Proactively and actively prevent natural disasters and search and rescue at sea

Proactive and effective disaster prevention and control, and search and rescue operations at sea.

The Hoa Loc Fisheries Surveillance Station forces conduct patrols and inspections at sea.

At 12:30 PM on March 23, 2025, the fishing vessel TH-93369-TS, owned and captained by Mr. Nguyen Van Chung from Van Loc commune, was operating in the coastal waters of the province when a crew member suffered an accident. Upon receiving the report, the Hoa Loc Fisheries Inspection Station dispatched the KN-836-TS inspection vessel and a speedboat to the vessel with the injured fisherman. After reaching the vessel, the officers and crew members quickly brought the victim ashore for emergency treatment. Fisherman Nguyen Van Khai from Van Loc commune said: “That day, while pulling in the net, I got caught in the net rope, crushing my hand. Fortunately, the fisheries inspection force arrived on the vessel in time, provided first aid, and brought me ashore for emergency treatment. My health has now recovered.”

Recognizing that maritime search and rescue is a key and ongoing task, the Hoa Loc Fisheries Surveillance Station actively coordinates with the Da Loc Border Guard Post, the 2nd Naval Squadron of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Border Guard, and the Hoang Truong Border Guard Post to organize patrols, inspections, and controls in the coastal area. Through this, they promptly mobilize forces and resources to approach distressed vessels and bring victims ashore for emergency treatment when incidents occur.

According to Le Cong Tinh, head of the Hoa Loc Fisheries Surveillance Station: “Given the increasingly complex weather conditions, the station has proactively developed plans and strengthened measures for disaster prevention and search and rescue at sea to participate in rescue operations, protect fishing grounds, and support fishermen in their production and the development of the marine economy . To ensure effective search and rescue operations, the station regularly checks the operational capabilities and utilization of equipment, machinery, and life-saving devices... ensuring safety during mission execution. The station maintains a 24/7 duty roster and ensures timely reception of reports when situations arise.”

Currently, the province has 6,603 fishing vessels with over 21,600 workers directly engaged in fishing at sea. Of these, 1,062 vessels are 15 meters or longer and specialize in offshore fishing; 5,541 vessels are less than 15 meters long and operate in coastal and inshore waters. To proactively manage disaster prevention, control, and search and rescue operations, functional forces maintain a strict 24/7 monitoring system at coastal watch stations to receive information from fishermen operating at sea. Coastal localities have established 5 marine militia platoons; formed 389 maritime solidarity groups with 1,975 fishing vessels and attracted over 14,290 workers, regularly operating in the province's waters and fishing grounds nationwide.

According to Le Ba Luc, Head of the Department of Marine and Island Affairs and Fisheries, Thanh Hoa Province: “To proactively manage disaster prevention and search and rescue operations at sea, the unit is actively coordinating with coastal communes and wards to raise awareness among fishermen about search and rescue. Coastal localities are actively strengthening and developing fishing solidarity groups at sea to support each other in production and in case of accidents or natural disasters at sea. In addition, they are guiding fishing vessel owners to inform fishing ports and coastal border guard stations about the vessel's communication frequency. During fishing operations at sea, if an incident or accident occurs, the captain must immediately notify the shore station system and the nearest forces... about the location of the fishing vessel, the number of people on board, and send out a distress signal if necessary. When there is a storm or tropical depression, the captain must use emergency measures to bring the fishing vessel to safety or to a safe anchorage.”

With proactive and effective implementation of disaster prevention and control and search and rescue measures, damage to people and property of fishermen engaged in marine fishing activities has been minimized.

Text and photos: Le Hoi

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chu-dong-tich-cuc-phong-chong-thien-tai-tim-kiem-cuu-nan-tren-bien-255623.htm