DK1 rigs
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The DK1 rigs are a collection of about two dozen "economic, scientific and technological service stations" established by Vietnam and located in the southern Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The rigs are complex of structures of large steel pipes, and above the steel pipes are living space for Vietnamese soldiers.[1]
Background
In response to the PRC's expansion into the South China Sea (SCS), in the mid 1980s the Socialist Republic of Vietnam predicted the need for it to protect itself. This led to the planning of, and in 1989, establishment of, the first DK1 rig.[2]
Rig locations
DK1 rigs have been established in seven localities on the continental shelf at:
- Bãi cạn Tư Chính - Vanguard Bank
- Bãi cạn Phúc Tần - Prince of Wales Bank
- Bãi ngầm Ba Kè - Bombay Castle
- Bãi cạn Phúc Nguyên - Prince Consort Bank
- Bãi cạn Huyền Trân - Alexandra Bank
- Bãi cạn Quế Đường - Grainger Bank
- Bãi cạn Cà Mau - Off the coast of the Cà Mau peninsula - the southernmost piece of Vietnam
Rigs
A total of 20 rigs[3] have been built on the continental shelf in waters of depth from 7m (DK1/3) to 25m (DK1/15), from 1989 to 1998. Currently (2015) there are a total of 15 rigs in use. Facilities include 8 helicopter pads, 4 lighthouses, and a meteorological observatory. There are 14 rigs in the Spratly Islands, and one (DK1/10) in Ca Mau Shoals off the southwest coast of Vietnam.
Vanguard Bank
The current (2015) cluster has 3 rigs in use.
- DK1/1: Completed 27 June 1989, is the 3rd construction. Currently not used.
- DK1/5: Completed 2 November 1989, is the 4th rig built. Currently not used.
- DK1/11: Completed 5 May 1994.
- DK1/12: Completed 8 August 1994.
- DK1/14: Completed 20 April 1995.
Prince of Wales Bank
The current (2015) cluster has 4 rigs in use.
- DK1/3: Completed 15 June 1989, was the first rig completed. It collapsed on the night of 4 December 1990 during a heavy storm.
- DK1/2: Completed 18 August 1993.
- DK1/16: Completed 20 August 1996.
- DK1/17: Completed 23 August 1996.
- DK1/18: Completed 13 April 1997. This rig includes a lighthouse.
Bombay Castle
The current (2015) cluster has 3 rigs in use.
- DK1/4: Completed 16 June 1989, is the 2nd rig completed. It collapsed on the night of 4 December 1990 during a heavy storm.[4]
- DK1/9: Completed 22 August 1993.[5]
- DK1/20: Completed 13 August 1998.[6]
- DK1/21: Completed 19 August 1998. This rig includes a lighthouse.[7]
Prince Consort Bank
The current (2015) cluster has 1 rig in use.
- DK1/6: Completed 10 November 1990, is the 5th frame completed. It collapsed on the night of 4 December 1990 during a heavy storm.
- DK1/15: Completed in April 1995.
- 2A/DK1/6: Was completed 17 April 1995 using the foundations of the old DK1/6 rig. It collapsed during a storm on 13 December 1998.
Alexandra Bank
The current (2015) cluster has 1 rig in use.
- DK1/7: Completed 11 November 1991. Includes a lighthouse and a meteorological observatory.
Grainger Bank
The current (2015) cluster has 2 rigs in use.
- DK1/8: Completed 4 November 1991. Includes a lighthouse.
- DK1/19: Completed 10 April 1997.
Ca Mau Shoals
The current (2015) cluster has 1 rig in use.
- DK1/10: Completed in 1994.
Summary
| Rig | Completed | Locality | Vicinity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK1/01 | 27 Jun 1989 | Vanguard Bank | Vanguard Bank | Not in use |
| DK1/02 | 18 Aug 1993 | Prince of Wales Bank | Southwest Banks | |
| DK1/03 | 15 Jun 1989 | Prince of Wales Bank | Southwest Banks | Collapsed 4 Dec 1990 |
| DK1/04 | 16 Jun 1989 | Bombay Castle | Rifleman Bank | Collapsed 4 Dec 1990 |
| DK1/05 | 2 Nov 1989 | Vanguard Bank | Vanguard Bank | Not in use |
| DK1/06 | 10 Nov 1990 | Prince Consort Bank | Southwest Banks | Collapsed 4 Dec 1990 |
| DK1/06/2A | 17 Apr 1995 | Prince Consort Bank | Southwest Banks | Collapsed 13 Dec 1998 |
| DK1/07 | 11 Nov 1991 | Alexandra Bank | Southwest Banks | Includes a lighthouse and a meteorological observatory |
| DK1/08 | 4 Nov 1991 | Grainger Bank | Southwest Banks | Includes a lighthouse |
| DK1/09 | 22 Aug 1993 | Bombay Castle | Rifleman Bank | |
| DK1/10 | 1994 | Ca Mau Shoals | Ca Mau Shoals | |
| DK1/11 | 5 May 1994 | Vanguard Bank | Vanguard Bank | |
| DK1/12 | 8 Aug 1994 | Vanguard Bank | Vanguard Bank | |
| DK1/14 | 20 Apr 1995 | Vanguard Bank | Vanguard Bank | |
| DK1/15 | Apr 1995 | Prince Consort Bank | Southwest Banks | |
| DK1/16 | 20 Aug 1996 | Prince of Wales Bank | Southwest Banks | |
| DK1/17 | 23 Aug 1996 | Prince of Wales Bank | Southwest Banks | |
| DK1/18 | 13 Apr 1997 | Prince of Wales Bank | Southwest Banks | Includes a lighthouse |
| DK1/19 | 10 Apr 1997 | Grainger Bank | Southwest Banks | |
| DK1/20 | 13 Aug 1998 | Bombay Castle | Rifleman Bank | |
| DK1/21 | 19 Aug 1998 | Bombay Castle | Rifleman Bank | Includes a lighthouse |
See also
References
- ↑ "DK1 a live national sovereignty marker at sea". Vietnamnet. 26 Jul 2014.
- ↑ ""Magic eyes" on the East Sea". 5 Sep 2012. Retrieved 14 Apr 2015.
- ↑ 20 rigs - DK1/1-DK1/21, w/o DK1/13. DK1/6 was destroyed, rebuilt and destroyed again.
- ↑ "Photographs of DK1/4". hoangsa.org.
- ↑ "Photographs of DK1/9". hoangsa.org. Archived from the original on 2015-04-11. close-up
- ↑ "Photographs of DK1/20". hoangsa.org. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06.
- ↑ "Photographs of DK1/21". hoangsa.org. Archived from the original on 2015-04-11.
External links
- NGA chart 93049 showing Rifleman, Southwest and Vanguard Banks, (7-9N,109-112E), oceangrafix.com
- Larger scale charts also showing Vietnam coast: NGA chart 93020 (7-10N,104-110E), NGA chart 93030 (9-16N,105-116E), oceangrafix.com
- DK1 rigs photo gallery, hoangsa.org