As for Mr. Tran Quang Thanh, the captain of the SAR 412 rescue ship, and other staff of the Son Tra District-based Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre Region 2, Tet holiday is often associated with unusual calls from fishermen in danger at sea. They are like the saviours of fishermen at sea.

Mr. Tran Quang Thanh, the captain of rescue ship SAR 412 (first left) is handing over rescued fishermen to border guards.

Mr. Tran Quang Thanh said that each crew member on his rescue ship carries a mission to protect the lives and safety of fishermen at sea. Therefore, whenever he receives SOS messages from fishing boats in danger at sea, he and his crew members immediately reach the scene to help victims or tow damaged boats back to the mainland.

Most recently, Mr. Thanh and his teammates have successfully rescued a fisherman who suffered a brain stroke and lost consciousness while conducting fishing activities in the waters of Binh Dinh Province. Thanks to the quick coordination and the implementation of urgent professional measures, the victim was brought back to shore safely.

“We understand that the life of the fisherman at that time is hung on by a hair. Therefore, every moment is precious" Mr.Thanh said.

When being asked about his fear, the captain, who has been in the rescue operations for more than 20 years, smiled gently "I don't have time to be afraid. At that time, I just thought about how to save the fishermen from the danger at sea as quickly as possible".

Not only saving fishermen in danger in waters of Central Viet Nam, Mr. Thanh and his crew members help patients pay in advance for medical treatment in case that their relatives don’t arrive in time.

The joy he receives is the small thank you gifts from the fishermen. They can be chickens, fish or just a grateful smile, but it is enough to make rescuers feel warm.

"That's the motivation for us to push ourselves to minimise the damage that happens to fishermen" captain of SAR 412 Tran Quang Thanh added.

As for many fishermen, SAR 412 is like their saviour. In times of difficulty and despair at sea, they feel overjoyed as seeing the ship through the rain to conduct rescue operations.

Twice rescued by the ship SAR 412, Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, a fisherman in Quang Ngai Province, said that he encountered an unexpected accident whilst fishing in the Hoang Sa waters.

At that time, he and eleven crew members on the ship felt helpless, thinking of the worst case scenario. Luckily, the ship SAR 412 promptly arrived. After several hours of struggling with rough waves, all were safely brought to shore.

"For us, the rescue ship SAR 412 is like a savior, giving us more motivation and confidence to stay at sea" Mr. Quang said.

Mr. Thanh said that although he has never had a complete Tet with his wife and children because he always has to be on duty at work, but he does not feel sad.

He and his teammates usually celebrate Tet holiday on board the ship SAR 412. The ship is his second home associated with sacred missions of accompanying fishermen in the most difficult time so that they feel secure during each fishing trip.

Reporting by THIEN NGA - Translating by M.DUNG