Over the past 35 years, the staff of the DK1 platform have stuck to the forefront of the storm with countless difficulties and challenges, protecting the sovereignty markers so that the DK1 platforms can affirm their role and mission. VOV reporter interviewed Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Tuong, former PCU of the National Defense Academy, Ministry of National Defense .
PV: Could you please tell us about the strategic vision of the Ministry of National Defense and the Central Military Commission when building the DK 1 platform system on the southern continental shelf?
Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Tuong : As we all know, in the late 80s and early 90s of the 20th century, the situation in the East Sea became extremely complicated, culminating in the Gac Ma incident in March 1988. After that event, along with the policy of building and consolidating the defense system on the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago, especially on the rocky islands, our Party and State as well as the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense had a policy of both increasing patrol forces to maintain sovereignty over the southern continental shelf (DK1) but at the same time, we must step up surveys, research and then build platforms on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland.
In July 1989, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, now the Prime Minister, issued a Directive on the construction of a Service - Economic - Scientific and Technical cluster in the area of reefs on the southern continental shelf under the administrative management of the Vung Tau and Con Dao special zones, now belonging to Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.
It has been 35 years since the first platforms were built and I remember that in 1989 we had three platforms built in 1989 and up to now, we have had a system of platforms on the sea and continental shelf of the Fatherland and the establishment of DK1 and the policy of building a system of stilt houses on the continental shelf of the Fatherland, demonstrating strategic vision, is a correct and wise policy of our Party and State, but at the same time it is the resolute and timely direction of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, directly the Party Committee and the Command of the Navy, we see that the construction of the Service, Economic, Scientific and Technical cluster with a system of platforms is to affirm the inviolable sovereignty of our State over the vast continental shelf, in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Second, the birth of the DK1 platform system has contributed to improving the ability to manage and protect large sea areas and continental shelves, and to protecting the Fatherland early and from afar.
Third, DK1 stations are truly a reliable support for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea, serving the task of marine research. With DK1, we truly have a peaceful and stable environment to develop the marine economy.
PV: Lieutenant General, why is the platform considered an extraordinary project that has no precedent in the world?
Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Tuong : DK1 platform, as everyone says, is an extraordinary and unprecedented project. We see that to have DK1 platform, especially the first and second generation platforms, it must be said that it is an extraordinary thing. It is extraordinary in one way or another. Firstly, in the early years of the renovation process, our country still faced many difficulties. Besides, the survey, design, and construction of a platform was very costly, requiring great determination from the leadership, direction, and command to the construction and installation. Secondly, at that time, our level of science, technology, and engineering was limited to build a platform in water depths of about 20 meters with complex coral reefs, and our forces and means were rudimentary and limited. In addition, we constructed in quite harsh weather conditions. For example: big waves, strong winds, strong currents, and continuous long-term flows. It can be said that this is something that has never been done before and has no practical experience with our forces. Third, after the Gac Ma incident in 1988, foreign countries regularly mobilized large forces of exploration and survey ships, disguised ships, and even combat ships to operate on our continental shelf. We had to mobilize a large force of vehicles and ships to protect the DK1 continental shelf. At the same time, we had to mobilize a large force of forces and vehicles to support the construction of platforms on our continental shelf. Fourth, after building the platforms, we maintained the operation of the platforms in harsh weather conditions, which was also an extraordinary thing. We saw that there were platforms that collapsed, tilted, there were sacrifices, losses, and sorrows. But above all, the DK1 platform remained steadfast, truly a forward support point of the Fatherland. All of these things I call extraordinary things of DK1.
PV: 35 years have passed, how have the DK1 platforms played their role?
Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Tuong : We still remember Directive 160/CT dated July 5, 1989 of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers clearly stated that it was necessary to build a number of floating houses (abbreviated as DK1) to initially form an Economic - Technical, Scientific and Service Cluster under the administrative management of the Vung Tau and Con Dao special zones. For example, placing lighthouses, installing lighthouses at the Hydrometeorological Station... In fact, over the past 35 years, we have done more than that. For example, the forces on the platforms have overcome countless difficulties and hardships, raised vigilance, been ready to fight, observed and developed hundreds of thousands of targets operating in the area, promptly reported, and coordinated with other forces to effectively handle situations occurring in the assigned sea areas, creating a peaceful and stable environment to serve the cause of labor, production and construction of the marine economy. Each DK1 platform is truly a solid support for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea with practical actions, such as providing information on weather, hydrometeorology, providing information on fishing grounds, promptly reporting to fishermen in distress, rescuing them, providing food, etc. The DK1 area has become a traditional fishing ground, a place where our fishermen place their trust.
The officers and soldiers on the DK1 platforms have been inheriting and promoting the tradition of Uncle Ho’s soldiers and Navy soldiers in the new era. They have also created good, unique values, representing the noble revolutionary heroism in the cause of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. That is also the noble mission and great stature in the activities of DK1 over the past 35 years.
Reporter: Lieutenant General, it can be seen that in order for the platform to affirm its stature, mission, and promote its role, many generations of Navy officers and soldiers have taken turns guarding sovereignty and had to go through many difficulties and challenges at the forefront. So, according to Lieutenant General, what has helped the officers and soldiers of the platform to stick around for so many years to successfully complete all tasks?
Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Tuong : In such a place with countless difficulties and challenges, there are a few things that I have thought about and struggled with throughout my military career.
First of all, it originates from the patriotism, love of the sea, love of ships, love of islands, and love of the Navy soldiers. More than anyone else, the Navy soldiers clearly feel that the sea and islands are a sacred part of the Fatherland and protecting the sea and islands is the responsibility, the sacred and noble duty of every officer and soldier in the Service, including the officers and soldiers of the oil rigs.
Second, each officer and soldier of DK1 platform is a person who clearly understands the assigned tasks, and at the same time always firmly believes in the cause of protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. And therefore, despite many difficulties, hardships and sacrifices, they are always attached to the platform. And in fact, over the past 35 years, despite the tense situation, the harsh weather, the collapsed platforms, the officers and soldiers who sacrificed, but they could not defeat the spirit and determination of our platform soldiers.
Third, I would like to mention that our DK1 platform troops today are trained to be ready for combat and carry out missions, closely coordinating with other forces, creating a solid, interconnected formation at sea and on the continental shelf.
The soldiers on the oil rigs are receiving more and more attention from the mainland, including the nationwide movement towards the beloved sea and islands.
PV: Thank you very much, Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Tuong!
Comment (0)