Filled with responsibility and compassion.

“Break time is over, wake-up call for the whole ship, wake-up call for the whole ship.” “It’s time for lunch, please proceed to the dining halls for your meal, Commander and delegation.” “The delegation is preparing to enter the island. Boat crew number 1 is transferring supplies to the island…” This is just a part of what anyone visiting the Truong Sa archipelago and the DK platform on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland finds impressive and familiar, a unique feature of these ship voyages. From the wake-up call, the schedule, the tasks of each department, information about the history, characteristics, and geographical location of the sea and islands… to the announcement of bedtime each night… all help to reassure visitors, giving them a clearer understanding of what needs to be done and where they are going.

Each year, the unit makes nearly a dozen voyages to transport delegations, so the entire crew focuses on these trips. The dozens of officers, sailors, crew members, and staff dedicate their full efforts to preparing and executing the mission, earning the admiration and highest praise for the ship. From Captain Quách Hữu Quang of the KN-290, Political Officer Nguyễn Thành Chung... to Hoàng Sĩ Sự – the oldest helmsman, and Võ Tá Quân – the youngest, born in 1999, despite their busy schedules, always smile brightly in response to hundreds of questions and requests for assistance! The journey, lasting over 10 days, demands meticulous preparation to ensure all passengers have access to fresh water for bathing and washing, and sufficient fresh vegetables and food for two main meals and two snacks each day.

Speaking of vegetables alone, even though the ship had refrigerators, by the 5th or 6th day onwards (except for cabbage and some fruits), all the vegetables started to wilt. This made the work of the catering staff even more difficult, as it took a considerable amount of time to pick them. Everyone knew that to provide the first meal for over 300 people at 5 a.m., the catering staff had to wake up at 3 a.m., and then prepare lunch, dinner, and snacks; they went to bed as early as midnight. Head chef Tran Le Hung and his team were even willing to accommodate requests from members of the group who didn't want rice, allowing them to choose pho or instant noodles instead.

Hoang Xuan Hong, an electrical and mechanical technician, inspects the ship's engine.

Captain Pham Thi Hong Duyen, a medical officer assigned to ensure the ship's health, is always present to support the catering team. She shared: "The service team is all men, but they are willing to do anything from washing, ironing, cleaning the ship's floors and cabins, unclogging toilets... Honestly, they are very tired, but they always try their best to ensure the guests are satisfied."

What Duyen said about being satisfied, I found out: Whenever guests come to the island for duty, everyone takes turns cleaning the rooms. They are happy to fold up blankets, sheets, and even underwear that the owners hastily left behind. Many people initially "didn't understand" there were maids helping out, but later became more mindful before leaving their rooms. Furthermore, guests on the ship always receive maximum assistance for any legitimate needs, such as: refilling toothpaste; borrowing a chessboard for entertainment, fishing rods, and even... grilling squid... Many people commented: On land, there are many things lacking, but on the ship, nothing seems to be lacking!

Trust, love, and admiration

The KN-290 is a modern ship built domestically but with imported technology. It has a full range of modern equipment, making charting and operation smooth and convenient. Many functions, such as automatic steering and engine operation, can be set to automatic mode. But that's just the visible "visible" part of the ship. I followed Hoàng Xuân Hồng, Lê Văn Liên, and Lê Hoàn, the electromechanical technicians working in shifts, down to the engine room. The heavy iron door opened, revealing the roar of the engines. The four main engines each had a power output of 2240KW (equivalent to 3000CV), and the noise level was 150 decibels. No wonder everyone wore noise-canceling headsets that resembled giant headphones.

Le Hoan said, like a specialist doctor: Noise has direct and indirect impacts on human health, such as hearing loss, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, sleep disorders, and changes in immune function. Also, in the engine room, the average temperature is around 41-42 ° C. I was down there for less than 10 minutes and I was sweating profusely, while the entire engine shift was 3 hours! This ship, the sailors and crew have had the longest voyage on duty at sea... 93 days! No wonder there are no fat guys in the mechanical engineering field. That's on a modern ship; it's even more different on smaller ships or older transport vessels...

The conditions for carrying out the mission were arduous, but the willpower and determination of the officers and crew on board were unparalleled. Their steely resolve in the face of rough seas and strong winds was only part of the problem; they also had to confront even greater provocations from foreign vessels. There were instances of water cannons being sprayed, collisions, and cuts across the ship's path... but our ship remained calm, skillful, and resolute in repelling the enemy's schemes, contributing to the firm protection of the sacred sovereignty and territorial waters of our Fatherland.

Text and photos: HAI LINH