On every voyage - burning determination

As the Political Commissar of Coast Guard Ship 4038, I always understand every look and every step of my comrades when they receive the order to depart. It is decisiveness, trust and responsibility. On our ship, each officer and soldier is an important link, so there is absolutely no room for negligence. From the cabin to the engine room, every operation of the comrades must be standard and precise. Because even a small mistake can lead to big consequences in the middle of the stormy sea.

So we have crossed seas with waves of level 7 and 8. There were nights when we went to rescue people, encountering storms with dark clouds, strong winds and pouring red rain. The ship looked sturdy, but in the storm it shook violently, rising and falling in each wave. The officers and soldiers on board were thrown from side to side. However, the entire ship maintained its position, heading towards the coordinates of the fishermen in need of rescue.

Captain Hoang Trong Anh, captain of Coast Guard Ship 4038, said: "That day was October 10, 2022, when Coast Guard Ship 4038 was performing its mission in the Ly Son island area, we received an urgent order to mobilize and receive patients on Ly Son island to bring them to the mainland for emergency treatment. By 9:30 p.m. the same day, our ship had brought 4 patients and their families to Dung Quat port, Binh Son district (now Van Tuong commune), Quang Ngai province. The ship coordinated with the authorities to transfer the patients to the hospital for emergency treatment in time. When they were safe, the fishermen were in tears, holding tightly to the hands of each soldier without saying a word. We know that it is the deep affection that the people have for the marine soldiers".

Officers and soldiers of Coast Guard Ship 4038 brought victims from Ly Son Island to the mainland for emergency treatment.

Our ships are assigned many tasks such as: Patrolling, controlling, fighting against crimes at sea, search and rescue, and propagating laws to fishermen. Therefore, we often have to stay at sea for long periods of time, so the crew on board must constantly brace themselves against unusual weather conditions, while flexibly handling emergency situations to both keep the ship safe and complete the mission well. To achieve good results, we regularly organize political activities during the ship's journey. The officers and soldiers are taught resolutions, cultivate political qualities, and learn digital skills to master modern equipment. It is these lessons in the midst of big waves and strong winds that have further strengthened the determination of the officers and soldiers, helping them to forge the steadfastness and iron determination of marine soldiers in difficult and complicated moments.

Accompanying fishermen - humanitarian mission

From our journeys at sea, we realized that what makes us very proud is that the fishermen consider us as relatives at sea. Every time they see the red flag with a yellow star fluttering on the Coast Guard ship, they feel like they have a support, and from there they feel more secure and confident to go out to sea and stick to the sea. Every time we meet our fishermen fishing at sea, our ship stops close by. We transfer bags of dry food, medicine packages, and bottles of fresh water to their ships, hoping to provide some support to them in the midst of the stormy sea. Many fishermen, when receiving support from Coast Guard Ship 4038, were moved to say: “Seeing our Coast Guard ship is like seeing land. Your warm feelings help us feel much more confident.” Every time we met fishermen's boats, we combined supporting them with propagating the Law on Vietnam Coast Guard and the task of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland, while at the same time mobilizing them not to violate foreign waters, not to assist in illegal activities at sea...

Speaking about Coast Guard Ship 4038, Major Nguyen Tuan Anh, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Squadron 212, said: "Coast Guard Ship 4038 is a united, disciplined collective, ready to receive and excellently complete tasks regardless of day or night, in harsh weather. What impressed me most was the initiative and flexibility of the officers and soldiers in handling emergency situations, especially in rescue work and supporting fishermen. Many times the ship had to go through level 7 and level 8 waves to reach fishermen in distress or bring patients from the island to the mainland for emergency treatment and all completed their tasks excellently."

We also understand that not everyone understands the psychological and emotional challenges that marines have to overcome. In fact, there have been comrades whose wives gave birth while on long-term missions at sea. There have been comrades who celebrated Tet at sea for three consecutive years… But they all suppressed their personal feelings to complete their common mission well.

Up to now, Coast Guard Ship 4038 has traveled tens of thousands of nautical miles. Although there are many challenges ahead, with the soldiers' passionate love for the sea and the Fatherland, we always determine that we are not only a law enforcement force, but also a support for fishermen, a living milestone, a lighthouse affirming the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Article and photos: TRAN THANH L ONG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/hanh-trinh-vi-su-binh-yen-cua-bien-840258