Gloomy shipbuilding villages in Nghe An

The shipbuilding facility of Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam in Quynh Tho commune (Quynh Luu) is deserted. Photo: Van Truong.

Find shipbuilding facilities in Quynh Tho commune, districtQuynh LuuThe bustling working atmosphere of the past is no longer seen, instead it is deserted and desolate. Observing at the shipbuilding workshop of Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam, we see that the whole area is overgrown with grass, the sawing system and shipbuilding equipment are rusty.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam shared: My family invested over 4 billion VND in this shipyard. Previously, we built 8-10 new large ships each year, but for the past 2-3 years we have not been able to build any new ships. We mainly maintain and repair some degraded and slightly damaged ships. The reason is that in recent years, the price of gasoline has increased, the ships are losing money so many fishermen are not interested in going to sea.

Some areas where boats were built are now used as places to raise goats. Photo: Van Truong

Next to Hung Trang shipyard, Quynh Tho commune has also retired.shipbuildingFor several years now. Mr. Nguyen Trang - the owner of the shipyard confided: For several years now, no one has placed new orders, workers have quit and switched to other jobs. I have invested in building a swimming pool on the unused shipyard to earn more income.

Mr. Tran Huy Vinh - Secretary of the Quynh Tho Commune Party Committee said: Quynh Tho Commune has 3 boat building establishments, mainly 5-6 households sharing 1 establishment. In prosperous times, the above establishments created jobs for 70-80 local workers. Due to many difficulties, up to now, Mr. Tran Van Tung's boat building establishment has "closed", while 2 establishments are operating at a low level.

Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hang - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district added: The boat building profession in Quynh Luu district is mainly concentrated in the communes of Quynh Tho, Quynh Nghia, Quynh Thuan, at peak times every year 30-40 new large capacity boats are built.

Abandoned shipbuilding factory and machinery. Photo: Van Truong

However, in recent years, most fishermen have not built new boats, the main reason being that support policies no longer exist, in addition, the means of transport and boats are almost "saturated", not to mention that fishing activities are not very effective due to rising material prices and scarce labor.

Sharing the same situation, the shipbuilding facilities in Quynh Lap ward, Hoang Mai town are also operating at a low level. At the shipbuilding workshop of Mr. Tran Dinh Tho in Tan Thanh hamlet, Quynh Lap commune, which was once bustling but now abandoned. Mr. Nguyen Van Nho - Chairman of Quynh Lap commune People's Committee shared: Quynh Lap commune has 2 shipbuilding facilities, which used to build ships worth over 10 billion VND.

After some policies supporting the construction of new ships expired, shipyards in Quynh Lap commune also stopped building new ships. Currently, only the shipyard of Mr. Tran Dinh Anh's family is still operating, but only maintains and repairs old ships.

Some areas at the shipbuilding facility in Quynh Tho commune (Quynh Luu) have been converted into swimming pools. Photo: Van Truong

Trung Kien shipbuilding villageThe famous Nghi Thiet commune, Nghi Loc district is in a similar situation. The whole Nghi Thiet commune has 33 shipyards, but only 4-5 are operating. Most of the factories do not have new shipbuilding orders, the source of shipbuilders is increasingly lacking. Some factory owners have to look for shipbuilding orders in other provinces to maintain jobs, trying to preserve the traditional profession.

Mr. Tran Nhu Long - Deputy Head of Nghe An Fisheries Exploitation Sub-Department said: Nghe An province currently has 42 ship repair and building facilities, of which 9 facilities are qualified to build and convert ships.

Currently, most of the boat building establishments and craft villages are facing difficulties. The reason is that many boats are not operating effectively, fishing grounds are narrowing; aquatic resources are showing signs of decline, and prices of exploited aquatic products are not increasing.

Quynh Luu shipyards are barely surviving, mainly maintaining old ships. Photo: Van Truong

Meanwhile, the input costs of materials and labor for each sea trip are increasing. In addition, the authorities issue licenses according to the quota for offshore, offshore and coastal exploitation, so the construction of new fishing boats must follow regulations to exploit each sea area appropriately. New boats cannot be built en masse...

Van Truong