Boat owners in Ha Long City, located in Quang Ninh Province, are encountering severe difficulties due to a lack of salvage services for boats that were damaged and submerged by Typhoon Yagi (No. 3). The vessels remain underwater at Tuan Chau International Passenger Port, facing increasing damage with each tide.

At high tide, many of these boats are nearly fully underwater, only to become partially visible when the tide goes down, continually exposed to corrosive saltwater. To protect the vessels, temporary shelters have been established at the dock, allowing owners and staff to monitor their properties around the clock.

Boat operators collectively urge for more salvage companies to assist and hasten the recovery efforts. One owner highlighted, “Every additional day underwater increases the level of damage,” reflecting the urgent need for action.

Bui Van Tuyen, who leads the Indochine Ha Long boat team, has been waiting for salvage assistance for 20 days. His fleet suffered extensive damage, with four boats submerged during the height of the storm.

“The delay arises from the limited number of salvage operators. Moreover, with so many boats damaged, there’s a lengthy wait for assistance,” Tuyen explained. He described the financial difficulties, noting that salvage costs range from VND 50 to 80 million per boat, plus ongoing daily expenses for staff involved in the process.

“The timing of salvage operations is highly influenced by the tides. On favorable days, we manage to recover one boat; otherwise, it may take two days,” Tuyen remarked. Following recovery, the boats require significant repairs, leading to estimated losses exceeding VND 10 billion.

Recently, during the 21st session of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Council, measures were introduced to assist with part of the salvage expenses for registered boats impacted by the typhoon.

The aid offered includes VND 50 million for boats longer than 12 meters and VND 15 million for those measuring between 6 to 12 meters. However, boats that did not adhere to storm preparation regulations or had insurance coverage do not qualify for this assistance.