109 : Social Club
I left for England with Sambok seeing off.
After a long flight, we arrived at London Airport. I couldn’t leave the airport even after going through immigration and customs inspection. Because there was someone to wait for.
How long has it been?
Captain Smith appeared.
He walked out of the arrivals hall, turning his back, as if he felt very uncomfortable coming on the plane, and I waved my hand loudly.
“Woo boss. Have you been waiting long?”
Captain Smith found me right away, probably because I was the only Asian around.
“I have just arrived. Did you have a hard time coming?”
“I thought I was going to get lost because I was old. How hard is it to come to England once from Korea? Anyway, did your trip to the Middle East go well?”
“Once the contract was signed. Now I can do the shipyard work that I originally intended to do.”
“You are also the boss. I’m not sure what kind of contract it is, but people in the Middle East are not easy, and you get a contract right away like this.”
“Everyone has a crush on someone who scratches an itch. Here in the British shipyard, it’s all the same.”
British industry is dying right now.
In the 1960s, while West Germany, France, and Italy made great strides, British companies did not innovate and their productivity plummeted. Then, the company carried out large-scale layoffs as a solution to the deficit, and the labor unions protested and repeated continuous strikes.
In a word, it was the time when the British disease began.
In particular, British shipyards were hit hard.
While shipyards around the world have switched to dock building and welding methods, British shipyards are sticking to the old methods.
“By the way, the boss called me and I came running, but can I help? If you are promoting the shipyard, wouldn’t it be better to call in the chief engineer from among the technical advisors in Portland?”
“It must be Captain Smith.”
Our destination is Glasgow, Scotland.
It is a fairly large city in the UK where shipyards are concentrated. There is the Kingston shipyard I want, and there is also Apple Door, a specialized shipbuilding technology service company.
Captain Smith may be puzzled, but both the Kingston Shipyard president and the Appledoor president are graduates of the Edward VII Maritime College.
From the data David gave, he found out that the chairman of Apple Door was the hidden landlord of the shipbuilding industry, which is said to be the best in the UK, and after following his personal network, he discovered that Smith was connected to him.
“If I can help, I will do anything. But, where are you going?”
“Have you heard of Glasgow for Scotland?”
“Isn’t it the shipyard town?”
“you’re right. Let’s go.”
I headed for Glasgow with Captain Smith.
***
Scotland, Kingston Shipyard.
“Huh, is this the shipyard?”
“why? Don’t you like it?”
“You’re not thinking of collaborating with a place like this, are you?”
“They say there are pearls in the mud. Let’s go in.”
Captain Smith seems to be taking no steps at the entrance of the shipyard.
The atmosphere in the shipyard was somber. All sorts of strike-related banners were scattered near the main gate, and fired employees were holding pickets and holding a silent demonstration.
Kingston Shipyard is a shipyard that boasts its own history and tradition, but is now struggling with losses.
The cause was so obvious that it didn’t even need analysis.
This shipyard insisted on the riveting method, and the ship also used a method of assembling steel plates on a sliding way to make a hull and launch it into the sea.
The design began to be made and attached on a ship floating in the sea.
In a word, the shipyard itself was no different from an old relic. This is the end of a company without innovation.
Even at this point when the Suez Canal is blocked, if you can’t get orders for ships, it’s the same as accepting a damn day.
For me, this situation is rather an opportunity. If you make good use of the situation at the Kingston Shipyard, you might be able to get the blueprints for a large tanker.
No matter how much I am a 21st century plant worker, I cannot design a large oil tanker.
It would be best if it was a blueprint from Japan or the United States, but it is impossible to do with tolerable money.
It was the most realistic way to receive the design drawing of the rivet method and convert it to the welding method.
“Mister, how are you?”
“It is called CS Woo of Daesae Joseon. I decided to meet with President Martin Siem.”
“Ah, you are the VIP who was said to be coming from Korea.”
After confirming my identity, people rushed out of nowhere to guide me.
If I had known the exact time of my arrival, I would have laid out the red carpet.
‘It’s very urgent.’
I felt the atmosphere.
That would be the case, and there was only rusty materials in the yard, and no work was being done at all.
“Welcome, sir. This is Martin Siem.”
“Nice to meet you. This is CS Woo.”
“This is Frederick Smith. Nice to meet you.”
I must have received a call from the front door, and as soon as I entered the building, the president ran out.
“If you have time, I will introduce you to the history of our Kingston shipyard. Are you okay?”
“Thank you for introducing me.”
He led me to a huge hall and started talking while pointing at the large paintings and photos hanging on the walls.
I was able to see the history of Kingston, which once went well, at a glance.
People obsessed with the glories of the past, the British disease is deep here too.
***
“I heard that you build a shipyard in Korea as well.”
After completing the exploration with an introduction to history, we entered the VIP room with a beautiful view.
After drinking champagne prepared in advance, President Martin Siem started to get to the point.
“Yes. It is the first large-scale shipyard in Korea, so we are looking for a shipyard with a long history to provide technical cooperation.”
“Then, you’ve come to the right place. Before World War II, this place was, in name and reality, the world’s No. 1 shipyard. I’m slowing down for a while now, but I’m proud of being world-class in terms of technology.”
“Heh heh, you are bluffing. It looks like it’s assembled with rivets. Where else can you find a company that makes boats like that these days?”
Captain Smith, who was listening by the side, clicked his tongue and walked away.
Captain Smith seemed to be worried that I might be a hunk here.
“Each method has its pros and cons.”
“Boss, don’t be fooled. The rivet method is a high-cost, low-quality method. It rusts easily, is not easy to repair, and is very troublesome.”
“No, you sound like an attendant, but you’re talking too much. Aren’t you talking to the boss right now?”
“I am also talking to the boss. Never mind.”
“Do not fight. I listened to both of you.”
I didn’t bring you here for this purpose, but Captain Smith did a great job.
It was on my side too.
“It is true that the rivet method is outdated, but that does not mean that we do not have technological capabilities.”
“Yes, history and tradition cannot be ignored. We would like to receive integrated technical cooperation from design to assembly, inspection, and follow-up management. Is it possible?”
“Of course it’s possible. For that to happen, the cost has to be set a little higher.”
“How much will the technical service cost be?”
“From design to after-sales service, you should get 25 million dollars.”
“You are funny. What kind of 25 million dollars do you get for this technology? Let’s go boss! Rather than listen to these scammers, I’d rather contact the San Diego Shipyard for technical services. Five million dollars is enough.”
Captain Smith was furious with President Martin Siem.
Captain Smith boasts, but there is no way that the US shipyard will give you the blueprints for 5 million dollars.
The blueprints I want are the blueprints for large oil tankers of over 200,000 tons, and in this day and age, such VLCC-class vessel designs were state-of-the-art.
There is no way that such technology will be handed over for 5 million dollars in the United States, and at best, a 10,000 to 20,000-20,000-ton cargo ship design will be the best line.
Even that would require more than 10 million dollars.
Originally, even in history, the blueprints obtained by Hyeonsan Shipbuilding for a large sum of money from Japanese shipyards were of such poor print quality that they could not be read, and the Kingston blueprints were the most useful.
“okay? Come to think of it, I also repaired our freighter in San Diego, and I was good at it. If only Captain Smith had connections over there…”
I pretended to be sympathetic to Captain Smith’s words.
No matter how much I covet Kingston blueprints, I can’t give you 25 million dollars.
If you have to make a 200,000-ton super tanker, and the profit per ship is millions of dollars, how can you pay 25 million dollars?
“No, you came to do business with us, but I’m sorry if you said that. Are you going to tell me that I will take all twenty-five million dollars?”
“Then what do you think is the fair price?”
“The size of the ship to be built…”
“We are aiming for super-large tankers of 200,000 tons or more.”
“… uh… if it’s over 200,000 tons, wouldn’t $15 million be reasonable?”
Ironically, I cut 10 million dollars in a single shot.
This man has no concept of a technology agreement.
If this is enough, just before the contract, I will cut it even more.
“president! It’s nonsense. Fifteen million dollars for some shitty technology? It’s better to spend some money and buy a new pear and try it out.”
“Calm down. smith.”
“president! The technology here is outdated.”
“Let’s not do this here, let’s go back and talk.”
It was so good that Smith left the room at just the right timing.
No wonder Smith, you don’t know that I can change a rivet blueprint to a weld blueprint. Buying this old-fashioned technology for $15 million is like scooping it up with a shovel and throwing it into the stove.
“no! no. It’s not over yet. You have to listen to me to the end.”
When I turned around with Smith, President Martin Siem hurriedly blocked the door.
“Isn’t that the end?”
“Yes that’s right. Didn’t I tell you that Kingston will cooperate with you from start to finish? In addition to technology, we will arrange ship finance and sales.”
oh wow, that’s going strong
Will you solve money problems and customer problems?
“Is that possible?”
“sure. We have a close relationship with Appledoor, the UK’s leading technical service contractor and ship finance company.”
“If it’s Appledoor, I’ve heard of it.”
“The boss over there is a senior at my school… Oh, wait a minute. Let’s see if it’s time now.”
President Martin Siem picked up the phone and headed to the corner of the office.
We talked for a long time as if in a whisper.
After a brief eavesdropping, it was clear that he was arranging a meeting with the chairman of Appledore Longbottom.
Things went so smoothly that it was absurd.
I was going to stab it from here and go to Apple Door.
As I weaved Appledoor with my own feet, I burst into laughter. David’s network was also a great resource.
“Hahaha, you are very lucky. Coincidentally, the CEO of Appledoor is also present. The time is right now, shall we go right away?”
“good. Please go.”
I was hooked and followed President Martin Siem.
‘Boss, this must be…’
‘Captain Smith, it will be all right. it’s okay.’
Captain Smith came after me and grabbed my arm, but I tapped him on the back of his hand.
***
Glasgow Bank Street, Appledoor
Martin Siem whizzed through the busy streets and brought us to Bank Street.
It was a new feeling to visit Apple Door, which decorated a page in Korean shipbuilding history.
“It is a well-known company not only in Glasgow, England, but also around the world. I hope it will be a valuable seat.”
President Martin Siem boasted once more that Appledoor was his backwater.
“Chiem boss, what happened…”
Upon entering the lobby, we were greeted by a secretary dressed as a British butler. It was showing that this is not an ordinary technology outsourcing company.
“I called Chairman Longbottom. Guide me. Come on.”
“Ah, that’s right. I will take you this way.”
Once inside, it was a different world.
The interior, with armchairs on a soft carpet, seemed like a high-class club rather than a company. Well, in reality, it was more like a social club where the big men of England gathered to discuss cigars and whiskey and chat.
On the surface, it was a technical service company or a ship finance company, but on the inside, it was a brokerage company that connected ship owners and shipyards, or shipyards and banks.
It is common for these companies to charge commissions of several percent per ship.
In a word, most of the owners of these companies are political and business moguls, and they are big hands who earn from billions to tens of billions a year in exchange for connecting their personal connections once.
It is not for nothing that British aristocrats set up clubs to play golf and drink.
I do it because it makes money.
“Hello, Chairman.”
“Come on. Martin.”
Entering inside, President Martin Siem politely greeted the elderly gentleman.
“This is a person from Korea.”
“It is called CS Woo of Daesae Joseon. nice to see you.”
“Nice to meet you. This is Frank Longbottom of Appledoor.”
“He is the president of Appledore, and he is also a member of the British House of Commons. Of course, they are also my seniors.”
While Martin Siem was bragging about his personal connections, Captain Smith and Chairman Longbottom were staring at each other.
“You, are you… Frank?”
“You, Frederick? You’re dead… what’s wrong!”
President Longbottom widened his eyes and grabbed Captain Smith’s hand.
“Oh, it was only on paper because of Kennedy. What have you become? When did you return to England?”
“Since the ship was on board enough to ride, it came to a place where there was a company to inherit. Where the hell have you been?”
It seems that the two were not only classmates, but also close friends.
At the end of each sentence, he repeated, “Are you dead or am I alive?”
“If you want to hear the story, give me Jackcock first. Our boss is thirsty.”
“However much! However much!”
It was the moment when the treasure chest I found shined.
“Longbottom-sama was also an extra master.”
The certificate hung proudly on the office wall.
It still had the seal of the King Edward VII Nautical College, gleaming gold.
The reputation of this certification is so great that insurers will cut your voyage insurance premiums by several percent.
“Haha, I got it a month before him.”
“My grades were better.”
I enjoyed the jackcock handed to me by Chairman Longbottom, and I enjoyed the saga of the two extra masters I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Oh, was Mr. Smith also my senior?”
President Martin Siem also joined the conversation with a hook.
All of a sudden, it became the atmosphere of a social club.
That was the reason Captain Smith accompanied him.
It’s a bulk carrier being pulled by a tugboat. I managed to manage the work through Nancy and pull it, but such back-and-forth transactions do not work for official ship exports.
The shipbuilding industry looks like labor on the surface, but legally it is a moving territory, so there is nothing that can be overlooked from ordering a ship to delivery to a customer.
Acquisition of owners, ship financing, material approval, construction, inspection by classification societies, insurance, international treaties for maritime safety, rules of intergovernmental maritime associations, etc. must be met.
Adding Nancy and a few more corporations to the just-formed social club would be perfect.
