The model of boat which cannot be scuttled, once got four prizes at competitions on scientific inventions and got the utility patent. However, the very useful unsinkable boat has never appeared in any waterways areas, while a lot of people still die in boats during the stormy season.
The model of boat which cannot be scuttled, once got four prizes at competitions on scientific inventions and got the utility patent. However, the very useful unsinkable boat has never appeared in any waterways areas, while a lot of people still die in boats during the stormy season.
The boat that can save people’s lives…
In October 2010, a local newspapers once reported about the unsinkable boat with an original design by Nguyen Xuan An, an engineer. Granted the utility patent on January 19, 2009, the boat has the specific structure which is not similar to any commonly used boats or ships.
The scientists from Binh Dinh province decided to design the unsinkable boat because he understood well the situation of waterways areas in Vietnam. Just six months after the Chanchu typhoon killed 246 fishermen, he introduced two bamboo-made coracles to the Thinh Quang ward’s Farmers’ Association in Da Nang City.
At that time, Vo Duy Nhat, an experienced fisherman, suggested that An should make several boats with the cover made of composite
Nhat, who was the captain of DN90007 ship, said that he and the other 20 fishermen of the ship met an accident on the sea when the Chanchu typhoon rushed down. At that time, the fishermen decided to throw the oil into the sea to empty the oil cans. All of them took one can and tied each other with rope, which then helped them survive the severe typhoon.
With the experience learned from the accident, four unsinkable composite-made boats were made with the circles of rope, called “lifebuoy handle”.
“If you fall into the water, you can immediately cling to the lifebuoy handle,” Nhat explained.
In July 2007, the composite-made unsinkable boat was, once again, tested on Da Nang sea. A fisherman told Tien phong that he was very satisfied with the boat which surfed on the sea more slightly and easily than basket boats.
The unsinkable boat then got the gold cup at Techmart Vietnam, a technology trade fair organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the first prize at the fisheries technical innovation award granted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the scientific and technological innovation award granted by VIFOTEC, a fund that finances scientific research works, and the creative work certificate granted by the Vietnam Labor Confederation.
… still facing indifference
Though the unsinkable boat has been proved as helping save people’s lives, they have not been used in waterways areas in Vietnam. One of the people, who placed an order to buy the boats, was Ho Ngoc Dung, the owner of a fisheries workshop in Da Nang. However, no one has taken the boat.
Some fishermen said that they do not purchase the boats because they are too expensive. A 2.4-2.9 meter boat is priced at 10 million dong. “I can purchase a basket boat at 5-6 million dong only,” said Dang Ut, a fisherman, who also serves as taxi motorbike driver.
Tran Dinh Tinh, Director of the Central Region’s Composite Production Company in Quang Binh province, said that he has ordered more than 100 unsinkable boats that were made in accordance with the design of An, planning to sell to the fishermen who go out to the open sea to catch cuttlefish. However, the sale has been going very slowly because of the high prices.
Dr Le Van Can, Director of the Center for Clean Water and Environment Sanitation in Rural Areas, said that it would be unfeasible to target fishermen when selling the boats. He believes that it would be better if the boats can be used to protect children and students in waterways areas, and to protect the local residents in the areas, where waterway is the main means of transport.
An once sent letters to 16 provinces and cities, mentioning his unsinkable boat, but he has just got reply from one locality. It was the Chair of the Da Nang People’s Committee who personally called An and said he wanted some tens of boats, but did not say for what purpose the boats would be used for.
(Source: Tien phong)
