BÌNH ĐỊNH — Hoài Nhơn District People’s Committee in the central province of Bình Định on Tuesday received eight fishing ships with steel cover at a ceremony which saw the participation of more than 200 local seamen.

The move comes in response to Government’s Decree No 67/2014/NĐ-CP on off-shore fishing development policies.

Decree 67, which came into effect in August 2014, stipulates policies on investment, credit, insurance and tax incentives in support of fishermen and ship owners who wish to build new fishing boats, upgrade existing boats and buy fishing and marine equipment, among others.

Under the decree, in case of building steel or new-material ships with total main engine capacity of between 400CV and under 800CV each, ship owners may borrow loans from commercial banks not exceeding 90 per cent of total investment in the shipbuilding at the interest rate of 7 per cent per year, of which ship owners are required to pay 2 per cent per year and the State budget shall subsidise 5 per cent per year.

The lending term is 11 years. In the first year, ship owners will be exempt from interest payment and not be required to pay the principle. The State budget will pay commercial banks the loan interest for ship owners eligible for exemption.

The fishing ships were made by Việt Tiến Co Ltd in the northern province of Nam Định. The ships were handed over to eight local seamen who all hail from Hoài Nhơn District.

Each fishing ship has a capacity of 822CV, is 30.8m in length and 7.5m in width.

The ship has a fire prevention and control system, radar, global positioning system, digital map and storage system to preserve fish.

Each ship is worth VNĐ17.5 billion (US$777,000).

Ngô Văn Chí, one of the seamen receiving the fishing ship, said local seamen were happy to own a steel covered fishing ship.

“With these fishing ships, the seamen will try to catch more sea animals, limit accidents on sea and join hands in protecting the country’s sovereignty,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyễn Chí Công, deputy chairman of Hoài Nhơn District People’s Committee, reminded local seamen to use the fishing ships effectively.

“The fishing ship has an important meaning; not only does it help seamen do their work, but also enhances their capacity to catch marine animals, improves households’ living standards and helps protecting the country’s sovereignty,” Công said.

While implementing Government’s Decree 67, Bình Định People’s Committee gave its approval for seamen in Hoài Nhơn District to make 140 new fishing ships, of which 72 will be steel covered, 12 will be composite covered and 56 will be wood covered.

As many as 17 fishing ships were handed over to the seamen. — VNS