Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 998 - 657: Intense Preparations

001 is still busy on the river, measuring flow speed and volume.

The speed of the river's flow is influenced by the terrain of the riverbed, so it's not about measuring a single point, but rather the cross-sectional flow volume.

This means that a cross-section must be selected, a marker placed on the opposite bank, a water level ruler installed in the river, and using the naked eye for the alignment of three points in a line, before using a propeller flow meter to measure line by line along the "cross-section."

This measurement method is quite traditional and requires a longer time; under favorable conditions during the day, it takes about two and a half hours to complete, but at night it doesn't work.

At night, a lantern needs to be hung on the marker for the cross-section, and a laser rangefinder used on shore to direct the measurement ship for positioning by anchoring.

The crew on the ship aren't having it easy either; they have to measure the flow speed anxiously, ensuring the normal operation of the ship's machinery, and closely watch passing ships and floating debris on the river to prevent floating scraps from entangling the steel cables and flow meter.

001, though not large in tonnage, has strong power, capable of using powerful propulsion against the wind and waves to maintain a stationary position in water.

The measurement ship from the Shashi Hydrological Station is small and old, far inferior in performance compared to a tugboat like 001. During floods, it often faces wind and rain, especially in pitch-dark nights, where every trip against stormy weather is a risk to life.

Previously, without understanding hydrological measurement work, there was always the assumption that hydrological station staff were very idle, but after more interactions, it's clear that every profession has its difficulties.

Han Yu boarded a barge equipped with four newly installed diesel engines using an iron dinghy, gazing at the busy 001 on the river, and lifted the walkie-talkie, calling out: "Master Xu, Master Xu, this is Han Yu, can you hear me?"

"Received, Secretary Han, please go ahead."

"You're measuring too slowly, can you apply for some funding to get a GPS positioning system and an ADCP?"

"You're suggesting equipping with a Doppler Velocity Profiler?"

"Yes."

Master Xu turned back towards the barge, curiously asking, "How do you know about these?"

Han Yu smiled and said, "Last time at your Yangtze River estuary Water Level Bureau, I saw it in Master Xi's office."

"You mean the promotional materials from the equipment suppliers."

"Yes, I saw the equipment listed there, very advanced."

"Speaking of advanced instruments, there are many advanced instruments we wish to procure, but wanting doesn't mean we can procure them."

"No money?"

"Even with money, the underwater survey system wouldn't be installed on 001."

"Usually, the higher-ups are reluctant to spend on advanced instruments, but times aren't usual now. 001 is primarily a tug, secondly a hydrological ship. 001 will have major uses coming up and can't always be measuring water conditions on the river."

"Alright, I'll make a call and ask in a bit."

...

Han Yu put down the walkie-talkie, turned around, and walked over to his brother-in-law who was commanding the crane work.

Inland river barges have small cargo holds, and when transporting coal, sand, grain, etc., the piles are often very high, sometimes even protruding quite a bit.

When wind and rain strike, it's typically covered with tarpaulin, rarely having a hatch installed; only sea vessels would have hatches.

At this moment, the brother-in-law was directing the crane from the floating crane ship to lift the large hatch, which was a hatch from the three-no barge conscripted by Boss Huang from the Jiangyin Port Supervision Office.

The modification project had been going for four days.

The hold had already been sectioned off into six water compartments.

The compartments had been rust-treated, painted with rust prevention paint, and coated with two layers of epoxy protective material over the rust prevention paint.

The hatch was a similarly rust-treated and rust-protection painted steel plate that had been purchased locally and processed onshore, also coated with epoxy protective material over the rust prevention paint.

As the brother-in-law whistled, the huge hatch under the guidance of Xiao Jiang, Yang Daming, and others dragging with ropes, steadily fastened over the water compartments one after another.

They unhooked the lifting hooks and steel cables and then started busying with installing the pumps.

The crane operation proceeded smoothly, allowing Jiang Kun to finally let out a sigh of relief, dropping his whistle and turning to smile and ask, "San'er, how's it looking?"

Although the Water Factory Ship can produce clean water, it doesn't have propulsion.

Even if it did have propulsion, it wouldn't be able to produce clean water while sailing.

A few days ago, two "amphibious combat squads" were executing protective tasks outside; some emergencies required protective work for two to three days, leading to a water supply problem.

The Changhang Jingzhou Public Security Bureau had previously borrowed two water trucks from the Fire Rescue Team of Jingzhou City, but as soon as the water squads arrived, they were sent back. Even if they hadn't been sent back, two water trucks wouldn't hold much water.

Upon the return of the water transport fleet, Han Yu kept the "three-no boats" conscripted by Boss Huang from a few Port Supervision Offices and Port Supervision Departments at the Yangtze River estuary.

Considering the water supply problem, Han Yu decided to let his brother-in-law and Boss Wang from Changyu Shipbuilding Factory rush to modify a supply ship using the "three-no boat."

Originally thought the "flood season" had passed, water levels dropped, and the partially modified supply ship wouldn't be needed.

Unexpectedly, the weather changed abruptly, requiring the continuation of the modification project, otherwise one of the "amphibious combat squads" would be without clean water for upcoming tasks.

Han Yu took off his helmet, walked towards the stern along the ship's side while smiling and asking, "Brother-in-law, how fast can this barge go upstream if it's loaded with clean water?"

"Upstream speed of ten kilometers per hour should be no problem."

"Can it really go that fast?"

"The ship looks quite large, but it can't be fully loaded."

"That's true. Although the ship looks big, it would be quite good if it could hold seven to eight hundred tons of water."

Jiang Kun lifted his arm to check his watch, smiled, and said, "We'll definitely finish before six in the afternoon, possibly even have time to go to Wu Heng's to load up the water; the problem now is where to find a driver and crew."

Speaking of drivers capable of piloting such a ship, there are plenty in the Linghai Reserve Camp, but they all have their own tasks.

Han Yu was already prepared and raised the walkie-talkie again: "Director Yu, Director Yu, I'm Han Yu, when can the driver for the supply ship be ready?"

"Secretary Han, I just called and asked, it will be in place by 2 PM at the latest."

"Good."

Han Yu adjusted the communication frequency and continued calling: "Camp Commander Li, can you receive this?"

Li Shousong hurriedly replied: "Received, Secretary Han, please go ahead."

"This afternoon we have a big relocation, we need to split into two groups, and we must simultaneously ensure the water supply for both groups. Please immediately dispatch two soldiers who are good with water to join the drinking water support team."

"Yes!"

"Once you've confirmed the personnel, have them find Master Dai. Please have Master Dai arrange a transport boat to send them to the water factory ship to report to Captain Wu."

"Understood!"

...

The water factory ship was modified at the Linghai Shipyard.

Boss Wu's son, Wu Heng, was fully involved in the modification, particularly in the organization of the structural construction.

Before the main force set out to adjust the schedule, Wu Heng was entrusted with a significant responsibility as the team leader of the drinking water support team, fully responsible for the navigation, anchoring safety, and the production and supply of water on the water factory ship.

It's worth mentioning that the current Linghai Reserve Camp not only has Han Xiangmeng as a female soldier, but also Bai Li, a lab technician from the Linghai Development Zone Water Plant.

Bai Li is twenty-one this year, just graduated from college, and hasn't dated yet.

The drinking water support work requires her to stay on the water factory ship for a long time, having spent five days and six nights to get here, and she has been with Wu Heng day and night. According to the little sister-in-law, the two seem to have some chemistry.

One graduated from university, the other from college.

The young man's family is wealthy, the girl is not only quite pretty but also from an official family. Thinking carefully, they do indeed make a good match.

Han Yu looked at the water factory ship and silently thought that they stayed on the ship all the time; they might not only be producing water but also producing a new generation!

They came together, and if they return with an extra person each inside, Boss Wu would certainly be overjoyed.

Just as he was daydreaming, a call suddenly came through the walkie-talkie.

"Salted Fish, this is Xiao Yu, can you hear me?"

"Yes, what's up?"

"Did Ma Jintao and Old Chen go to support Hanwu?"

"Yes, they did, why?"

"Why didn't you call me to support Hanwu? My home is in Hanwu; I know Hanwu well! Hanwu is flooded, and I'm not sure what happened to my family's warehouse. The school must have been flooded too. I need to go back and save them!"

"Your family warehouse has been moved and won't be flooded."

"Really?"

"Ningning already reminded Yu Zhen, and Yu Zhen had the warehouse moved to a higher place a while back."

"How high?"

"Sixth floor, is that high enough for you?"

"That reassures me, but what about our school?"

Hanwu is his second hometown, and the Changhang Police Academy is his second home.

Han Yu understood his feelings at the moment; he also thought about letting him go back when the orders first came, but he truly couldn't do without him here, and could only say: "Xiao Yu, what do we mainly depend on for emergency rescue? It's the soil construction. And the most indispensable thing for soil construction is the excavator. If you leave, who will operate the excavator?"

Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment and said helplessly: "Understood, I'll follow orders."

"That's the way to go."

Recalling the phone call from Boss Huang half an hour ago, Han Yu continued: "Xiao Yu, your upcoming task isn't just operating the excavator, but also training."

One must have self-awareness.

Xiao Yu knew well his own abilities and quickly said: "Salted Fish, you're kidding! I'm still an apprentice myself, how can I train anyone!"

"I'm not kidding with you."

Han Yu took a deep breath and explained: "A few domestic construction machinery manufacturing companies have donated over ten excavators, and the National Flood Control Headquarters has given Jingzhou one. The leaders of Jingzhou City probably know that relying on one excavator alone can't fully serve its purpose, and they temporarily can't find someone to operate it, so they've temporarily attached that new excavator to our assault team."

There's a new excavator!

Xiao Yu immediately became interested and laughed as he asked: "What brand is it? Is it as big as the one I'm currently operating?"

"Produced by Hefei Hitachi, similar to imported ones, not as big as ours. It weighs less than 20 tons, just right for the tractor transport team."

"But including me as Two Swords, only four of us now know how to operate an excavator!"

"That's why you need to train others. The Jingzhou Water Resources Bureau will bring two retired soldiers for learning, and you'll have to teach them well when the time comes."

"This isn't something that can be taught in a day or two!"

"I know, teach them to the best of your ability. As for who will operate it, when we receive the new excavator at Shashi City, I'll be involved in the soil construction, and I'll have Manager Zou schedule me for a shift."

"You're the commander, how can you operate an excavator!"

"When it comes to on-site command, President Hao, Manager Zou, and Master Sun can all command. What we lack now are excavator operators, not on-site commanders. We can't let an expensive piece of mechanical construction equipment sit idle; we need to put it to use."

...