Fisheries Surveillance Force - Modernization

The Vietnamese government announced on 03 July 2014 it planned to spend 11.5 trillion Vietnamese dong ($547 million) to build 32 new vessels for its coast guard and fisheries surveillance forces, but did not provide a timeframe for the investment. There are a series of large and medium-sized ships, including ship KN-762 and a series of small vessel fishery control.

Factory X51 of the General Department of Defence Industry launched a ship numbered KN-806 for the newly-established Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force on 16 April 2014. The 39.8m long, 7.8m wide and 3.75m high ship has three engines with capacity of 1,550CV each. It is installed with modern machinery and equipment, meeting the regulations of international registration agencies and the latest international conventions on the sea and navigation. The factory prepared to hand over the ship to the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force in August 2014.

The KN-781 and KN-782 are Vietnam's largest patrol vessels,with the value each of up to 700 billion. The two large patrol boat would help the force check out fish "Vietnam is likely to make the off-shore patrol, long on to aid fishermen, as well as ensure the implementation of the law on the territorial waters of Vietnam. The Ha Long Shipbuilding Co., Ltd on 30 June 2014 handed over to the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force patrol ship KN-781, the most modern of its kind so far. The 90.5m-long ship, coded KN-781, was built using design and technology of the Netherlands’ Damen Group.

The KN-781 design is a variation of DN-2000 patrol boats used by the coast guard forces in Vietnam with some minor differences. There are some differences in comparison with the DN-2000 No. 8001 of the coast guard. Specifically, the fishing ships have a redesigned bow section. Also, one important point is the fishing ships have a hangar [not brothel] for a helicopter, while the Coast Guard's DN-2000 only have a flight deck. Having a hangar for a helicopter helps the ship capable of carrying helicopters for patrols. A ship with a deck but no hangar is only capable of receiving the helicopter rather than be equipped with helicopters. This is the great advantage of two patrol boats for the Fishing Control Force of Vietnam.

The Ha Long Shipbuilding Co Ltd handed over the Vietnam's most modern ship, coded KN-782, to Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force in Quang Ninh province on 30 July 2014. The ship was built at Ha Long Shipyard from 20 October 2012 and is 90.5m in length, 14m in width and 7m in height, with a displacement of 2,500 tonnes. KN-782 has a maximum speed of 21 nautical miles per hour and can operate continuously in a range of 5,000 nautical miles. The ship is equipped with high capacity oil and fresh water storage tanks, a helicopter deck, rescue area, modern medical devices and other advanced features to serve as a patrol, law enforcement, rescue and support vehicle for fishermen in Vietnamese waters.

The building of a powerful fisheries surveillance fleet and maritime police force to implement law enforcement tasks was necessary and received much attention from the Party and State, Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh provincial People's Committee, Do Thong said. Deputy Head of the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department, Nguyen Van Trung said that along with the patrol ship KN-781 and other surveillance vessels, KN-782 would help fishermen feel secure to continue their career.

Japan gave Vietnam six used vessels as part of an aid package to help the Southeast Asian country improve its maritime security. The deal signed 01 August 2014 by visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Vietnam's planning and investment minister, Bui Quang Vinh, was worth about 500 million yen ($4.86 million). The vessels would be accompanied by training and equipment to help the Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance effort. These ships are 600-800 ton class vessels and two of them are fisheries surveillance boats.

According to a government decree published by state media, ships will be outfitted with machine guns starting September 15. Maritime force members will be equipped with handguns and machine guns while patrolling in the South China Sea. Under the decree No. 76 dated July 29, 2014 which introduces amendments to the current ordinance on the management and use of weapons, explosives and supporting devices, the maritime force’s members will be given handguns, submachine guns, and bullets. Meanwhile, the force’s vessels will be equipped with light machine guns, machine guns, 14.5mm machine guns, and bullets.