Ships docked due to record high oil prices

Available atNghi Thuy fishing portOn the morning of March 12, reporters recorded an unusually deserted and desolate scene at a normally bustling fishing port in Cua Lo town. Many kiosks were closed, and fishermen’s boats lay on the shore, not going out to sea.

Many fishing boats of Nghi Thuy ward (Cua Lo town) are docked due to record fuel price increase. Photo: QA

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai in Nghi Thuy ward (Cua Lo town) said: "If on a normal day, at dawn, the fishing port is bustling with thousands of people buying and selling, these past few days the boats have not gone out to sea, there is no seafood, so the port is also deserted...".

According to the reporter’s investigation, on the morning of March 12, only two offshore fishing boats returned to port, the boats of Mr. Mai Thanh Toan and Mr. Hoang Van Phi, both residing in Nghi Thuy ward. These were also the last two trips to sea for these two fishermen before taking a break.

Nghi Thuy fishing port is now deserted because boats are not going out to sea. Photo: QA

Mr. Mai Thanh Toan said: "The last trip cost nearly 50 million VND for fuel alone, not to mention other expenses such as food, ice, labor costs... Meanwhile, all the seafood imported on this trip was only 70 million VND. Previously, when the price of gasoline was low, there was still money coming in and out, but now the more we go, the more we lose. After this trip, I will temporarily stop going to sea and wait for prices to stabilize before considering returning...".

Mr. Phung Ba Thu - owner of 850 CV boat, in Nghi Thuy ward said: "My boat goes offshore fishing for at least 1 month with nearly 30 crew members. Fuel costs nearly 3,000 - 4,000 liters of oil, with the current price of over 25,000 VND/liter of oil, the whole trip has cost 100 million VND in fuel, no money left to pay the crew, many people have also quit the boat to find other jobs...".

Some seafood processing kiosks at Nghi Thuy fishing port have closed due to lack of supply. Photo: QA

Not only offshore fishing boats but also nearshore fishing boats, which go back and forth during the day, are not interested in going to sea at this time. Mr. Nguyen Van Dung - a boat owner in Nghi Thuy ward said: "I usually go to sea from 2 pm, and return to port at 4 am; if before, the cost of each trip was from 1.5 - 2 million VND for fuel, now it is over 3 million VND for fuel. Meanwhile, nearshore fishing has little seafood, low value, and not much income, so I have stopped going to sea for 5 days now...".

Discussing this issue, Mr. Hoang Minh Chinh - Vice Chairman of Nghi Thuy Ward People's Committee said: There are currently 110 boats in the area, of which 46 are offshore fishing boats, the rest are nearshore fishing boats. For about a week now, people's boats have mostly stayed at the dock, not going out to sea because fuel prices have increased too much. Some boats have even been at the shore since Tet, the boat owners have gone to do other jobs...".

After the most recent trip, Mr. Mai Thanh Toan in Nghi Thuy ward cleaned the boat and temporarily stopped going out to sea, waiting for fuel prices to stabilize. Photo: QA

According to Mr. Chinh, besides the main reason being the high fuel price, currently, fishermen's seafood catching is not favorable, the amount of seafood has decreased, while the market consumption has not been able to recover, low prices are also the reason why fishermen stop going to sea.

"The local government has encouraged fishermen, proposed fuel support for them to go to sea, and connected with units and banks to support loans, extend the payment period of interest and debt to accompany fishermen in this difficult time...", Mr. Chinh added.

Not only in Cua Lo Town, but also the record high fuel prices are causing many fishermen in other coastal areas such asDien Chau, Quynh Luu... not "keen" on going to sea at this time.

Mr. Nguyen Van Lien - Vice Chairman of Dien Bich Commune People's Committee (Dien Chau) said: "The whole commune has nearly 200 boats, of which 120 boats with a capacity of over 90 CV are fishing offshore. However, from the beginning of the month until now, only 40% of the boats go out to sea regularly, the rest are on shore. The main reason is that the price of gasoline and oil is too high, making fishermen afraid of losses. Besides, at this time, the amount of fish in the fishing grounds is not high, so people are waiting until April, when the southern fish season begins, the price of gasoline will stabilize and they will go out more regularly."

Gasoline prices hit a record high, reaching nearly VND30,000/liter since the afternoon of March 11. Photo: QA

Currently, atNghe AnThere are more than 3,400 boats (Hoang Mai town has 885 boats, Quynh Luu district has 585 boats, Dien Chau district has 497 boats, Cua Lo town has 345 boats...) of which there are more than 1,000 large-capacity boats, fishing offshore. With a workforce of nearly 20,000 marine workers, this is considered one of the key economic sectors in the area. However, the reluctance of fishermen to go to sea at this time has significantly affected seafood catch and market supply.

The increase in gasoline prices will be applied from 3:00 p.m. on March 11. Specifically: E5RON92 gasoline price increased by VND2,910/liter, to VND28,980/liter; RON95-III gasoline price increased by VND2,990/liter, to VND29,820/liter. Oil products were also adjusted up, including diesel oil increased by VND3,940/liter, to VND25,260/liter; kerosene increased to VND23,910/liter. Thus, gasoline and oil prices continued to set up the 6th consecutive adjustment period since the beginning of the year due to the impact of rising world prices, the highest increase in the past 8 years, since July 2014.