There is a group of fishermen in the East Vietnam Sea that are willing to halt their work to rescue other fishing ships in distress whenever they receive calls for help.

The fishermen do this without receiving a penny. They share the thinking that “anyone may face danger at sea, so we offer help so that we will be helped when we are in need.”

The four fishermen, who operate boat number QNa-91827, are often called the ‘rescue team’ by their colleagues. They include Huynh Van Diep, the ship’s owner; Nguyen Hoang; Le Van Tu; and Dung, all of whom live in Sam Linh Dong Hamlet, Tam Quang Commune, Nui Thanh District, in the central province of Quang Nam.

Le Van Nam, a fisherman who was once helped by the men, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that, “Diep may earn 100-300 million dong [US$4,800-14,400] in one night of fishing, but he stopped working to help me.”

“I was so happy that I couldn’t say anything,” Nam admitted.

Self-taught ‘engineers’

Le Van Tu, one of the four self-taught ‘engineers,’ admitted that he dropped out of school in ninth grade so he could begin working.

He said he started learning how to repair his machine when it had problems at sea. Year after year, he has collected experience from mechanical problems.

Not only does he repair machines at sea to help colleagues get back to the shore, Tu has won confidence from his colleagues and is asked to carry out repairs at home.

Besides Tu, Sam Linh Dong still has two other ‘engineers’ who are famous for their willingness to help and hands-on experience in dealing with mechanical problems at sea – Hoang, 41, and Dung.

Hoang ‘specializes’ in electro-mechanics, and Dung is a self-taught mechanic.

The trio of ‘engineers’ joined Diep, the chivalrous boat owner, to form ‘a rescue team’ at sea, especially in the waters of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

“It’s hard to find a fishing ship like mine, with three skilled fishermen doubling as engineers,” Diep said, smiling. “It is just like an ocean going cargo vessel with engineers available on board.”

“When boats of my colleagues have problems, I send my ‘engineers’ to rescue them.

“Several days ago, the ship owned by Tran Sanh, No. QNa-91259, lost engine power north of Hoang Sa.

“At the time, a tropical low pressure system was about to enter the waters.

“I immediately headed toward the stranded boat when I received their phone call,” Diep recalled.

After two hours of repairs, the boat was functioning again, and Diep and his men left the area without receiving a penny, except for ‘words of thanks,’ he added.

Dung said he graduated from high school and went to work even though he passed two college entrance exams: one for a university in Nha Trang – the provincial capital of the central province of Khanh Hoa – and another in the central city of Da Nang.

He learned mechanics by imitation at a garage in Ho Chi Minh City before returning to his hometown to begin fishing.

The other ‘engineer,’ Hoang ‘specializes’ in electro-mechanics.

“I learned by watching my uncle repair machines when I was a fifth grader. I stopped going to school after the eighth grade and began fishing.

“Now I have ten years of experience repairing electro-mechanics for fishing boats,” Hoang shared.

If they are ‘forced’ by ship owners to get paid after helping to repair their boats at sea, they simply say, “Just drinking a can of beer with you is OK. No money.”

“I just want to help people because I’m not good enough with machines to get paid,” Hoang said modestly.

And a philanthropist owner

The ‘engineers’ work with ship owner Huynh Van Diep on the same ‘rescue’ fishing boat in the waters of Hoang Sa.

“If you want to survive at sea, you must have friends. That’s all,” Diep said about his willingness to help others at sea.

A visitor to Tam Quang Commune can easily find Diep’s house by asking any local for directions. This is because Diep is so well known for his community-oriented work.

He is the owner of two 800 horsepower fishing boats, but his biggest asset is the love and gratitude he has planted in the hearts of locals and colleagues.

Nam, the captain of fishing boat QNa-90334, said about Diep, “Without his help to tow my boat in distress, I would have faced problems from foreign ships. Even though he had been fishing, he was willing to help me and spent over two days towing my boat to the shore.”

Huynh Tan Song, of ship QNa-91298, is another fisherman who admitted owing gratitude to Diep.

Nguyen Tin, chairman of the People’s Committee of Tam Quang, acknowledged that Diep has helped many fishermen at sea.

Fishermen often think of Diep when they face maritime troubles, because he cannot only send his men to repair engines, but also tow them ashore if needed, Tin added.

Thanks to his work, Diep has been appointed the leader of one of the 19 fishing teams of Tam Quang, and he has been honored with certificates of credit several times by both authorities and local residents at year-end ceremonies to review their job.