Standing firm amidst the vast ocean

(Baonghean)In the middle of the ocean, facing harsh storms, the DK1 offshore platform system remains steadfast and proud, with the red flag with a yellow star fluttering proudly, a heroic testament to the sovereignty of the Fatherland's maritime territory. There, this steadfastness is not only reflected in the unwavering will of the soldiers who are present day and night on the platforms, guarding the sea and sky.

Transporting goods and Tet gifts to the DK112 and DK114 offshore platforms.

Due to the small size of the boat and the limited area of ​​the platform, only 12 people were allowed on board. Each gift box was carefully wrapped in plastic to prevent seawater from getting wet. The distance from the ship to the platform looked short, but it still took about 20 minutes to get there by small boat. As soon as the boat reached the platform, the officers and soldiers were all present, helping the sailors hold the boat for the journalists to disembark first. The handshakes between those from the mainland and the officers and soldiers on the platform were warm and firm, as if they didn't want to let go. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hung, Commander of the Phuc Nguyen Platform, gave the delegation a quick report on the mission's progress. He affirmed: "In recent years, thanks to the investment in a solar power system and a satellite receiving and transmitting system, the crew can watch TV, listen to the radio, and keep up with the situation on the mainland. The morale of the crew is firm, and they are striving together to successfully complete their mission and firmly protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and skies." Representatives from the Command of Region 2 presented Tet gifts from the Ministry of National Defense, the military, the government, and businesses from the mainland to the officers and soldiers at the offshore platforms, along with words of advice and encouragement to perform their duties well. The delegation quickly boarded the boat, returned to the ship, and continued to visit other offshore platforms according to the schedule.

About 15 nautical miles (1 nautical mile = 1.8 km) from the Phuc Nguyen platform is the DK1/11 platform, part of the Tu Chinh platform cluster (the Tu Chinh cluster has 3 platforms). Due to the influence of an additional low-pressure system, the sea waves grew larger as we approached the DK1/11 platform, allowing a maximum of only 12 people, including reporters, journalists, and officers from the Command of Region 2, to board. Because of the high waves, accessing the vertical steps to the platform was very difficult, so the officers and soldiers on the platform used ropes to pull each person up from the boat. The officers and soldiers on the platform were overjoyed and embraced those who had come from the mainland. Major Nguyen Xuan Ha, Commander of the DK1/11 offshore platform, said with tears in his eyes: “For the past few years, every year near the Lunar New Year, delegations from the mainland have come to visit and give gifts, but this year is the first time the officers and soldiers have been able to come to the platform. In previous years, the waves were high and the wind strong, so we could only send gifts by wrapping them in plastic and tying them to ropes, and we would pull them up. As for New Year's greetings from the regional commander and officers and reporters, we could only send them via radio…”

Among the officers and soldiers transferring boxes of Tet gifts to the central office of the offshore platform, I recognized a fellow countryman – Lieutenant Duong Van Bac – by his voice. Lieutenant Bac said that his hometown is Xuan Lam commune, Nam Dan district, and he has served on the DK1 offshore platforms for 17 years. This is his 11th Tet holiday with his comrades on duty there. What made him feel even warmer was that there were four people from Nghe An province on DK1/11. These comrades are from Tan Ky, Nghi Loc, and Anh Son districts, and they all successfully completed their assigned tasks with pride in their hometowns, the beloved homeland of President Ho Chi Minh. To date, Lieutenant Bac has been transferred to 7 out of 15 offshore platforms. A preliminary count shows that there are approximately 25 people from Nghe An province serving on the offshore platform system, carrying out the sacred duty of guarding the seas and skies of the Fatherland.

The conversation with a fellow countryman on the DK1/11 platform almost completely occupied the nearly 1 hour and 30 minutes the reporter from Nghe An Newspaper was allowed on the platform. In his story, Mr. Bac emotionally shared: “About two months before Tet last year, I was on the platform when I received news of my father's death. Due to work conditions and rough seas and strong winds, there were no ships available, so I couldn't return home to attend the funeral. My colleagues in the unit encouraged and supported me, and I suppressed my grief and fulfilled my duties well. Before Tet this year, the unit facilitated my return home to commemorate my father's first death anniversary. I returned to the platform two weeks ago, continuing to work with my comrades to fulfill the sacred mission entrusted to me by the Party and the people…” Before saying goodbye, Mr. Bac gave his fellow countryman some dried fish – the most abundant food source on the platform. “Here, besides the vegetables we grow, the fish from the sea are our main food source. Some days, our unit catches dozens of kilograms of fish, more than we can eat, so we dry them and send them back to the mainland as gifts,” Bắc said. The delegation returned to the ship to visit other offshore platforms. On the small boat returning to the ship, we saw Bắc and the officers and soldiers standing at the lowest level of the platform, waving goodbye as if wanting to send their thoughts and feelings back to the mainland…

The DK1 offshore platforms, built 25 years ago, affirm the sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands. Currently, there are 15 platforms in the South China Sea, some of which have been reinforced, upgraded, or newly built to be more solid and spacious, truly embodying the concept of "steel fortresses" at sea. From these platforms, surrounded on all four sides and below by the vast ocean, despite the harsh waves and winds, generations of officers and soldiers on the DK1 platforms remain steadfast in their resolve, constantly monitoring the situation at sea and reporting immediately to the mainland and relevant authorities for appropriate action.

Existing in the open sea, facing the harsh erosion of waves and storms, several offshore platforms collapsed in the years 1990, 1996, and 1999. In these difficult times, the officers and soldiers on the platforms remained steadfast, clinging to the sea and fulfilling their responsibilities as citizens and soldiers. Generations of officers and soldiers who served on the platforms still vividly remember the heroic sacrifices of their comrades. These include Martyr Nguyen Huu Quang - Senior Lieutenant, Deputy Commander of the DK1/3 Phuc Tan platform, who, after the platform collapsed, caused the entire unit to swim for many days at sea. In the face of strong waves and winds, he gave his last life raft and ration to the weakest soldier and bravely sacrificed himself at sea on December 5, 1990, to the immeasurable grief of his comrades; and the noble act of Martyr Captain Nguyen Van An at the 2A/DK1/6 Phuc Nguyen platform. In 1998, Typhoon No. 8 struck. He stayed behind to collect documents and the national flag, but the storm claimed his life before his newborn son could even see his father's face...

The cherished images of martyrs such as Warrant Officer Le Duc Hong, Patrol Officer Senior Lieutenant Pham Tao, Captain Nguyen Van Tu, Lieutenant Le Tien Cuong, Senior Lieutenant Ngo Sy Nga, Soldier Hoang Van Cuc, Nguyen Duc Hanh… will forever remain. They strictly obeyed orders, bravely sacrificed themselves to save their comrades, and held their posts on the offshore platform until their last breath. Their blood will forever stain the national flag, mingling with the sea, making the sea of ​​their homeland even bluer. Of the nine comrades who died working on the offshore platform, only two bodies were found. Therefore, "their graves are the white-crested waves." Their spirit, will, and bodies have merged with the spirit of the sea, inspiring officers and soldiers of future generations to continue their legacy in protecting the sea, sky, and land of the nation…

During their maritime patrol duties, in addition to closely monitoring developments and reporting information to the mainland, officers and soldiers on the offshore platforms also assist dozens of fishing boats during stormy weather each year. In many cases, fishing boats with injured crews have received medical treatment and first aid from officers and soldiers on the platforms. Similarly, many boats with damaged machinery, fishing gear, or lacking fresh water and fuel have received timely support and assistance from the platforms. When we visited the Tu Chinh offshore platform, we met the fishing boat QN-97029, captained by Mr. Le The Nghe from Quang Ngai, who was seeking assistance from officers and soldiers on the DK1/11 platform to repair a gearbox malfunction. Mr. Nghe said: “We fishermen feel truly secure when fishing in this sea area. When we need support, the soldiers on the offshore platforms provide enthusiastic assistance. Without that support, we would suffer huge losses, and sometimes even risk our lives… The offshore platforms are truly a solid support for fishermen, giving them peace of mind to go out to sea and stay there.”

The HQ-953 ship continued its journey to other offshore platforms. On January 5th and 6th, the sea suddenly became very rough. Waves up to 4 meters high caused the ship to shake violently, with equipment constantly shifting from one cabin edge to another with each rocking motion. However, with its 2,500 horsepower engine, the 43-meter-long, 10-meter-wide ship continued its advance. The crew stated, "From afar, the ship looks like just a leaf on the surface of a lake. But journalists can rest assured, even with bigger waves, we will still be able to proceed safely." Witnessing the emotional ups and downs between the mainland and the offshore platform, as well as the scenes during the sea voyage, poet Tran Do Liem - Tien Giang Province Literature and Arts Association, the oldest person on the ship (he is 67 years old this year) - immediately composed the following poem: “Waves follow waves, building thousands of mountains and waters / White-capped peaks, deep valleys / The sky is turbulent, clouds obscure all sides / We sway, intoxicated by the ship's movements… Nine five three (HQ-953) rumbles ahead / The wind dodges, the silver waves follow behind / Journalists and officers do not retreat / The DK platform must deliver on time for Tet.”

Upon arriving at the DK1/14 and DK1/12 offshore platforms (part of the Tu Chinh platform cluster), the delegation from the mainland was unable to reach the platforms due to extremely rough seas. The traditional method for delivering goods and gifts to the platforms over the years has been for the platforms to release buoys and ropes that float downstream with the current, about 250 meters from the platforms – a safe distance to prevent collisions with ships during rough seas. Then, the transport ship approaches and ties the gift boxes, wrapped in plastic bags, to the ropes for the officers and soldiers on the platforms to pull up. Greetings and New Year wishes are conveyed via radio. On the other end of the walkie-talkie, we heard the choked voice of Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Quoc Viet, Commander of the DK1/14 platform: “The crew has received gifts from the mainland. But for another year, the comrades from the mainland couldn’t come to the platform… Thank you to the mainland. We are always determined to overcome all difficulties, fulfill our duties well, and guard the sea and sky so that the people can enjoy the Spring Festival and celebrate Tet…”

Bidding farewell to the offshore platforms in the Tu Chinh area, on January 7th, 8th, and 9th, the HQ-953 ship continued its journey to the DK1/10 platform, at the very tip of Ca Mau. This journey is 330 nautical miles long, meaning we will continue to travel nearly 600 km at sea with no phone signal, no 3G signal, only the constant sound of the waves… Overcoming countless waves, the ships of the 2nd Naval Region Command will deliver goods and Tet gifts to all the offshore platforms in the areas of: Phuc Tan, Phuc Nguyen, Huyen Tran, Tu Chinh, Que Duong, Ba Ke, DK1/10, and the ships on patrol at sea. Lieutenant Colonel Mai Bien Thuy - Deputy Chief of Staff of the 2nd Naval Region Command, said: “All the offshore platforms have been upgraded, so all information connected to the mainland is updated hourly.”

The spiritual life of the officers and soldiers is also better ensured thanks to television signals, satellite phones, and some platforms even have 2G signals for internet access, but the speed is very slow, and sometimes the waves are too strong and windy to connect. Quarterly, ships from the region come to supply additional food and provisions. On any platform, the soldiers are able to grow their own vegetables, ensuring a varied and nutritious meal…” A reporter wondered, “So, can they grow any flowers on the platforms to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year)?” Lieutenant Colonel Mai Bien Thuy replied, “The soldiers haven’t tried growing them yet, because the land area in the styrofoam containers is small, only enough for growing vegetables for consumption, but if they did, it would probably be possible.” No one asked any more questions; there was a moment of silence. Everyone knew that for decades, the officers and soldiers on the platforms celebrated Tet and enjoyed the Spring without fresh flowers. But they themselves are the most beautiful flowers…

Nguyen Son

(Email from DK1 Platform)