Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 137 - 115: Speed of Life and Death

Chapter 137: Chapter 115: Speed of Life and Death

The wind grew stronger, and even the dunship began to sway.

Sister Zhu had joined her colleagues in law enforcement on the river a decade ago, and back then when the traffic on land was inconvenient, they mainly relied on the unit’s transport boats for commuting and enforcement, so this degree of swaying meant nothing to her.

Han Xiangning had not only practiced on the river during her school days but had even gone out to sea on the school’s training ship, feeling unaffected all the same.

Zhang Lan was a total landlubber, who couldn’t even swim, and how could she endure such swaying? She felt dizzy and as uncomfortable as if she had a high fever.

Embarrassed to head to the Criminal Investigation Fourth Squad like this and unable to sleep either, she simply laid down on the operations desk in the Command and Dispatch Room, pinching her temples, and listened to the radio conversations along with Sister Zhu and Han Xiangning.

"Linghai Police 001 calling Dagang Tug 26, Linghai Police 001 calling Dagang Tug 26, please respond if you receive this message."

"Dagang 26 received, Police 001 go ahead."

"Dagang 26, can you see my stern light?"

"Can see it, just saw it!"

"Can you see my masthead light?"

"Can see the masthead light too, but not the sidelights."

"Do you have a rudder angle indicator on board?"

"Yes."

"Do you have a magnetic compass?"

"Yes, our ship is a new one, it’s a newly built full-rotation harbor tug."

"Alright, I’m going to steer according to commands now and keep reporting the situation of nearby ships for your reference. Form up and navigate at a distance of 120 meters behind my starboard side."

"120 meters astern of starboard, Dagang 26 received."

"Speed three knots, port rudder 12."

At this time, Captain Wang’s voice came through the radio: "12 to port!"

After about two minutes, Little Salted Fish’s voice came again: "Steady as she goes!"

Although Zhang Lan was feeling sick, she was worried about her junior and propping her forehead, she asked, "Sister Zhu, have Salted Fish and Director Jin got to the big tugboat yet?"

"They’ve reached it. They are providing pilotage for the big tugboat."

"How long will it take to reach the accident area?"

Sister Zhu didn’t know either and was momentarily at a loss when asked.

Han Xiangning walked up to the desk, took out a calculator from the drawer, found a ruler, turned to look at the scale at the bottom right corner of the nautical chart, then measured with the ruler on the chart before busily calculating on the calculator.

"They are going very slow, only at a speed of three knots. Hexiang 9 can’t possibly stay in the same location, so they will need at least forty-five minutes to find Hexiang 9."

"Ningning, Hexiang 9 only took on water, and the engine isn’t broken. Why don’t they hurry to the shore?"

"Hexiang 9 is an ocean-going vessel, fully laden with gypsum stone and drawing a lot of water. The hull is sharp at the bottom. It can only dock at a harbor, not just anywhere along the shore, or it risks running aground and capsizing easily."

Han Xiangning set down the calculator and gestured with the ruler: "Moreover, it’s the bow that’s damaged; water is flooding in from the bow. If they increase engine power and sail at this time, water will flow in even faster, which may lead to the collapse of the watertight bulkhead."

Zhang Lan, only half understanding, asked, "So it can’t speed up and can only drift with the waves?"

Han Xiangning sat down and said, "It has already moved away from the main waterway under the direction of the Traffic Control Center, but the situation isn’t optimistic. There’s significant damage to the bow, and it’s continuously taking on water, and the captain reported the bulkheads are deforming. They’re reinforcing the bulkheads and adopting support measures to prohibit bending and warping deformations in several holds adjacent to the flooding hold."

"Can water bend the steel bulkheads?"

"Yes."

The girl really sounded quite like Little Salted Fish when she spoke about these things.

Thinking it over, Zhang Lan asked further, "What is this full-rotation tug they just mentioned on the radio, and is it different from 001?"

"Of course there’s a difference, and a significant one at that."

"What’s the difference?"

Han Xiangning glanced at her watch, explaining, "001 has a rudder and propellers, while the full-rotation tug has propellers but no rudder. Its two propellers can rotate 360 degrees. It’s smaller, more powerful, and more maneuverable, able to turn around within a very small radius."

Zhang Lan had never seen a large tugboat and asked curiously, "More maneuverable than 001?"

"Mhm."

"More horsepower than 001?"

"Much more."

"How much more?"

"001 only has two hundred horsepower, while Dagang Tug 26 has three thousand horsepower; there’s really no comparison."

"More than ten times over, so is Dagang Tug 26 ten times the size of 001?"

"Not much bigger to look at. Cargo ships are sized by their tonnage, while tugs are measured by power output."

"Does that mean Dagang Tug 26 is more expensive than 001?"

"That’s for sure, but Dagang Tug 26 is a harbor tug primarily used for port operations. The electronic equipment installed isn’t as much as on 001 and isn’t as advanced either."

Little Salted Fish and Director Jin had already reached the large tugboat, and as long as they can find Hexiang 9 within an hour, not only could the crew of Hexiang 9 be rescued, but Hexiang 9 itself could be saved with the aid of the large tugboat.

Sister Zhu breathed a slight sigh of relief, trying to sound relaxed as she smiled and said, "To put it simply, a ten-thousand-ton cargo ship may seem very large, but it is meant for transporting cargo. If it came to fighting, it would definitely not be a match for a Navy’s small patrol boat. So, you can say that 001 and the full-rotation Dagang Tug 26 each have their strengths."

...

As Han Yu had predicted, with the wind growing stronger, the fog on the river became increasingly thin.

Half an hour ago, Dagang Tug 26 could only see 001’s masthead light and stern light, but now they could even see 001’s sidelights.

Even under the glare of the searchlight, one could vaguely make out the outline of 001.

And Dahgang Tug 26 is a fully rotational tugboat, highly maneuverable, so there’s no need to worry about the two ships colliding anymore.

But the stronger the wind, the bigger the waves, with 001 bobbing up and down amidst the stormy seas as if the heavens and earth were shaking.

The driver’s mental state is highly tense, consuming a lot of physical and mental energy.

Han Yu is somewhat overwhelmed, Captain Wang is also struggling, clutching the steering wheel he says, "Salted Fish, sit down and rest for twenty minutes, then switch with me."

"Sure, let’s take turns starting now."

"Did you bring up any slices of steamed bread? Give me a few slices if you have them."

"Yes."

Just as Han Yu was finding the steamed bread slices, Director Jin’s voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Salted Fish, Salted Fish, watch the water depth detector, keep an eye on the seabed."

Han Yu realizes they are now in the area where the traffic accident occurred and, without taking a break, hurries to respond: "Received, received."

"I have made contact with Hexiang 9, their port side has tilted nearly thirty degrees."

"What does the Traffic Control Center say?"

"It’s very difficult to tow it back now, the superior has ordered us to use the water depth detector to help Hexiang 9 find a sandbank to ground on."

It wasn’t as simple as directing Hexiang 9 to run aground, nor was it as simple as having Dahgang Tug 26 push Hexiang 9 onto the sandbank because such a large ship isn’t so easy to ground securely.

If Hexiang 9 is to sit grounded and keep its hull level, Dahgang Tug 26 will need to play its role.

If Hexiang 9 tilts to one side, Dahgang Tug 26 will have to assist by towing in the opposite direction.

Han Yu subconsciously glanced at the computer monitor and asked: "Director Jin, how deep is Dahgang Tug 26’s draft?"

"Four meters sixty-five type depth, three meters fifty design draft."

"And Hexiang 9?"

"Six meters fifty design draft, but it’s probably overloaded, and now it’s taken on water, so the draft is estimated to be over seven meters."

"Received, keep in contact with them."

As Han Yu stared intently at the computer monitor, attempting to find an area where Hexiang 9 could ground safely while also ensuring that Dahgang Tug 26 wouldn’t run aground, Director Wang felt dizzy and nauseous, his insides churning as if through upheaval, vomiting to the point of near unconsciousness, feeling almost worse than death.

Zhu Baogen and Liang Xiaoyu, through communication over the walkie-talkie, knew they were getting close to the accident scene and would soon be out working.

But if they just left Director Wang like this, he would surely bump and fall.

"Director Wang, Director Wang!"

"..."

Director Wang could faintly hear, but couldn’t speak at all.

Zhu Baogen had never seen seasickness this severe and asked with a grimace: "Xiao Yu, what should we do now?"

Liang Xiaoyu was worried about Director Wang getting bumped or falling, even more worried that Director Wang, in a sudden desire for fresh air, would crawl out of the crew cabin.

If he crawled out, he could easily fall into the river.

"Lock the cabin door?"

"If we lock it, there won’t be enough air, and Director Wang will feel even sicker."

Liang Xiaoyu thought for a moment before suggesting: "How about we find a rope to tie Director Wang up?"

This is how children on ships usually handled such situations when they were young.

Zhu Baogen thought it was a good idea, immediately supporting himself against the door to go out, fetched a damp hemp rope, and along with Liang Xiaoyu, they carried the weak Director Wang to the bed like a corpse. While tying around Director Wang’s waist, Zhu Baogen said: "Tie it tight."

"I know." Liang Xiaoyu finished the knot, looked up and said: "Uncle Zhu, make sure your end is tight too."

"Don’t worry about my work, bring the bucket here, find something to block it with."

"Okay."

"Director Wang, Director Wang, we’re going up for the rescue now, the bucket is by the bed, roll over if you need to throw up!"

"Director Wang, don’t worry, we’ll be back soon."

"Oh..."

"Wait for us to come back and we’ll find your glasses for you, we’re leaving now."

Director Wang, unable to speak, just mustered the strength to raise his arm and wave.

Liang Xiaoyu tied a safety rope around his waist, grabbed the end with a carabiner, climbed out of the crew cabin braving the strong wind and waves, held onto the ship’s railings with difficulty, and walked to the number two position where the firefighting monitor was installed on the port side of 001. He secured the safety rope to the railing and raised his hand towards the second-story control room.

Zhu Baogen securely stood in the number two position where the firefighting monitor was installed on the starboard side, fastened the iron clasp of the safety rope, and was about to raise his hand to signal that he was in position when a large wave splashed over him, drenching him from head to toe.

They were wearing firefighting gear, so their clothes inside should not have gotten wet.

Captain Wang turned on the broadcast switch, picked up the talkie, and looking down at them, shouted: "Turn on the flashlights, watch the river surface!"

Zhu Baogen quickly wiped the water off his face, pulled out the flashlight from his pocket, turned it on, flashed it towards the sky, then onto the right side of the river surface, searching for any people who might have fallen overboard.

Liang Xiaoyu got some water down his neck, shivering from the cold, feeling he should say something.

While searching the left side of the river with his flashlight, he shouted: "Uncle Zhu, Director Wang drank your Anchor Chain Mud water, how come it’s not working!"

"What, I can’t hear you."

"I said Director Wang drank the mud water you made, why is he still seasick!"

"He only took a few sips, and soon he threw them up. Throwing it up means he didn’t really drink it, of course, it’s not working."

So it wasn’t ineffective, mainly because Director Wang didn’t actually drink it properly.

Liang Xiaoyu thought if they had known Director Wang would get seasick, they should have made him eat a few Anchor Chain Mud Pills or drink a few bowls of Anchor Chain Mud water before boarding.