Nghe An Maritime Transport - the pride of our homeland's sea and islands
(Baonghean) -Nghe An has 82 kilometers of coastline, so right from the time the US planes bombed the North, the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee had a resolution to attach importance to maritime transport. Maritime transport during the years of fighting the US is a beautiful page of history of the pride of the homeland's sea and islands.
To implement that policy, along with strengthening the River and Sea Transport Cooperatives, on October 26, 1965, the Provincial People's Committee decided to establish Nghe An Water Transport Company, the predecessor of the River Transport Company and the Sea Transport Company later. The Water Transport Company can receive goods from Hai Phong to Nghe An and can also receive goods from Nghe An to transport to the southern provinces.
Nghe An transport ships during the war against the US
The history of the provincial transport sector recorded the situation at the end of 1966: “Due to fierce attacks, water transport vehicles increased but still could not compensate for the damage, especially the sea transport. The transport force of the 2 River and Sea Companies increased by 2,864 tons during the year, but the damage amounted to 3,235 tons of boats. Thanks to the resolute direction and management, timely response measures, professional transport forces of cooperatives and support boats of the people, the total transported goods still reached 759,456 tons and 36,162 million tons/km. In general, in 3 years, goods transported to battlefield B (southern battlefield) doubled; goods within the province increased by 1 million tons/km”.
There are many examples of heroic maritime transport workers who fought and completed their missions, such as Mr. Cao Tuong in Dien Trung commune (Dien Chau). One time, while performing his duty as a civilian worker transporting goods at sea, he encountered the enemy. Taking advantage of the darkness, he steered his boat to one side and fired shots to lure the enemy. The enemy shot and injured him, but the entire boat was safe. He was awarded his badge by Uncle Ho.
Mr. Pham Ba Lan - Deputy Squad Leader of Unit 373, Team 208 of Nghe An Transport, has been an emulation soldier for 13 consecutive years and has been awarded the Labor Medal.
Since 1969, goods from the Central Government were transported to Nghe An not only by road, but also by large ships docking at Ben Thuy and Cua Hoi ports. The Government established a goods receiving committee for the Vinh - Ben Thuy area headed by Comrade Nguyen Sy Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. The committee's task was to receive and preserve goods transported by Central Government vehicles and foreign ships through the port. During the years 1970-1972, the area of communes from Cua Hoi to Cua Lo, opposite Ngu Island, where goods were gathered from the sea, had to endure fierce attacks by the US air force and navy. In just nearly 2 months, this small land was attacked 2,700 times, but 50,000 bags of goods transported from ships were still safely transferred to the warehouse. Among those who died, there was a foreign sailor.
From 1973 to 1974, Nghe An's maritime transport grew much stronger and the sea transport route was also different from before, large ships could transport goods directly to the southern provinces more conveniently. The number of large capacity ships in Nghe An at this time was 106, with a tonnage of 1,510 tons.
Thus, along with roads and waterways, Nghe An maritime transport has contributed to the victory of the transport mission, serving the Southern battlefield and the fight to protect the Northern airspace and sea area of the old Southern Zone 4. It can be said that maritime transport during the years of fighting the Americans is a beautiful page of history of the pride of the homeland's sea and islands./.
Hoang Chinh
