CHAPTER 505: CHAPTER 353 YOU WATCH THE CONSTRUCTION!

"The equipment was handed over to the East Sea Fleet, and for the moment, Minister Chen wasn’t involved.

Early this morning, I took a high-speed passenger ferry to the East Sea, and after disembarking, I headed straight for the airport to catch a flight back to the Capital. Director Feng’s mission was also accomplished, and he returned to the Capital with Minister Chen.

The flight was at one-thirty in the afternoon. After everyone had a simple working meal at the airport, they entered the VIP lounge to rest, accompanied by officers from the East Sea Fleet.

Director Feng looked around the lounge and sat down laughing, ’I never thought I would enjoy ministerial-level treatment—thanks to you, Minister Chen.’

The two had known each other for decades, with Director Feng even holding a higher rank than Minister Chen at one time.

Minister Chen turned back and sighed, ’Opportunity really is crucial for a person, especially for military personnel like us.’

A soldier who doesn’t want to be a general isn’t a good soldier.

Director Feng envied Minister Chen for being able to wear the General Star, and sighed lightly, ’It’s not just about opportunity; one must have capability, and age matters too.’

Minister Chen understood his old friend’s feelings and quickly changed the subject: ’Old Feng, when we had dinner last night at the base, your old military unit leadership asked about Han Yu.’

’Why ask about Salted Fish?’

’You’ve seen on TV how they fought in the Gulf War; nowadays, everyone needs highly educated and qualified personnel. After hearing some of the crew reports, they were quite interested in Han Yu.’

Director Feng asked with a smile, ’They took a fancy to Salted Fish?’

Minister Chen took a sip of tea and smiled, ’He knows ship piloting, understands engineering, has been overseas and sailed the seas, and is politically reliable and young. If I were in charge of the fleet, I’d want to recruit him too.’

Seeing the child he watched grow up does well made Director Feng very proud. He pressed, ’What did you tell them?’

’I said, don’t even think about special recruitment, it’s not happening.’

’Why not?’

’What Han Yu excels in are ship piloting and engineering, and he has some marine experience, but he’s not skilled in combat. If he is specially recruited, he could only follow a technical route and become a technical officer. Moreover, Han Yu is already a Deputy Division Commander in the shipping police system; even if they wanted to recruit him, what position could they offer that matches his current rank?’

’That’s true. Whatever the case, one must respect seniority everywhere. Salted Fish is doing quite well in the shipping police system; there’s no need for him to join the military. Besides, what the Navy lacks now are funds and modernized ships. With funding, any kind of talent can be developed.’

Director Feng thought for a while and then continued, ’Besides, Salted Fish has his own mission. Speaking of which, the military couldn’t provide him a position equal to his current role, and even if they could, he wouldn’t likely join the military.’

’Why not?’ asked Minister Chen, curiously.

’Although our ships are a bit outdated, at least we have them. But it’s different in the North Branch Waters of Yangtze River Binjiang. If he really were to be specially recruited, the near hundred kilometers of North Branch waterway’s security, firefighting, and water traffic safety might really be neglected.’

’Han Yu manages the entire North Branch area, Old Feng, you’re not joking, are you?’

’It’s no joke. Not only are you all tight on funds, but local finances are just as strained. It’s no exaggeration to say that if it weren’t for Salted Fish and his mentor, there might not have been even one water law enforcement vessel in the whole North Branch area.’

...

Meanwhile, Han Yu and his spouse were on their way back to Binjiang with Director He.

As soon as Director He got in the car, he couldn’t resist opening his briefcase to look at the photograph Han Xiangning had requested that morning. He looked again and again, and after checking, he excitedly leaned on the back of the seat and talked about building a new boat.

’Salted Fish, once we get back, we’ll invite experts for a second evaluation. If we build, it has to be the most advanced!’

’How advanced, Director He?’

’It must be more advanced not only than the Hanwu Branch’s fireboat but also than the fire and rescue boats of the East Sea Fire Department, the East Sea Water Police Bureau, the East Sea Maritime Police Bureau, and the Changhang East Sea Branch.’

Afraid that Han Yu might not believe him, Director He said very seriously and sternly, ’I talked with President Feng the day before yesterday. Ningning also knows; I used to frequently perform naval ships’ entry and exit security missions in Hanwu Waters when I was at the Hanwu Branch, so I am very familiar with this aspect.’

’Is that so?’

’You’ll know in time.’"

Director He grinned slightly and continued, "Others may not be aware, but you should know that every year at least seven or eight submarines pass in and out of the Yangtze River. As long as they navigate through the waters under our jurisdiction, we are responsible for their safety. In the future, when we have advanced firefighting and rescue boats, if such a mission arises, we can meet them at the seaward entrance when they enter the Yangtze River. After the ship is repaired at the shipyard and ready to go out to sea, we can escort them all the way to the seaward entrance!"

Caught by his senior colleague’s accurate guess, Director He, having seen the most advanced submarines and attended commendation ceremonies, was indeed very concerned about national defense construction.

Han Yu, stifling a laugh, asked, "To meet those entering the Yangtze River at the sea entrance, and to escort those leaving the Yangtze River to the sea entrance, such arrangements would mean we cannot build inland river law enforcement vessels, but must construct them to the standards of a near-sea tugboat."

"Inland river ships cannot go out to sea, but seagoing ships can enter the Yangtze River—it’s just a matter of having thicker steel plates. And the hull design needs to withstand certain sea conditions."

"Director He, it’s not as simple as just having thicker steel plates. If we really want to build a new type of ship that can navigate both rivers and seas, the cost might be double that of a river vessel."

Han Yu looked back at his senior colleague, who was smiling silently, and added, "Not to mention the sheer speed. If we pursue speed, after reaching a certain threshold, every increase in speed by one knot can exponentially raise the cost."

"That much of a difference!"

"And we have to consider operating costs. If we go with the third set of solutions expertly demonstrated, even if we could afford to build it, we wouldn’t be able to afford its operation."

"Aren’t operating costs just maintenance expenses? About how much would that be annually?"

Han Yu patiently explained, "Operating costs are not just maintenance expenses. Firstly, there’s depreciation. Assuming a twenty-year usability, the annual depreciation cost would be five percent of the ship’s price. Maintenance expenses generally amount to three percent of the ship’s price, and insurance costs about one percent.

We won’t consider port fees, but surely the ship will burn fuel. If the main engine has a power of 1440 kilowatts, it normally consumes 500 liters of diesel per hour. Fighting currents or traveling at high speed, the instantaneous fuel consumption can reach more than 800 liters."

Director He couldn’t help asking, "How many hours is 001 operational annually now?"

"Over two hundred hours."

"It seems we can’t fully follow the experts’ advice; their lowest estimated cost is also twenty million. If we calculate using ten million, five percent depreciation is five hundred thousand, maintenance is three hundred thousand, and including fuel, the annual cost will be nearly two million!"

"And there’s lubrication expenses, generally three percent of the fuel costs. Then there are personnel wages, and with a bigger ship, we can’t have fewer crew members."

You don’t realize the cost until you calculate it; it’s indeed startling.

Director He paused for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "I don’t know much about this aspect, Salted Fish. You should study what kind of ship to build thoroughly. After all, it will be handed over to you for use once it’s built. The budget is ten million; you decide how to build."

Han Yu was shocked, "Ten million?"

"Of course, we don’t have that much money, but we’ll provide five million, and the higher authorities should at least match another five million in funds. You don’t need to worry about this; I’ll personally handle it when we return. Water firefighting is so important, and there’s not a single decent law enforcement rescue boat throughout the Binjiang Waters—I don’t believe I can’t secure the funds!"

"Thank you for your support, Director He."

"No thanks needed, just go back and hold a party committee meeting to unify the thoughts. Over the next five years, other constructions can be halted, but the new ship must be built and launched!"

Director He’s declaration was emphatic, and Han Yu felt greatly encouraged. He hurriedly said, "Director He, I almost forgot, no matter how we build it, it will be the most advanced in both Binjiang and East Sea Waters."

"How could that be?"

"There’s no firefighting boat in the Binjiang Branch, nor do the East Sea Fire Department, East Sea Maritime Police Bureau, and East Sea Water Police Bureau have one. Although East Sea Port has several dual-use tug and firefighting boats, none are professional, dual-use, both river and sea."

"That’s great. What if they have money? This time, we must get ahead of them!"

"Rest assured, Director He, with ten million we certainly can build it, and I will consider the operating costs. But the new ship will definitely be bigger than 001, and it will require more crew. We can’t wait for people to wait for the ship; instead, we need to start training the Captain, Chief Engineer, Chief Officer, and engine sailors now."

"Personnel isn’t a problem, pick any police or auxiliary police from the department you need."

Thinking that in two or three years 001 wouldn’t be retired but reassigned, Han Yu asked with a smile, "Director He, you are well acquainted with the Changhang Police Bureau and probably also with the Changhang Police Academy. Could you think of a way to bring Xiao Yu back after a couple of years?"

Director He had never met Xiao Yu, but had heard of him more than once, especially considering Xiao Yu’s legendary experiences.

He thought for a while and asked with a smile, "Would Xiao Yu want to come back?"

"Definitely willing."

"No problem, let him work at the police academy for two years to gain some experience, then he can come back and take up a position as a squad leader."