to support each fishing family to purchase by building new vessels, converting old vessels to 90CV to move fishing grounds from the open sea to the offshore area with 20 million VND to encourage fishermen.

In the afternoon, along the wharves along Van creek, fishermen call out to each other to load their goods onto their ships. A few ships have already made their way out to sea. The red flag with yellow star flutters on each ship. All carry the belief that the next day they will return with a full hold of fish.

Article and photos: Thanh Duy