The DK1 platforms (Vietnamese: Nhà giàn DK1, lit. 'DK1 rigs'), abbreviated from cụm Dịch vụ kinh tế - Khoa học kỹ thuật (lit.'the Scientific & Technological - Economic Service compounds'), are a collection of offshore platforms built by Vietnam in the southern continental shelf of the country in the South China Sea. The platforms are complex steel structures composed of logistics and living facilities, manned by Vietnam People's Navy personnel.[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 platform.[2]
Locations
(Vietnamese) installations in the southwest area of the Spratly Islands (2015)
DK1 platforms have been established in seven localities in the southwest of the Spratly Archipelago and on the south of Vietnam's continental shelf at:
Bãi cạn Cà Mau - Off the Cà Mau peninsula, the southernmost part of Vietnam.
Platforms
A total of 20 platforms[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 platforms in use. Facilities include 8 helicopter pads, 4 lighthouses, and a meteorological observatory. There are 14 platforms in the Spratly Islands, and one (DK1/10) in Ca Mau Shoals off the southwest coast of Vietnam.
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