070 : Donga line
“Chief Woo, we have arrived in Jinhae.”
Deputy Minister Yeom Won-cheol woke me up.
It seems that I fell asleep.
“No, why didn’t you wake me up in the middle? At least take driving shifts.”
“no. I know you work while sleeping less at night. You should sleep in the car.”
Deputy Minister Yeom drove the car almost all night.
The national highway in the 60’s was really hell.
After a long drive, we arrived at Jinhae Naval Base.
“Loyalty! welcome.”
There was no need to say that he came from the Blue House.
Major Sohn Tae-yang was already waiting for us in front of the naval base.
“Major, long time no see. It’s good to see you’re healthy.”
“It’s late, but congratulations on your safe return.”
“thanks. Greetings, this is Yeom Won-cheol, Assistant Minister of Commerce and Industry.”
“hello. Take good care of me.”
“Loyalty. I am Major Son Tae-yang, the commander of the Unbong ship.”
“You have been contacted by the Blue House. Then you will know why we came.”
Deputy Minister Yeom seemed to be in a hurry, so as soon as we exchanged greetings, he started talking about business.
“I have a boat to show you. Let’s go.”
Major Son strode into the base.
It was more empty than I thought.
In the 21st century, cherry blossom viewing was considered very beautiful, but in the 1960s, it was difficult to find it.
After walking for a while, I came to a place where the waves were calm, and a boat was moored.
“Is that a boat?”
“Yes, that ship is a naval training ship.”
I had high hopes, but was bound to be disappointed.
First off, the size was too small.
No matter how you look at it, it didn’t seem like it would exceed 2500 tons.
Well, there is no warship bigger than that, but there was no way the training ship could be more than that.
“Are there any ships bigger than that one? It doesn’t matter if it’s an old warship that we used before.”
“Sorry, no. Under the condition that the US military gave LST, the existing warships had to be decommissioned and used for practice, or if that didn’t work, they had to be disposed of as scrap metal.”
In fact, the US military gave the warships to South Korea for the purpose of facilitating joint military operations between the two countries, so it would have been better to dispose of the warships with strange genealogies.
In the end, it seemed that this was all there was to a useful ship. A sigh came out of my mouth.
How many times do you have to go back and forth to transport goods to the United States on a ship of less than 2500 tons?
Ships of this era are not high-speed ships, so it takes more than a month one way to the United States… Even if you leave right now, it’s dangerous to carry them twice.
It’s just not possible with this boat.
In addition to this ship, we need to find more large ships.
“okay. So, can you do a pilot flight? I only want to look around the nearby coast.”
In order to cross the Pacific, the condition of the engine, including the engine, had to be checked. It’s not about going to Jeju Island, it’s about crossing the Pacific Ocean.
“Yes? Did you need a navigable ship?”
“……”
At my words, Major Sohn Tae-yang was very embarrassed.
what? Could this be just a pattern?
“sure. We must cross the Pacific.”
“sorry. I didn’t know. This practice ship is a ship with the engine removed. The engine is sold second-hand in Japan… Anyway, yes.”
It seems that there is not enough money to sell the engine of the training ship as a used one.
Yeah, there’s no way you’ll be fine.
If you’re fine, there’s no reason to put it like this.
I would have told them to come and go back and forth.
How much raw material is shipped from there?
‘Damn it… I… I… I’ll make a boat no matter what if I get over this hurdle. build a shipyard dog%^&&*@@#.’
A series of curses came out from within.
Now I understand why the OBs made so much noise about heading into the ground.
It’s fucking bare ground.
It’s not just bare ground, it’s bare ground with bumpy pebbles.
I’m really going to vomit blood every time I run into it.
It wasn’t that there was no way.
In the end, it doesn’t come out, but if you contact Van Flint and ask for a large merchant ship, it will be resolved somehow. The Japanese government would not be able to say anything if the U.S. sent irregular merchant ships directly to Korea.
‘But if I do that… I’m… out forever.’
Bringing in an American ship might get me over this hurdle, but I’d be missing Van Flint and Nancy, whom Van Flint bridged.
The opponent who has to help with everything from one to ten is not a colleague, but a burden.
A test taker asking for help from the test writer. I was pathetic just thinking about it.
‘Haa… Shit, how come there’s no sharp way?’
I lost all strength in my body.
Considering the national bankruptcy, should I still bend down and go in? There are no ships available, so how do you transport the goods?
The Japanese guys grabbed my leash properly and shook it.
“Major Son, isn’t there a practice boat at the Maritime University? How is the ship there?”
Assistant Minister Yeom Won-cheol asked cautiously from the side.
It was just one question.
In the military regime, the navy training ship is this much, but how can a training ship at a university be better than this?
“The situation is similar to that here. It’s bigger than this ship, but it’s just as immobile.”
“Oh, I see…”
The conversation between the two opened my eyes.
what? bigger than this?
“Wait a minute, Major. University training ships are bigger than Navy training ships? Is it true?”
“Ah, yes. It’s true. Even though it’s big, it’s a ship whose engine was hit, so it can’t sail. Rather, it was so large that it could not be towed to Jinhae. That’s why I brought it and used it as a training ship at Maritime University in Busan.”
“The engine was hit?”
“Yes, we barely managed to salvage a cargo ship that had run aground after being struck by a mine by the US military off the coast of Busan just before liberation. There have been several attempts to repair Daehanho, but I heard that all of them gave up due to cost issues.”
“Daehan Ho?”
“Yes… the name of the practice ship is Daehan. It means Korea’s first training ship.”
The more I listened to it, the more I felt like it was the boat I knew. It is a call for the history of being stranded by a mine and even the name of the ship.
“Wait, wait. How many tons is Daehan Ho?”
“It’s about three times as large as this training ship, so it’s probably about 10,000 tons.”
“okay? Is that true?”
My heart jumped at the word 10,000 tons.
It felt like a rope descending from the sky.
“Chief Woo, no matter how much a 10,000 ton class ship is unable to operate… No, more than that, I am concerned about the fact that the ship is a Japanese ship. All these four months started with Japan holding its hind legs.”
Deputy Minister Yeom Won-cheol said anxiously.
“it’s okay. The ships in our waters at the time of liberation are our ships. Isn’t that the famous U.S. Military Government Proclamation No. 2? That’s why I’m using it as a practice ship.”
Major Son explained calmly.
Proclamation No. 2 of the US Military Government stipulated that as of August 9, 1945, property in Japan was Japanese and property in Korea was Korean.
It was not something that Japan, a defeated country, would argue about.
“That’s fortunate. Stop worrying and let’s go.”
“Yes? Do you want to go?”
“That’s the boat I want. Let’s go. To Busan.”
“Chief Wu, you seem to have misunderstood something. As I said before, the ship is as good as without an engine.”
Major Son pretended to be calm and continued.
“What’s wrong with that? The engine is already there. That is also here in Jinhae.”
“There is an engine here in Jinhae?”
“Didn’t Major Kim Yong-gwan of the Blue Dragon Unit bring something here?”
“ah!! Come to think of it, I thought Mr. Wu would come to find me… No way… That top-secret cargo is the engine? Was it the engine?”
“Yes, that is it. It was used as an engine for a dredger, but it is so large that it can be installed on a ship.”
“Ohhhh! Is that so?”
“Hey, are you serious? Wow!”
Major Sohn and Deputy Minister Yeom cheered one after another, and I too was filled with emotion.
I had to use it when building a dredge at some point, but I never thought it would be used on a cargo ship like this.
It was really good to rescue them from the Mekong River.
I wanted to praise the past me so very much.
“Can you move that engine to Busan?”
“of course. We will ship it to you in a shipping box. It will be faster than a truck.”
“Haha, it would be great if you would.”
“It is nice to hear from you.”
To be honest, the thought of driving from Jinhae to Busan was terrifying, but now I can go by boat.
**
Woo woo. Woo woo.
The LST Unbongham rang the horn as it approached the Maritime University. Since we had contacted them before departure, everyone was out at the practice port.
“Welcome to the Unbongham.”
“Loyalty! Thank you, Professor Yoon Sang-soo.”
“Welcome, Major Son. Long time no see. ”
The Maritime University professor and Major Son seemed to know each other. Well, since this floor was narrow, it seemed that everyone who knew each other would know.
“A distinguished guest said he wanted to see the Daehan issue, so I brought him here.”
“This is Woo Chan-soo.”
When I handed over my business card, he looked slightly surprised.
It seems that the trend of unemployment has also become quite famous.
“I’ll take you this way.”
It was called the Maritime University, but it was no different from the military.
Professors and students, wearing uniforms, each action was angular.
In fact, the student at the Maritime University at this time was called the ‘Naval Reserve Order’, and was receiving a military service exception on the condition that he be requisitioned to the navy during wartime.
There were quite a few sailors who entered the Plant Division who were exempted from military service, so I knew it well.
It is no exaggeration to say that the people produced here are the main talents of Korea Shipping.
The problem is that there is no ship to operate.
Most of them went to Japan as soon as they graduated and looked for a job at an overseas shipping company.
Come to think of it, I didn’t even have a boat, but I built a school and taught sailing. It can’t be a very unique nation.
“It is an honor to be able to show Daehan to the distinguished guests. We practice here, and some of the cabins are renovated and used as dormitories. In other words, you can view everyday life itself as practice.”
Professor Yoon climbed into the boat and continued his explanation.
Using a boat as a dormitory, I don’t know whether to call it a good idea or a bad idea.
In fact, there was nothing that could be called a university building.
“The hull has a lot of rust. Have you never been repaired?”
“This ship salvaged a ship that was hit by a mine and ran aground. Only the holed part is temporarily filled, and extensive repair work is required to operate normally. I hope the government will help.”
“I see.”
Professor Yoon guided us to the mission with a sad expression.
The view from the bridge was quite nice, and I could see how much the Maritime University officials cared for and maintained this ship.
The hull is rusty, but the bridge was polished and swept to the point where the floor was smooth.
“I mainly practice in missions here. From basic ship operation methods, points to keep in mind in maritime life, and theoretical education such as ship steering and engine operation are also provided.”
It meant that I couldn’t practice properly.
You have to drive a ship, call at major ports at home and abroad, and experience each port facility to practice.
Moreover, it was really unfortunate that there was no experience in engine operation and other engine operation.
“Of course, the practice situation is unfortunate in many ways. It would be great if the government could help.”
Professor Yoon ended the introduction with a requesting tone.
okay. Who needs help at this time? I also came because I needed help.
“Professor, can I see the engine room?”
“Yes, come here. The road is a bit rough.”
I went down the boat with Professor Yoon.
Maybe it was because I was stranded after being hit by a mine, but there were no proper stairs on the way down, and after going through the iron ladder several times, I finally found the engine room.
“Aigoo… this is…”
Deputy Minister Yeom Won-cheol frowned.
It was horribly ruined, as if a giant had ripped off one side of the ship with his hands.
“There is very little left.”
“Yes that’s right. It must be why the Japanese left this big ship alone.”
“Can I take a closer look?”
“Yes, of course. Go down carefully.”
I went down another ladder and looked further inside.
‘Please… please… keep only the main axis alive…’
I prayed and prayed as I climbed the ladder. If the main axis was broken, no matter how much I was, there was no way to do it.
There is no way there is a facility in Korea to cut the main axis. No, let alone equipment, you wouldn’t be able to find a huge piece of metal to use as the main axis. It will take two months just to bring it in from the US and cut it.
‘please please…’
I prayed and prayed and lit the flashlight.
He dug with his hands the thick, greasy pile of mud.
“Aww, boss. There by hand…”
Deputy Minister Yeom, who came down together, waved his hand and was frightened.
What’s the point of being dirty?
dug and dug
I never thought I would be so grateful for the damn oil.
There was a very thick layer of sticky grease around the main shaft.
“aaagh!”
“Why, why, boss?”
“I’m fine. I’m fine. The main axis is fine.”
“Yes?”
“The main crankshaft is fine. This is enough to move this ship. Look at this, this is a German MAN engine. We can cross the Pacific.”
Even looking at the mark on the broken engine, it was a German MAN product.
I was so happy that even the dredger engine and maker were the same, and I wanted to dance.
“Chief Wu, you are delighted. I am sorry, but engine repair is difficult. It must have been a high-end diesel engine with more than 8,000 horsepower, but it’s really disappointing. Even if only the main cylinder was intact, it would have been repaired and used somehow. You can’t buy them for $700,000 each, uh huh…”
Professor Yoon felt sorry for the broken engine. He knew what a luxury Mansa engine was.
“If I say I have the engine, would you like to fix it?”
“yes? You have an engine?”
With my finger rather than words, I pointed in the direction where the Unbongham was docked.
“Stop… I can’t…”
“Professor, what President Wu said is true. I brought it in the shipping box. Would you like to take a look?”
“Would you like to see? Of course! Come on, come on!”
Professor Yoon was so excited that he drove people to run.
I was left alone to take another careful look.
The main shaft as well as some parts were buried in grease. The possibility of repair has increased.
The problem was that the ship’s generator engine was destroyed, but fortunately the coil was also intact.
I thought I could use the helicopter engine I stole as a power generator.
How come you only have to go to America once?
Shouldn’t it be possible to pay off short-term foreign debt and repair the ship properly?
“This is worth a try!”
I am the one who has lived in a place where blind bullets fly.
It’s like crossing the Pacific Ocean.
“hurray!!”
“hurray!!!”
“There is an engine!! It has an engine!!!”
“We got an engine too!!!”
Shouts continued to be heard outside the ship.
It would take a month to go to the US, so I had to leave at least at the end of February.
There was less than two months left to repair the ship.
“Don’t be scared, Chansu! We’re going to fix this ship first.”
I made a promise to myself
If I had seen this ship from the beginning, I wouldn’t have dared to do it, but I gave up once in Jinhae and looked at this ship, I thought I could do anything.
It’s a rope that came down, but I have to catch it.
