Since it began operating in 2010, the fisheries surveillance ship HP 926 has been actively involved in salvage and rescue activities as well as dealing with oil spills at sea and fulfilling other related tasks.  The ship belongs to the northern region’s Oil Spill Response Centre.

At 6:45am on 12 May, the ship was surrounded by 3 Chinese vessels whilst it was conducting law enforcement missions in waters over 3.8 nautical miles from the location where China has illegally positioned its drilling rig.  Two of the 3 Chinese vessels aggressively fired high-pressure water cannon into the smokestack and radar equipment of the Vietnamese ship.  At the same time, another 7 Chinese ships operating nearby approached the Vietnamese ship.

Crew members of HP 926 preparing to supply provisions for an approaching Vietnamese fisheries surveillance ship

To deal with the complicated incident, the captain of HP 926, Mr Nguyen Cao Duy, kept calm and effectively steered the ship to avoid the possibility of more aggressive actions by the Chinese vessels.  Meanwhile, strong-willed crew members Do Van Canh and Nguyen Van Chinh showed their determination to continue their observation duties from the deck of the ship, regardless of the continuous water cannon attacks.

When the Vietnamese ship was as near as possible to the oil rig, announcements were made through a loudspeaker to demand that China immediately stop its illegal activities in Viet Nam’s territorial waters.  Finally, after the 30-minute dramatic battle of wits, the Vietnamese fisheries surveillance members on board successfully stopped the provocative actions of the Chinese vessels. 

The assaults by the Chinese vessels damaged antennas and radar systems, lifebuoys and other equipment on the Vietnamese ship.  However, its crew members made every effort to save the national flag hoisted up the mast of the ship from the water cannon attacks by the Chinese side.