Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 283 - 204: A Fresh Start!

Chapter 283: Chapter 204: A Fresh Start!

Yingchuan Port Village is located at the southeastern corner of Binjiang District, originally belonging to Lang Mountain Town in Binjiang County. With last year’s major administrative division adjustment, it now belongs to the newly established Binjiang Development Zone.

The village is surrounded by water on three sides: the Yangtze River to the southwest, Kuzi Port River to the west, and Bin Qi River to the east.

Ancient people said, "A single river of spring water flows eastward," but from last year, the Yangtze River’s course, starting from Wujie Town in Changzhou City (a county-level city), no longer runs east-west. Instead, it flows towards the southeast direction.

Flowing through Yingchuan Port Waters, it almost runs in a north-south direction.

Due to the change in the waterway’s direction, sedimentation is severe. Although the river’s surface is broad, there are many sandbars, shallows, and underwater weirs in the river, resulting in a complex navigation environment with main and dedicated water channels crisscrossing each other.

Every flood season, as water levels rise, some shallows and weirs get submerged, and vessels navigating these waters risk running aground.

If there were a ranking for the most accident-prone waters in the lower Yangtze River, Yingchuan Port Waters would definitely be in first place.

Given the complex navigation environment, the Port Supervision and waterway departments have continually dredged, setting up various navigation marks like red buoys and black buoys, specifically designating "Yingchuan Port Dedicated Waterway," which spans about eight nautical miles— the longest dedicated waterway below Jiangcheng.

Despite having a dedicated waterway, this does not change the fact that the waterway has poor navigation qualities, narrow width, shallow and variable depths, and water flow directions not aligning with and significantly differing from the waterway routes.

Moreover, Yingchuan Port waterway is a habitual route for small inland vessels entering and exiting the Yangtze River, and the establishment of the Bin Shu Ferry at the river mouth adds another junction to the waterway.

Attempting to take shortcuts, vessels navigating Yingchuan Port waterway often experience collisions and grounding accidents.

Whenever a water traffic accident occurs, it necessitates a rescue operation. The water rescue center of the Port Supervision Bureau and the Port Patrol Second Team are located at the west side of Yingchuan Port Village, at the junction where Kuzi Port River flows into the Yangtze River.

The rescue center doesn’t have its own rescue boat but has a floating pier.

Port Patrol Second Team has two law enforcement boats, Monitor 35 and Monitor 37. The crane ship moored on the right side of the floating pier belongs to a company under the Port Authority.

If a vessel runs aground, the Port Supervision summons the crane ship for rescue; if the crane ship cannot manage, they then summon tugs from nearby port and shipping enterprises, with costs incurred being borne by the rescued vessel.

But today at 9 AM, with the arrival of Binjiang Water Police 001, the history of not having a readily available tug ended at the floating pier of the Port Supervision Bureau Water Rescue Center and Port Patrol Second Team.

It’s just that 001’s horsepower is a bit low, it can only rescue or tow vessels up to two thousand tons; for anything over two thousand tons, 001 is powerless.

Liang Xiaoyu has passed through Yingchuan Port Waters many times, but he had never docked here before. Tying up the cable, he jumped onto the floating pier and exclaimed in surprise, "Sister Ningning, what brings you here too!"

Han Xiangning turned back, pointing to a row of two-story steel structure mobile houses ashore, and smiled, "I’ve been transferred here, didn’t you know?"

"Why are you transferred here?"

"To be closer to you guys."

"I know now, you came looking for Salted Fish!"

"I’m not here for him, I’m here to work."

Han Xiangning saw Captain Wang and Zhu Baogen disembarking, with both the rescue center and Port Patrol Second Team’s leaders coming over, and hurriedly went up to greet Captain Wang and Zhu Baogen, smiling cheerily as she introduced everyone.

Yanjiang Police Station has collaborated with the Port Supervision Bureau for many years. Captain Wang, being a middle-level executive of the Port Supervision Bureau, had met nearly all other officers, although he couldn’t remember some of their names and surnames.

He exchanged simple pleasantries with them and asked jokingly, "Director Liu, Ningning, is Water Police Fourth Squad just above us?"

"The Fourth Squad isn’t here; it’s on the Bin Qi River side, inside Yingchuan Port Lock, less than three kilometers from here."

"That’s quite a distance. Why did Salted Fish have us come here instead of going directly to him?"

Han Xiangning explained with a beaming smile, "Our floating pier is by the river, and theirs is inside the lock. If we took 001 over there, imagine how troublesome it would be if something happens on the river requiring passage through the lock."

Yingchuan Port Lock isn’t like Bailong Port Lock; Yingchuan Port Lock has hundreds of vessels passing through daily.

During peak times, it could get as busy as the locks on the Grand Canal, with fleets needing to anchor for a day or two before getting clearance to pass through the lock.

Captain Wang caught on, paused, then asked, "Three kilometers, not too far yet not too near; how will we get there later?"

Director Liu, the happiest about 001’s positioning, glanced back and said with a smile, "Captain Wang, we have a vehicle; I’ll have the driver take you over."

If Salted Fish is said to be among the police officers most skilled at handling ships province-wide or even nationwide, then Liang Xiaoyu is the future captain of 001.

In fact, he already possesses the competencies of a Third-level Vessel’s Second Chief Engineer, as well as an inland water Third-level Vessel’s Second Officer Certificate of Competence, along with various qualifications like electrician, fitter, welder similar to Han Yu, adept at fixing anything, and has known how to operate 001 two years ago.

Although he’s just an auxiliary police, during the years Han Yu has been away from the station, he has been the captain of Yanjiang Police Station’s law enforcement fleet.

He looked back at 001, scratching his neck, and asked, "Sister Ningning, we’re going to find Salted Fish, what about 001?"

"We’ll keep an eye on it for you; if someone drives it away, we’ll take responsibility!"

"I’m not worried about someone driving it away; I’m more concerned someone might board the vessel and steal something."

"Did you bring guns?"

"I didn’t bring it."

"Are there any valuables on the boat?"

"Not either."

"Then what’s there to worry about? Besides, the cabin door isn’t unlocked. Just lock the cabin door properly."

"Alright, I’ll go back to the boat and check again."

It’s typical of Xu Sanye to regard 001 as more important than anything else.

But speaking of which, although this tug is old, it is still the most advanced and professional law enforcement firefighting and rescue boat in the Binjiang waters till this day.

Han Xiangning was thinking quietly that the VTS system was almost built, and the office building looked impressive, wondering when they could equip an advanced law enforcement rescue boat. Zhu Baogen curiously looked towards the west and asked, "Ningning, is that Lang Mountain?"

"That’s Jun Mountain, taller than Lang Mountain."

There are no mountains in Linghai, so it’s natural for him to be interested in seeing one.

Han Xiangning smiled and turned around, pointing towards the east at the mouth of Kuzi Port River to explain, "Kuzi Port River is located at the boundary between two districts. Our side belongs to Chonggang District and the opposite side to the development zone, further north belongs to Changzhou City.

It’s easier to divide jurisdictions on land, but it’s not so clear-cut on the rivers, so the security along the river, Kuzi Port River, and Bin Qi River falls under the jurisdiction of the Water Police Fourth Squad."

"From where to where does the river jurisdiction extend?" Concerning the jurisdiction involving Salted Fish, Captain Wang thought it necessary to clarify.

"Starting from Yao Port in the west to Bishu Ferry in the east."

"What about west of Yao Port?"

"West of Yao Port, the surface of the river is managed by Changhang Navigation Police Branch. Director Zhang and his team were previously responsible only for the port districts, but now they are also responsible for the security of a ten-kilometer stretch both east and west of Binjiang Port."

Captain Wang turned his head to look at the expansive river and pursued further, "How is it divided with the other side of the river?"

Although Han Xiangning wasn’t a police officer, he knew the jurisdiction of his junior like the back of his hand and responded without a second thought, "By the black buoy of the dedicated waterway of Yingchuan Port, south of the buoy is managed by Shuzhou City Police Department Water Station, north by the Water Police Fourth Squad."

"Kuzi Port River and Bin Qi River are also quite long; from where to where does the Water Police Fourth Squad manage north from the river entrances?"

"It seems they manage about fifteen kilometers north, up to the boundary with Changzhou City."

"The south side manages the Yangtze River, and both the east and west sides manage two rivers; with only six police officers, are they able to manage?"

"Captain Wang, with your help, they should be able to manage. Moreover, they are not fighting alone; when dealing with cases involving the land, they can request assistance from Chonggang Branch, the Development Zone Branch, and Changzhou Police Bureau."

...

Meanwhile, Chen Zikun, the instructor of the Second Company of the Binjiang City Public Security Bureau Water Police Brigade, had just convened a meeting with all police officers and auxiliary police of the Water Police Fourth Squad.

He represented the brigade (branch) and announced the file appointing Comrade Han Yu as the squad leader, introduced Han Yu’s resume, had Jia Yongqiang, the instructor of the Fourth Squad, express the stance of all squad members, and then allowed Han Yu to speak.

The Deputy Captain of the Security Team of Chonggang Branch, the instructor of the Security Team of the Development Zone Branch, and the Captain of the Security Team of Changzhou Police Bureau also attended the meeting.

After the general meeting, a smaller meeting was held.

After Han Yu spoke, Chen Zikun, along with Han Yu and Jia Yongqiang, invited the leaders of the three brother police bureaus’ security teams who attended the meeting to the reception room for discussions. The four units sat together to discuss how to improve security on the Yangtze River, Kuzi Port River, and Bin Qi River.

Inspector Wu of the Development Zone Branch sighed, "Instructor Chen, if we didn’t attend your meeting, we wouldn’t know how young the water police are. You’re twenty-eight this year, Captain Yu is twenty-one, and just now the other officers were also under thirty. It seems we are really old."

Jia Yongqiang was originally a policeman at Binjiang County Public Security Bureau. Now Binjiang County no longer exists and has become Chonggang District.

Director Miao of Chonggang Branch was very familiar with Jia Yongqiang and couldn’t help laughing, "Old Jia, it looks like the Fourth Squad has only one old comrade like you."

"Forgive our leaders for seeing this, I dragged down the squad, raising the average age of the squad."

Nearly four years later, sitting in a meeting with Salted Fish again, even becoming Salted Fish’s immediate superior.

Chen Zikun felt everything was so surreal, looked back at Salted Fish sitting beside him and smiled, "Inspector Wu, our subdivision is originally quite young, having just been officially established for four years."

Seeing everyone looking at him with curiosity, Han Yu quickly said, "Because we are young, we need to learn from all the leaders and seniors in our work ahead. If there is anything we fall short of, please guide and correct us."

"We have to learn from you about water security management."

"Director Miao, I’m not just being polite, I speak from the heart. Not only are we young with short working experiences and not as rich as the three leaders, but we are also new here, unaware of the jurisdiction’s intricacies. We truly need the continual care and assistance from the three leaders."

"Captain Yu, you are indeed young, but you’ve been working for quite a while. Instructor Chen mentioned you started working in 1988, participated in several major operations, and even went abroad to the East Sea and abroad, having broader experiences. With you in charge at Bin Qi River, our branch doesn’t have to worry about the security of Yingchuan Port."

"Yes, the whole system is advocating for younger officials now. The new wave of the Yangtze River pushes the old one, and we can’t help but admire you, we have to learn from you."

...

PS: The waters of Yingchuan Port are complex, I’ll include some pictures in this Chapter, those interested can take a look.