Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1164 - 37: Rescue Boat Team

"The Customs is about to be equipped with anti-smuggling boats. Although the superiors have not issued any documents regarding water-based anti-smuggling duties or regulations for anti-smuggling boats, one thing is certain: if a maritime accident or other dangerous situation occurs, whether it's Customs, Fishery Administration, Marine, or Coast Guard, they all have a duty to carry out rescue operations."

Regarding how to form the Navy Reserve Camp next, Han Yu had been thinking for several days and confidently said, "There is a possibility of malfunction for merchant ships and fishing boats on the sea, and the same goes for naval vessels. Once the main or auxiliary engines malfunction, the vessel loses power and needs to be towed back.

If the anchor of the ship is lost, not only does the vessel need to be towed back, but sometimes even the anchor needs to be salvaged from underwater. During the anti-flood operations at Beihu, I talked to comrades from the Naval Engineering College Dive Team; some of their students, after graduation, are assigned to the Navy's Reserve Rescue Boat Brigade to carry out maritime salvaging tasks."

Director Feng smiled as he asked, "Based on current conditions, forming a reserve forces unit specializing in rescue operations?"

"We have advantages in this area."

Han Yu smiled and confirmed, "Linggang Tuo 001 is a professional firefighting and rescue ship. Linghai made a significant investment to purchase it from the Changhang Bureau because the superiors require that new ports must have a dedicated firefighting and rescue ship.

Since it is not a fully rotating type and its power isn't very high, its role in assisting cargo ships over ten thousand tons in and out of the port is not as effective as the two other high-powered full-rotation tugboats being ordered by Linghai Port.

In other words, if there's a real emergency task, we can requisition Linggang Tuo 001 at any time without greatly impacting Linghai Port's production and operations."

The prerequisite for forming a reserve forces unit is not to affect economic development.

Director Feng nodded in satisfaction.

Han Yu seized the opportunity and said, "Considering the limited endurance of Linggang Tuo 001, during maritime rescue operations, we can use the training ship from Binjiang Shipping Academy as the supply vessel. Although the training ship is 3000 tons, which is not large among ocean-going vessels, it can unquestionably transport fuel, fresh water, and other supply materials for us."

Director Feng laughed, "The school's ship can be requisitioned at any time, and the ship has plenty of cabins and complete living facilities."

"After achieving some results, the leaders and teachers at our school are very interested in the construction of national defense reserve forces; they frequently organize students for sea training. We can use this opportunity to organize troop training, which can save a lot of expenses."

"Has the school proposed any conditions?"

"They haven't proposed any conditions; they simply want to participate in our construction. If conditions permit, they want to recommend some students who wish to join the navy as reservists. When the navy recruits, can the students who have served as reservists be prioritized?"

The former Binjiang Shipping School, now Binjiang Shipping Academy, has always been under militarized management.

From enrollment to graduation, students must wear uniforms. In such an atmosphere, there really are students who want to join the navy.

Director Feng opened his briefcase, took out a notebook, and while recording, asked, "Are all the programs now college-level? No secondary programs?"

"The secondary programs are gone, but it's not all college programs; there are also two undergraduate programs."

"Your school even has undergraduate programs now?"

"Yes, just established this year."

"What majors?"

"Marine Technology and Marine Engineering Technology."

"These are excellent majors," Director Feng noted and then raised his head, saying, "Compared to the Army, the Navy needs more high-education talent. College students are willing to join the military; the Navy will certainly welcome them. If undergraduate students want to enlist and meet the requirements, they can even be specially recruited as officers."

Han Yu laughed and asked, "Really?"

"But my words don't count; I'll report to the superiors for you later."

"Thank you, Director Feng."

Although the pay and benefits of the military are not as high as serving on an ocean-going ship, if this path is feasible, it equates to providing more opportunities for the juniors and younger siblings at the alma mater.

Han Yu was genuinely happy and continued, "Maritime rescue isn't just about saving ships; sometimes it's about saving people. Relying solely on one tugboat and one supply ship is far from enough. Fishery Administration ships and the anti-smuggling boats soon to be equipped by Customs can fulfill roles; if there's truly a rescue mission, we can mobilize four ships simultaneously. With a supply ship, we can conduct continuous searches and rescues at sea for at least half a month."

With a training ship that is comparable to a cargo ship going out to sea, we can carry enough fuel, fresh water, and other living supplies. Not to mention completing half-a-month tasks, even a one-month task wouldn't be a problem.

Recalling how the Linghai Reserve Camp participated in the flood resistance at Beihu, Director Feng realized how much Han Yu values logistics support, and couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Anything else?"

"Ship rescue is not just about towing; we can rely on the technical strength of Cosco and Longsheng Shipyard to repair malfunctioning naval vessels and civilian ships at sea.

The Longsheng Shipyard is invested by a Zhehai boss, who greatly admires President Wang of the Changyu Shipbuilding Factory and President Wu of the Linghai Shipyard. He has sought out Mayor Shen more than once, wanting his son to serve in the reserve forces and become a reserve officer." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Does acquiring wealth lead to seeking social status?"

"Director Feng, speaking of 'Boss Officers,' there are a lot of 'Boss Officers' in the Linghai Reserve Camp. During the flood resistance at Beihu, those 'Boss Officers' indeed played a significant role."

Seeing Director Feng in contemplation, Han Yu continued assertively, "The general manager of Linghai Road and Bridge Company, Hao Qiusheng, and Zhang Erxiao of Longgang Rice Industry are both 'Boss Officers.' The former is the main force in flood resistance, the latter in logistics support; both achieved success, both were rated as anti-flood models, and both went to the People's Hall!"

Although Director Feng transitioned many years ago, he was fundamentally still a soldier.

He had no preconceived notions about 'Boss Officers'; he simply thought the reserve forces are still the military and should not be mixed with big bosses.

"Is that Zhehai boss reliable? Are there any political issues with him?"

"The person is decent, no criminal record. He wants his son to serve in the reserve, not that he wants to join the army himself. His son is thirty-one this year. Although his education level is not high, he is very strong in management and technology. The father and son started from scratch; now their assets are over one billion, and the tonnage of the cargo ships they are building is larger than those built by Cosco."

The big boss's son wants to join the army, surely aiming to become an officer.

Director Feng asked, "What's his son's educational background?"

"Middle school." Han Yu paused, then couldn't help but laugh, "But rest assured, he will soon have a bachelor's degree, and it's from the Party School."

"Paid for it?"

"Distance learning."

"Never served in the military?"

"No, but he's bringing resources with him to enlist."

"Bringing some mechanical equipment and a few workers who can repair ships?"

"The workers include veterans, and he wants to collaborate with us, planning to sponsor us with two hundred thousand."

"Two hundred thousand!"

"He is capable, a genuine big boss with assets really over a billion."

"Alright, since he's so supportive of navy reserve force construction, we'll handle this specially."

"It's not just Longsheng Shipyard supporting the navy reserve force construction; there's also an underwater engineering company in the Linghai development zone. They have divers, their underwater work equipment is better than the Naval Engineering College Dive Team's, and their underwater experience is even richer."

These are talents in urgent demand; education no longer matters, Director Feng didn't see a problem.

Han Yu laughed again, "In terms of rescuing ships, we can fully manage it, but for rescuing people, we definitely need medical staff. The Binjiang Medical College Affiliated Hospital and Binjiang People's Hospital both had medical personnel involved in flood relief. Both hospitals were recognized as advanced flood relief collectives by the city and will probably be commended by the health system soon.

Several other hospitals in the city are envious and have been contacting me recently, wanting their medical staff to serve in the reserve. It's impossible for them to join the Linghai Reserve Camp; knowing we are setting up a navy reserve camp, they opted to settle for second best and seek collaboration with us."

The reserve soldiers of the Linghai Reserve Camp, as long as they work within the system, are all entrusted with heavy responsibilities this time.

Fame and fortune, who wouldn't want such a good deal?

At dinner, Military District Commander Wang said that next year when the Linghai Reserve Camp reorganizes, some soldiers unqualified for reserve service will be removed, and stricter standards for entry will be enforced in the future.

In short, becoming an officer in the Linghai Reserve Camp now is even harder than passing the civil service exam.

As a retired navy officer, Director Feng hopes that the Binjiang Naval Reserve Camp can be like that someday too, and laughed, "Is there anything else?"

"That's it."

"So, you plan to form a rescue boat brigade composed of four sea vessels centered around the Linggang Tuo 001 and the Shipping Academy's training ship."

"More or less, but it can't be called a brigade. After all, the navy is different from the armed police. In the navy, a fleet is a division-level unit, and a brigade is a regiment-level unit, while we are just a reserve camp."

"Since it's a navy reserve force, it must follow the navy's structure. Only the Marine Corps is called a camp. Brigade then brigade; I'll report it to the superiors for you."

"How can that be, I'm just a camp commander!"

"You're the commander of the Linghai Reserve Camp; the navy hasn't appointed you as the camp commander."

Director Feng smiled, meaningfully remarking, "Besides, you accomplished so much in flood rescue and relief; it's quite normal to be promoted by one military rank. If the army doesn't promote you, the navy will!"

Han Yu couldn't help but ask, "Is that even possible?"

"Why not, who says reserve ranks can't be promoted?"

"But a regiment-level unit corresponds to county level; I'm just a director."

"The so-called correspondence is only relative. No document stipulates that a regimental commander is equivalent to a County Party Secretary, and besides, this is reserve and not active service."

Han Yu laughed, jokingly asking, "Director Feng, in that case, can we set up a few companies?"

Director Feng didn't hesitate in saying, "Sure, the full name will be the Binjiang Naval Reserve Rescue Ship Brigade; as for how many companies and detachments to set up, it will be decided based on the actual situation."

"Will there be a Political Commissioner for the brigade?"

"The Si Gang Corner Slope Red Flag Civilian Military Group has a Political Commissioner, so why shouldn't the brigade have one? However, the chief officers can't all be reserve officers; this Political Commissioner will be concurrently held by Commissar Fang from the retirement service center."

"So, can there also be a Chief of Staff, Political Office Director?"

"Following a regiment-level organization, the Command and Political Office must both exist."