Dozens of fishing vessels dock in the shelter area of Da Tay A Reef (Photo: VNA)The boat registered NT 91007 TS from the south-centralprovince of Ninh Thuan was among nearly 100 Vietnamese fishing vessels docked inthe shelter area of Da Tay A Reef in early May to have repairs done and to get fuel,food, and fresh water.
Its captain Vo Van Du said that since shelterareas have been established in the Truong Sa archipelago, fishermen workingoffshore have felt more secure about being out at sea at all times.
He noted that the waters surrounding Truong Saare the traditional fishing ground of Vietnamese fishermen, including thosefrom Ninh Thuan. Each fishing trip usually lasts about two months.
Workers of the Da Tay A Reef fishery logistics services centre (Photo: VNA)Nguyen Thanh, another boat captain, said that afterspending more than a month at sea, his boat docked at the shelter area on SongTu Tay Island to gain fuel and essential goods such as food and fresh water.
The shelter area on Song Tu Tay and otherislands are visited frequently by fishermen seeking fuel, other goods and services,and protection during their long journeys, he added.
Nguyen Xuan Moi, who is captain of the Da Tay 03vessel and in charge of the Da Tay Reef fishery logistics services centre underthe Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the centre, based atthe shelter area on Da Tay Reef, supplies essential services, food, fuel, andice for fishermen working on the fishing grounds of the Truong Sa archipelago.
The centre always offers maximum aid to boats inneed of repair, he went on, saying that fishermen are also given free freshwater and medicine at the shelter area.
Lt. Col. Nguyen Dinh Dung, Commander of Da Tay AReef, said that in 2020 and the first quarter of this year, more than 2,700fishing boats sought assistance at the reef, which also supplies rice, freshwater, and essential goods.
The healthcare centre on Da Tay A also providedcheck-ups and treatment to 1,581 people, including over 1,200 fishermen.
He said Da Tay Reef has rescue vessels standing byto help boats in distress or in need of repairs at sea, adding that after beingnotified, vessels like Da Tay 03 and tug boats bring them to the shelter area.
The boat from Ninh Thuan province is among nearly 100 Vietnamese fishing vessels docked in the shelter area of Da Tay A Reef (Photo: VNA)The shelter areas are a “common home” not only providingfishery logistics services and protection for fishermen but also acting as asource of spiritual support for them to maintain their presence on theFatherland’s sacred waters, he added./.
VNA
