VietNamNet Bridge – The lighthouses in the Truong Sa Archipelago in Khanh Hoa province are managed by the Southern Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation. Despite hardships caused by long distances and storms, the company’s staff has always done their utmost to keep the lighthouses working to ensure maritime safety in the surrounding waters.  

The lighthouses in Truong Sa are managed by the Southern Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation. In the photo is the lighthouse on the island of An Bang, which was built in May 1995, with the height of 24.9 m.

It’s a tough job to build a lighthouse. All construction work ranging from transporting materials and equipment to maintenance, is undertaken by members of the supply boat Hai Dang (Lighthouse) 5, which has been operating for more than a decade.

Nguyen Duc Huy, head of the planning section of the East Sea and Islands Maritime Safety Company, said: “when the weather is bad, it’s very hard to transport construction materials. Accidents can take place at any time if you’re inattentive. For instance, when we built a lighthouse in An Bang Island, due to the lack of materials, the boat had to shuttle back and forth, repeatedly, at a great cost. It often takes up to 3 months to complete the construction of a lighthouse.”

Nam Yet Lighthouse, erected in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.-- Photo: Tuoi Tre

Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago hosts nine lighthouses, three of which are located on Da Lat (Ladd Reef), Da Tay (West Reef), and Tien Tu islands.

In addition to issuing warnings and ensuring safety for passing ships, every two months, the supply boat Hai Dang 5 carries equipment and essentials for the staff stationed in the Truong Sa island district.

In the 10th lunar month every year when the weather at sea worsens, the supply of cargo and food to the islands becomes harder than ever. Often, the ship has to dock at Truong Sa to take refuge from storms. Sometimes the crew celebrate the New Year there.

According to the company’s Director Nguyen Duy Hiet, they’ve “proposed the state build another bigger boat to ensure supplies will reach those who are working in the Truong Sa archipelago. We hope the Ministry of Transport has specific plans to build lighthouses on the remaining 13 islands of the Truong Sa archipelago for navigation safety and as a way to demonstrate Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea.”

Song Tu Tay Lighthouse, one of the sea signaling towers in Truong Sa. -- Photo: Tuoi Tre

Pham Quoc Suy, director general of the Southern Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation, underlined the company’s future plan to “invest more in the Truong Sa archipelago to create a safe maritime environment and emphasize Vietnam’s sovereignty over its seas and islands. We’ll work more closely with the naval force and other forces to be ready for combat if necessary.”

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