Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1188 - 51: So What If You Have Connections? (3)

Seeing the ship owner from East Sea being so arrogant, Yang Sanwang became more determined to impose severe penalties and raised the walkie-talkie again to call for help using the local dialect.

"You want the enforcement certificate, right? Wait, it'll be delivered to you soon for a check."

"It's not just about having an enforcement certificate, but you don't understand the law. How can you enforce laws if you don't understand them?"

"How come we don't understand the law?"

"You don't understand yet you're stubborn. I'll find someone who knows the law to teach you." Old Han turned to look at his son.

Han Shen immediately took out his phone and dialed his younger brother-in-law's number.

He briefly explained the issue of minimum crew composition and then handed the phone to Yang Sanwang.

"What is this, trying to pull strings, get someone to plead for you?"

"I, Han Zhengxian, abide by the law. I don't need to pull strings or get someone to plead for me; I'm finding someone to educate you on the law."

"Who are you calling?"

"Someone who understands the law, hurry and answer, listen to what they have to say."

Yang Sanwang glanced at the briefcase on the table printed with the Ministry of Transport Yangtze Port Supervision Bureau and hesitated before taking the phone to hear a woman on the other end speaking in standard Mandarin: "Hello, are you a comrade from the Wujiang Local Maritime Office?"

"Yes, may I know who is calling?"

"My surname is Han, Han Xiangning; I work in the security inspection department of Binjiang Maritime Bureau."

Han Xiangning, looking at the little 001 heading back on the river, spoke with familiarity: "Regarding the minimum crew composition for inland river vessels, the Ministry of Transport did indeed promulgate rules in 1997, which is the Transport Ministry Order No. 7 you mentioned earlier. However, some practical problems were encountered in the implementation of the 'Rules'."

This Boss really has some connections.

Yang Sanwang collected himself, subconsciously asking, "What problems?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"First of all, when the 'Rules' were drafted, the main consideration was to align with the international conventions that our country had joined. It reflects China's insistence on aligning coastal transport with international conventions, while inland rivers align with coastal norms, progressively moving towards unified inland river and coastal principles; undeniably, the general direction was correct.

But due to the significant differences between domestic inland river vessels and coastal and international ones, it has led to the inability to unify the 'Rules' between them; even if unified, it's challenging to consider each's practical situation."

Han Xiangning paused and patiently explained: "You, being on the front line of enforcement, are most familiar with inland river vessels. From the actual situation of domestic inland Third-level Vessels and Fourth-class Vessels, the vessel type, structure, and corresponding facilities essentially cannot meet the crew requirements.

For instance, a 500-ton vessel requires eleven crew members. The vessel is only this size, where would that many crew members live?

From an economic standpoint, with the average salary of crew members being one thousand yuan, just the salary costs would amount to eleven thousand yuan a month. Can a 500-ton inland cargo vessel earn that much in a month? Clearly not. It can be said that the 'Rules' requirements are severely mismatched with actual economic benefits."

The woman on the other end of the phone isn't just a colleague but genuinely professional.

Yang Sanwang was dumbfounded, momentarily unsure how to continue.

Han Xiangning took a deep breath and continued: "So when the 'Rules' were first enforced, Jiangnan, Zhehai, and East Sea Port Supervision issued agencies raised objections and unanimously demanded the lowering of crew standards.

The National Port Supervision Bureau, now the Ministry of Transport Maritime Bureau, initially responded in September 1998 with the Port Supervision Document No. 251, issuing a 'Reply Regarding Issues in Implementing Vessel Minimum Safe Crew Composition Rules,' adjusting the minimum crew standards for inland vessels.

Soon after, last month, with Port Supervision Document No. 313, a 'Notice on Revising Inland Vessel Minimum Crew Composition Table' was issued, revising the crew standards for inland vessels once again, significantly reducing the minimum crew numbers.

The 1997 promulgated 'Rules,' at least in terms of minimum crew composition for inland vessels, essentially hasn't been truly implemented."

Yang Sanwang really didn't know these things.

The colleagues assisting in the inspection were all temporarily hired and certainly wouldn't understand either.

The Boss surnamed Han has connections; the woman on the phone is likely his daughter; perhaps it's best to let the Boss surnamed Han go.

Just as Yang Sanwang was preparing to release him, the sound of a small boat engine came from outside. He stepped out to see the Director coming in with a flushed face from drinking.

He quickly walked along the deck to jump onto the small boat and began reporting everything that had happened.

"Not overloaded?"

"No."

"Four people meet the minimum crew composition?"

"He has connections; his family works at the Binjiang Maritime Bureau and speaks convincingly, so it seems it truly meets the regulations."

"What regulations does it meet?"

"The woman on the phone said it was notices issued by the National Port Supervision Bureau."

"What National Port Supervision Bureau, it's just the Maritime Bureau now."

Chief Ding burped, lit a cigarette, and coldly said, "Just because someone works at the Binjiang Maritime Bureau doesn't mean they can evade fines. The Binjiang Maritime Bureau doesn't oversee us! Go up and thoroughly inspect; such a large vessel can't be problem-free. Find some issues and temporarily detain it. Not playing by the rules, huh? Then don't blame me for being rude."

"Alright, I'll go check it out."

...

Quite a few issues were indeed found during the inspection.

Luo Yanfeng had six egg-laying hens on the ship; although they were kept in cages, the chicken manure was obviously dumped into the river as the waste storage was empty.

Though the ship had oil-water separation equipment, oil stains floated on the river's surface around the ship.

It's uncertain which ship leaked oil, or which ship polluted the river water; if we say it's you, then it's you!

Detain the ship and documents, and hold them for further discussion. If there's no cooperation, call the police.

Han Zhengxian didn't expect them to be so unreasonable and shouted at them angrily: "This is extortion! Do you believe I won't report you?"

"Who's extorting? I haven't even dealt with you yet!"

"Wanna report us, go ashore to report, either to the Transportation Bureau or the County Committee? Need me to help you find a car?"

"You... you're being unreasonable!"

"Violations must be dealt with; what attitude is this? If you continue, we'll impose maximum penalties, investigating severely and rigorously!"