Warm military-civilian relationship in the stormy waves
(Baonghean.vn) - Search and rescue at sea is an activity that demonstrates the noble humanitarian spirit of all organizations and individuals, and is also the duty and responsibility of all countries, especially for coastal countries.
Realizing that, over the years, officers and soldiers of the Coast Guard Region 1 Command have always been active and proactive in implementing this content well. The timely and prompt presence of the Coast Guard force in the Gulf of Tonkin has helped fishermen as well as ship owners reduce human and vehicle damage, and feel secure in making a living at sea.
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| Coast Guard Ship 1011 docked at Hon La Port and handed over the victim to the Port Authority and Border Guard for emergency treatment. Photo: PV |
An incident just happened on September 24, 2021 in the Hon La sea area (Quang Binh). On the way to transport cement from Nghi Son port (Thanh Hoa) to Long An province, due to the impact of storm No. 6, the Long Son 38 ship had to stop to avoid the storm. While anchoring, due to strong winds and waves, a crew member of the ship, Nguyen Minh Hoa, 35 years old, from Quang Khe commune, Quang Xuong district (Thanh Hoa), fell, hit the railing and broke his right leg.
Upon receiving the command from the Command Center, CSB 1011 ship of Squadron 112, on duty 7.5 nautical miles from the accident site, quickly approached in level 6 wind and waves to provide first aid, transport the victim to shore, and hand him over to Hon La Port Authority and Roon Border Guard Station for emergency treatment at the Vietnam - Cuba Hospital in Dong Hoi City.
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| Encourage the spirit of the injured crew member. Photo: PV |
Previously, on October 31, 2019, while fishing in the waters of Nghe An, the fishing boat with registration number NA 95171 TS with 9 crew members, captained by Mr. Tran Van Hai, 44 years old, from Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district, had a broken gearbox shaft. The crew tried to repair it but could not fix the problem, so they had to let the boat drift at sea in level 6 waves and level 7 gusts. Faced with a life-threatening situation, the captain sent a distress signal.
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| Coast Guard ship 9004 towing fishing boat NA 95171 TS. Photo: PV |
Receiving the direction of the Coast Guard Region Command, ship CSB 9004 of Squadron 111/Flotilla 11 is on duty in the area of Bach Long Vi island (Hai Phong).urgently maneuvered to the location of the distressed vessel. After 5 hours of travel, the CSB 9004 approached the fishing vessel NA 95171 TS in the sea area 100 nautical miles East-Northeast of Lach Quen estuary. Officers and soldiers of the CSB 9004 visited and encouraged the fishermen and proceeded to make a towline to pull the distressed vessel and its crew safely back to the mainland, handing it over to the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard.
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| Taking care of the health of the victims who were just pulled onto the ship. Photo: PV |
Touched by the timely help of the CSB 9004 ship, Captain Tran Van Hai shared: “Our ship was in trouble and had to drift for many hours in strong winds and waves. We were in a state of panic because our lives were threatened and the ship could have sunk at any moment. Fortunately, the Coast Guard officers appeared in time to bring us back to the mainland, to our families and children. We would like to thank you!”
With the motto "No mobile force is faster than the local force", the Regional Command always proactively grasps the weather, climate, and hydrological situation, strictly maintains the system of ships on duty at sea and at the port. Regularly replenish fuel and food reserves, thoroughly communicate tasks to each officer and soldier as well as train to improve physical strength and spirit to be ready to set off on search and rescue missions when ordered, ensuring absolute safety, achieving the set goals and requirements.
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| Coast Guard medics take care of a sailor's wound. Photo: PV |
The mission of search and rescue, ensuring the safety of fishermen and people working at sea is defined as a combat mission in peacetime. Therefore, regardless of difficult weather conditions, storms or in remote sea areas, the forces and means of the Regional Command are still present in time to rescue fishermen. In the past 2 years, the unit has used 25 ships and boats to carry out search and rescue missions, rescuing 13 ships and boats with 113 crew members in distress, and recovering 4 bodies at sea.
“In order to improve the effectiveness of search and rescue at sea, in recent years, the Coast Guard Region 1 Command has coordinated with functional forces such as Border Guard, Navy, especially the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center Region 1. The unit and the Center have signed a Coordination Regulation, proactively developed and proposed rescue plans at sea and proactively prepared vessels and equipment for rescue work. In addition, the Command has closely coordinated with local Party committees and authorities of 10 coastal provinces in the area under the unit's responsibility, closely coordinated with fishing boats and economic sectors operating at sea to grasp and promptly rescue fishing boats and other economic sectors in distress at sea!”
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| The Coast Guard Region 1 Command hands over the crew of Thanh Cong 999 to Roon Border Guard Station. Photo: PV |
For Coast Guard soldiers, the motto "Helping fishermen is helping yourself, saving fishermen is an order from the heart of a soldier" is always put first and considered the political task of the unit. Therefore, regardless of the time, when receiving the order to go on a rescue mission, the brothers on board quickly do all the preparations, ensuring the ship sets sail as quickly as possible, and approaches and rescues in the most timely manner. The results of the search, rescue and salvage work in recent times of the Regional Command have contributed to shining the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers - Coast Guard soldiers", truly a solid support for the people and fishermen to confidently go out to sea.
