For soldiers on patrol duties of Border Guard ships on island waters, they are not only distant but also face big waves and strong winds, with dangers when performing their duties.
Major Nguyen Van Thanh - Captain of the BP 20-19-01 ship, Tho Chau Border Guard Station (Kien Giang Provincial Border Guard) said that the ship has 3 main tasks: Bringing and welcoming delegations of central and local officials to visit and work on the islands; Patrol, control, and combat smuggling in the waters under its charge; Participating in flood and storm prevention and control, search and rescue at sea.
"Our work cannot be determined in advance at any time, if there is information, the situation at sea, and we are assigned by the commander of the ship to pick up anchors and move. While situations and incidents often take place at night, during storms, it requires officers performing tasks on ships to have experience and courage to complete them, Major Nguyen Van Thanh shared.
During weekly missions, sometimes monthly, they not only face storms but also constant changes in the weather. The bone-chilling cold of the night or the scorching sun on the vast sea surface all tested the physical and mental endurance of the soldiers.
Lieutenant Bui Hong Cong - Ship officer BP 20-19-01 - shared: “I just came back to accept the mission on the train less than 1 year but I had experienced many hardships with the brothers on the train. When going to the sea to do the mission, rarely the train in favorable weather conditions should force us to forge our will to face the storm. of the ship commander, gradually then overcome ”.
Major Nguyen Van Thanh - Ship Captain - added that the continuous shaking of ships at sea makes many new players on the mission feel dizzy and nauseous. Even experienced soldiers cannot avoid the effects of strong waves during storms. The soldiers must learn to live with this instability to continue to complete their mission despite all harsh conditions.
Those difficulties are not everything, because there is still a big psychological challenge. Far from family and relatives, soldiers can only express their feelings through phone calls because the sea is far away and the waves are weak. Holidays and Tet are the days of duty, the time when I miss my home the most. Even in daily meals, the group rarely sit together to eat together.
However, in recent years, the BP 20-19-01 floating fleet has done a good job of propaganda, preventing Vietnamese fishing vessels from illegally fishing in foreign waters. Coordinate well with Border Guard stations, sea and island forces, patrol and ambush to intercept many oil smuggling cases in the waters of Kien Giang province.
Since the beginning of 2024, the BP 20-191 squadron has patrolled and ambushed 60 times, not leaving any vacant areas, especially the area north of Phu Quoc Island. Participating in rescue, relief, flood and storm prevention drills. Warn and educate more than 400 vehicles and thousands of fishermen who exploit seafood in violation of the law.
Thanks to doing a good job of protecting the sea, actively propagating and mobilizing, people should not illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters. Protect the safety of the area, maintain relationships and solidarity with local forces and people.
"During the course of our mission, officers and soldiers of the 20-19-01 fleet have always been loved and respected by fishermen and people on the islands, giving us more motivation to overcome difficulties and do well the assigned tasks," Major Nguyen Van Thanh shared more.
