CHAPTER 510: CHAPTER 357: THE PERSON MAY BE FAKE!_2

Han Yu paused, then added: "Fighting a fire on water is different from fighting a fire on land. Even if a burning ship can anchor immediately, it will still sway with the waves. Firefighting boats are smaller in tonnage and don’t handle wind and waves as well as larger ships; they will pitch and toss.

Considering that once a large fire occurs, the high temperature and potential explosions mean that our firefighting boats can’t get too close, which means it’s difficult for us to shoot water directly into the fire.

And this hydraulic lifting device is somewhat like a submarine’s periscope, installed at the main mast of the ship, with a secondary gun mounted on top.

When fighting fires, it can be raised, meaning you’re effectively raising a high-pressure firefighting water cannon by seven or eight meters in height. Although it’s hard to be level with the superstructure of a large ship, it’s far more accurate than shooting upwards from below, after all, the angle is different."

Director He roughly understood and asked with a smile: "Is this hydraulic lifting device very expensive?"

"Very expensive, because it’s not just for lifting. It’s not just about having a lifting tower cylinder; it also involves the firefighting system. Inside the steel pipe that rises, there must be firefighting pipelines, and a high-pressure fire cannon needs to be mounted on the top. The cannon can be mounted up there, but personnel can’t, so there must be operating devices below."

"Which country manufactures this equipment?"

"It’s produced by the German Hunger Company, with the lifting tower cylinder rising at a speed of two meters per second and a travel distance of eight meters."

Han Yu put down the material and changed the topic: "This device relies on the same principle as a periscope, it can’t be more precise or complex than a submarine’s periscope system.

Director He, isn’t our nation now encouraging military enterprises to transition to civilian ones? I think our domestic military enterprises should be able to design and produce such devices."

The young man was still trying to save money.

Political Commissioner Jiang laughed, leaning over and said: "Director He, you’re familiar with that submarine construction and repair shipyard where Han Wu works; you could ask them if they’re interested. If they can really make it, they could apply for a patent and fill a domestic gap!"

Director He was just about to speak when Han Yu said with a smile: "Political Commissioner, I estimate that Han Wu’s shipyard doesn’t have the technology."

"Didn’t you just say that no matter how precise or complex, it couldn’t be more so than a submarine’s periscope system?"

"Old Jiang, Salted Fish is right. The shipyard can’t manage it, and if we want to do this, we have to find the relevant supporting enterprises. But we should still contact the shipyard, after all, we don’t know which military enterprise provides their periscope systems."

...

Studying one item after another, they unknowingly spent more than two hours.

Director He and others finally had an idea about what kind of enforcement, firefighting, and rescue ships the sub-bureau intended to design and build.

Considering that the city’s matching funds should be no problem and the amount of sponsorship was still uncertain, Director He suggested that Han Yu take the materials to report to the Port Authority leaders.

It wasn’t just up to the leaders to find funding; Han Yu was mentally prepared, said farewell to the leaders, and drove to the Port Authority office building.

Unexpectedly, close to the Port Authority, there seemed to be a street vendor woman arguing with some foreign sailors, probably due to a language barrier causing some misunderstanding.

As both a public security police officer and a sailor, Han Yu naturally would not ignore the situation and he parked his car on the side to find out what happened.

"Comrade, I don’t understand the English they’re speaking, I can’t communicate with them!"

Those who do business at the dock can speak a few words in English. Theirs may not be standard, but they still think the other party is the one speaking imperfectly.

Han Yu couldn’t help but laugh, then turned to ask the foreign sailors what the matter was.

Not knowing what it was at first, but after asking, he thought the fruit vendor sister had a point.

The four sailors were from the Philippines, and their English really wasn’t standard; they repeated the same sentence several times, otherwise, even someone like him who had also been on ships couldn’t understand.

After much effort, Han Yu finally figured out what was going on and laughed: "I see, it’s a misunderstanding. Our Chinese unit of measurement is usually by the jin, which is five hundred grams. The price marked here is for five hundred grams, not one kilogram, not one thousand grams."

The dark-skinned, short Filipino sailor nodded as if he understood, while the tall Filipino sailor took the fruit vendor sister’s calculator and started recalculating the exchange rate, figuring out how much they should pay.

Now is different from the past when foreigners wanted to buy Chinese goods; they could only purchase them at Friendship Stores and the Sailor Club using Foreign Exchange Certificates.

In fact, foreign exchange controls have not relaxed, but the small traders at the docks don’t care about that, and the authorities adopt a tolerant attitude towards it.

Han Yu watched as the tall sailor did his calculations, and curiously asked: "Guys, is this your first time in China?"

"Yes, Mr. Officer, we just disembarked."

"What ship are you on?"

"The bulk carrier, it’s right there."

Han Yu followed the direction pointed out by the crew member, and indeed he could vaguely see the deckhouse of the bulk carrier. It was a convenient-flag ship, roughly twenty thousand tonnes, covered in rust and poorly maintained, with an estimated age of over fifteen years.

Han Yu asked with a smile, "Where did you come from?"

"Are you asking about us or the cargo?"

"Did you board the ship mid-journey?"

"Yes, sir, we boarded in Singapore twenty days ago."

"What cargo are you transporting?"

"Corn, all of it is corn."

"Which country does the ship owner come from?"

"We’re just crew members, Officer Sir. If you want to know, you should ask the Captain."

The crew member actually didn’t know who the shipowner was, which Han Yu found somewhat unbelievable. Then, thinking it over, he asked with a smile, "Mate, how many ships have you served on?"

The dark-complexioned, short Filipino crew member grinned and said, "The first."

The Captain is not just about steering the ship but is the highest administrative officer onboard, with authority and responsibilities regarding the vessel’s navigation, passenger and cargo transportation, daily management, and safety.

Note, it’s authority, not rights!

Even during navigation, the Captain has limited police powers and, when necessary, can order effective measures to prevent or mitigate the occurrence or expansion of illegal and criminal activities.

Before departure, the Captain must approve the cargo stowage plan compiled by the Chief Officer, preside over the voyage meeting, and inform all departments to prepare for the voyage.

During navigation, the Captain should supervise all departments in implementing the voyage plan, conduct firefighting, and other drills, proactively deal with various inspections, and actively defend against pirates.

While at anchor, the Captain should arrange duties such as watch-keeping and coordinate with the Port Authority on related matters.

In short, a competent Captain is unlikely to allow newly-boarded crew members to go ashore without the guidance of senior crew members—after all, new crew members unfamiliar with onshore situations can easily get into trouble.

The more Han Yu thought about it, the stranger he found it, and he casually asked, "Mate, how many lifeboats does your ship have?"

"Three, maybe four, Officer Sir, why do you ask this question?"

"..."

The short crew member was stumped and subconsciously looked towards his companion.

The tall crew member sensed that something was amiss, hurriedly dropped a one US Dollar bill, picked up the fruit he just bought without waiting for Sister Zhu to give change, and pulled his companion to leave immediately.

They’re running, surely they feel guilty.

Watching their retreating figures, Han Yu couldn’t help but reveal a smile, quietly taking out his cellphone and thinking to himself where could they possibly escape.

The foreigners were haggling just now, and now they’re running without waiting for change, making Sister Zhu more and more uneasy. She turned to ask, "Police Comrade, can you help me check if this money is fake?"

Han Yu took a look and laughed, "It’s real."

"If it’s real, why did they run?"

"The money is real, but the people may not be."

"People are not real, how can people not be real, you’ve confused me."

Han Yu did not explain, returned the money to Sister Zhu, and quickly dialed Director Zhu’s cell phone. While walking towards his car, he asked with a smile, "Sister Zhu, it’s Han Yu. Have you inspected the bulk carrier docked at No.3 Pier?"