Insurance policy gives peace of mind to fishermen at sea

(Baonghean) - One of the issues that helps fishermen feel secure when going offshore, expanding fishing grounds, and improving exploitation efficiency is insurance for boats and crew members. In particular, with preferential policies when implementing Decree 67 of the Government on "some policies for fisheries development", Quynh Luu fishermen actively participate in insurance for boats and crew members.

With offshore fishing, drifting at sea for nearly a month, if unfortunately encountering big waves, unusually strong winds, it will damage equipment and threaten the lives of the crew. Up to now, in Quynh Luu district, there have been a number of incidents of boats having accidents at sea, causing loss of life and property to fishermen. However, because fishermen do not participate in purchasing insurance for boats and crew, they have to accept the loss.

In recent years, realizing the importance of purchasing insurance, many fishermen have actively participated. After a long offshore trip, fishing boat NA 91581 of Mr. Ho Van Dong, Hoa Binh hamlet, Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu) and the crew were busy anchoring the boat and transferring seafood to shore. All the crew members were excited, because the fishing trip yielded nearly ten tons of fish. “Each offshore trip, staying at sea for a long time to improve fishing efficiency, we feel more secure partly thanks to participating in hull and crew accident insurance. Since launching the large-capacity boat, each offshore trip has been longer than before, averaging from 15 to 20 days. Almost every fishing trip has a profit of 50 million VND or more,” Mr. Dong happily confided.

Use light to catch fish.

Mr. Ngo Duc Cu in Quynh Long commune also participates in boat insurance and shares: “The trend of fishing is increasingly modern, offshore, and long-term like today, but not participating in boat insurance, crew accident is too backward. Each insurance for offshore boats and crew is about 3 million to 5 million VND per year, depending on capacity, but compared to the value of the boat up to 5-7 billion VND, it is nothing. Or the value of each boat accident insurance for nearshore fishing is less than 100 thousand VND/year, which is not worth much. The important thing is that the lives of fishermen are "protected" and shared by the community...”. In Quynh Tien commune, the locality has strengths in marine exploitation. Right from the first year of implementing marine insurance, it has attracted the attention of many fishermen. Up to now, the number of boat owners participating in insurance is up to 139 out of a total of 329 offshore fishing boats in the commune. The value of each large-capacity ship insurance ranges from 3 million to 5 million VND, including crew accident insurance, with an average of 10-15 people on each ship. As a result, in addition to the awareness of participating in vehicle and crew insurance among fishermen, it is partly due to the active participation in propaganda and mobilization by local associations and unions.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ke, Chairman of the Quynh Tien Commune Fisheries Association, the State currently has two types of insurance support policies for ships and crew accidents. For offshore fishing vessels to the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa sea areas, 50% of the hull insurance value will be supported and 100% of the crew insurance will be supported. According to Decree 67 of the Government, the value of each crew accident insurance is supported at 100% and 70% of the hull insurance value for ships under 400 CV. For 400 CV or more, 90% of the hull insurance value and 100% of the crew accident value. However, fishermen can only choose 1 of the 2 types of insurance support above... This policy has actively supported fishermen to actively participate in marine insurance.

Up to now, most fishermen in coastal communes of Quynh Luu district have participated in marine insurance, firmly going offshore and sticking to the sea. Along with the policies supporting offshore fishermen being implemented, participating in insurance for fishermen is a practical activity contributing to the development of the seafood exploitation industry, so many fishermen have boldly borrowed capital, upgraded their boats to go offshore, enrich their families, and join fishermen nationwide in protecting their fishing grounds, seas, and islands.

Hoang Thuy

(Quynh Luu Radio)