073 : Into the Storm
“What’s the matter, Captain?”
I went up to the mission like a siren sound.
“Uh… look over there.”
Captain Yoon Sang-su pointed to the front.
It was hard to see anything in the black sea and black sky, but it was really black, too.
“Could it be… is a low pressure approaching?”
“It’s not just low pressure. The barometer only comes out at 980mb. At this level… in the North Pacific, this level of low pressure…”
Captain Yoon Sang-soo couldn’t bear to say that it was no different from a typhoon.
Captain Yoon’s face was even more serious than when he received the report of the engine trouble a moment ago. His complexion was not tired, so it was an earthy color.
980 millibars, even I, an outsider, knew that it was low pressure.
Most merchant ships go on great circle voyages (high latitude voyages) when crossing the Pacific Ocean, and the high latitude seas of the North Pacific in winter are very rough, so even in the 21st century, shipwreck accidents often occur.
March is also winter in the North Pacific, so the low pressure encountered at this time is equivalent to a typhoon.
“Can you break through?”
“If we try to break through and the engine shuts down, we die. The ship will lose its integrity and sink.”
Captain Yoon started with the eerie words.
Course Keeping Ability is the ability of a ship to maintain its target speed in the desired direction. Even if you get hit by blue, you can somehow get out if your engine works properly.
“That word…”
“It is unreasonable to go through low pressure with a ship that has suffered engine failure. Turning the boat south like this and heading to Hawaii…”
It was said that the safety of this ship could not be guaranteed. No, they were saying that the ship would probably sink.
Damn… I’m done… Portland is a short distance away.
“What are you talking about? It’s Hawaii! The national debt must be paid off when this Daehan Ho arrives in Portland. This means that March is the maturity of short-term foreign debt.”
“Deputy Minister!”
“Chief Woo, where are you hiding and sleeping in this situation? If the goods on this ship cannot be unloaded in Portland, our country will be ruined. I’m literally blown away.”
Deputy Minister Yum Won-cheol jumped up and down.
“As a captain, the safety of the crew is our top priority.”
“What, is it safe!!! If we go to Hawaii like this, we will all die anyway. They say you can’t borrow dollars if the country goes bankrupt. They all starve to death. They say you have to get down on your knees and borrow money from the Japanese.”
“Deputy Minister…”
“Chief Wu, what can I say? I have to break through. You have to go to the mainland, not Hawaii.”
Deputy Minister Yum Won-cheol grabbed Captain Yoon by the collar, then let go of his hand with a look of regret.
Then he looked at me and shouted.
It was frustrating, but I was all the same.
“Let’s go back. You can’t risk people’s lives on money.”
“Are you crazy? going back.”
“Turn it. Captain.”
“……”
Captain Yoon took the helm that the navigator was holding.
“Wrong, Captain.”
“What are you doing?”
The navigator took the helm and wouldn’t let go.
“I told you it was wrong with the promise. The professor made it clear that our goal is to open the North American route.”
“Who doesn’t know that? A typhoon is coming now. Time is urgent! If you want to turn it, you have to turn it now.”
“Who wants to go back from here! raise your hand If even one person asks to go back, I will turn the key.”
Despite being a student, he confronted Captain Yoon with a strong tone.
I shouted to raise my hand to ask who wanted to go back.
All the students of the Maritime University came and surrounded the navigator. Against the background of the black night sea, the eyes of the students were blazing.
“Heh, the sandals don’t know, but we don’t. I have no intention of going back like this and being treated like an idiot.”
“of course! Say that to the kids applying oil underneath. I’ll hit you right now! I’d rather die here than go back and live as a beggar!”
Technicians hooked up and came out.
“Our engineers are against going back. We cannot let all our efforts go in vain.”
Even the engineers did.
“You are young. It’s too early to die in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. If you continue like this, you will most likely die.”
“People die someday. What is the boss’s choice! Please decide.”
“Right. What is the real heart of the boss! Are you breaking through? Are you giving up like this? I will do whatever the boss tells me to do.”
“I am not the captain.”
“As the captain, I will also follow the boss’s opinion.”
Kwak.
Maybe it was because the boat wasn’t turned around, or maybe the low pressure came faster than expected, and the waves were already getting rough in real time.
The waves unfolding before my eyes looked rougher than anything I had seen in a snow crab catching documentary.
The North Pacific Ocean, where the typhoon came, was thrilling.
I got goosebumps.
But once I made up my mind, I got goosebumps in a different way. The air around them was already on fire.
“When else would you like to create a legend? isn’t it?”
“Wowaaa”
“let’s go. Our goal is in front, not behind!!!!”
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!”
“please. Captain.”
When I made up my mind, Captain Yoon, who was worried about the students, straightened his back as if he had never done that before, and immediately gave instructions.
“Break through the front. Go east at full speed!”
“Going east at full speed! Engine department at full power!”
＜with full output. 125rpm!＞
The ship’s radio also responded immediately to the engine department.
We dove head-on into the low pressure.
***
“Take off the main engine gear. Turn on the auxiliary engine!”
“Take out the main engine! Attach the auxiliary engine!”
It was a really good thing to add a gear to the main shaft just in case, so that the engine that was used as a generator could be used.
It is an engine design that is basically applied to warships in the 21st century, but I did not know that this would be so helpful.
Weiying.
The one I was using as a helicopter engine overheated a bit, but I was able to cool down the main engine in 15 minutes.
If the main engine rested for 15 minutes, it could be at full speed for an hour.
Kwak! Kwak!
Outside, stretching waves were hitting the hull.
“It will be repeated like this. Do you know!”
“Don’t worry about it. to the deck! to the deck!”
Dozens of artisans wrapped their kablas around them and were frantically cooling the engine regardless of the burning heat.
It was on the level of a blast furnace flame, but it held up really well. The MAN engine also ran red hot as if in response, but it was holding up well.
It was not the time to admire.
Cracks have already begun to go here and there in the hull.
Because it was in the form of an iron plate attached to a rusty hull, the iron plate was torn as if scales were peeling off.
If the top and bottom cracks meet on the deck, I really didn’t know if this ship would fly in half.
“Everyone who can afford it, follow me! hurry!”
“Everyone gather!”
“Take all the oxygen cutters and welders.”
“I want to get my equipment!!!”
When I left the engine room with dozens of craftsmen, the crew members were wandering around with their faces turned white.
“Boss, the hull… The hull is breaking.”
“Weld! Whether it’s a cabin or an engine room, we weld in a place where the rain doesn’t come in!”
“Yes, boss!”
“You go the other way, not that way!”
Regardless of whether they were engineers or technicians, they brought a welding machine and divided the area.
“Oxygen cutter to the deck!!!”
“To the deck!!!”
“The deck is dangerous.”
“Shut up, you help too!”
The Marine Corps student stopped him, but a craftsman called out and ran with him on his side.
Quarreureung! Kwakkwakkwa!!
As soon as we stepped out onto the deck, waves the size of houses hit us. It’s crazy, but at this moment, if we don’t do crazy things, we die.
“See the cracks on the deck!!!!”
“Yes, I see!!”
“I drill a hole around that crack. I will stitch it up like a wound.”
“aaa! run!!!”
“What if I drill a hole in the cracked place… Kwu-eg!”
“Shut up! If the boss tells you to do it, do it! Hurry up, you idiot!”
Those who went with me to the Vietnam War did not hesitate at my words. Some of the novice technicians were kicked by the seniors while talking nonsense.
Chow ah! Chow ah!
I was so grateful that the oxygen cutter worked even when the waves hit and rained.
There was no need to spray coolant.
“I drilled a hole. What can I do!”
“Weave chains! I’m going to turn you on!”
I was in such a hurry that I screamed in half.
“The boss told me to give you the deck!”
“Chain up! You should also put a steel pipe on it! Fool!”
When I said that I was hungry, the old technician who had gone through childbirth quickly recognized my intentions.
A hole was drilled in the cracked deck, a chain was woven, and an iron bar was inserted diagonally.
The senior craftsman grabbed the novice craftsman by the head, shouting to him to wake up, shaking him wildly, and running around like crazy in all directions.
I was also busy drilling holes with an oxygen cutter.
“Boss, give me a signal. signal!!!!”
someone shouted at me
I’ve already put the chain through each hole.
When you play juri, you have to play it from all sides so that one side doesn’t open.
“Get ready! Everybody put the iron pipe on the chain!”
“I put it all in. signal!!!”
“three! two! one! Turn your back!”
“Turn it on!!!”
Waves crashed from all sides.
It was difficult to twist the chains with iron pipes even though they were all craftsmen of the same size.
“Strengthen! %%^^&* What are you saving! We all die!!!”
“Quaaa!!”
“aaa!”
Cursing came out of nowhere.
I was so afraid that no matter how hard I tried, the tears wouldn’t stop.
Kwak Kwa Kwak! Perong!
It was fear itself.
When waves the size of a house hit the deck once more, the windows of the bridge were shattered.
Wajangchangchang.
For the tempered glass to break, is there at least one healthy spot on this bastard’s ship?
“president! there! there!”
Someone pointed to the mission, but no one held the key. It was as if he had been hit by a broken window.
“I will go. Everyone, hold on!!! You have to hold on!”
“Chains up! Tied to the body!”
In the end, the craftsmen tied the chains that had been sewn on the deck to their bodies, and held on to the iron pipes to hang down.
I didn’t even have a life jacket, but even if I wore a life jacket, I would 100% die if I fell into this sea.
It was devastating when I arrived at missionary work.
The navigator was lying on the ground with blood on his head.
He tore off his coat, wrapped it around his head, and pulled it into a corner. It was not the time to take care of him anymore because he was breathing.
Directly below the key was Captain Yoon.
After the navigator collapsed, his eyes were unfocused as his ears were bleeding from how hard he had struggled.
“Wake! Wake up, Captain Yoon!!!!”
I made sure he was breathing and suddenly slapped him on the cheek.
Now was not the time to be lost.
When fighting, you have to be alert.
“Uuuuuuuuuuuu boss… This… crazy…”
“You are the captain! Even if you give up everything, you must not give up!”
“… uh… uhhhh…”
I grabbed Captain Yoon by the collar and pulled him up.
“Can’t you see there? Everyone is risking their lives. I mean, I’m risking my life for you. I believe that you will break through here!!!!”
“Heh…huh…huh…huh…”
I made Captain Yoon, who was completely exhausted, stand up and look straight ahead.
Chow ah!
“Wow!”
The waves hit me in the face again.
When I spit, fishy blood came out together.
“Boss, grab the megaphone. Come on… do as I say… do it.”
Captain Yoon barely got up and stood at the wheel.
He almost leaned on his body to orient himself, gasping for breath.
“What can I do? tell me!”
I also managed to keep my temper.
“Cry out. Let the Nether Sailing commence.”
Captain Yoon, who held the steering wheel, barely spoke, but he could clearly hear the words “Netherlands sailing.”
Wasn’t “would you like to go to the nether world” a term used by sailors?
What is Nether Sailing anyway?
“Start the Nether Voyage!”
Baaang! Baaang!
I didn’t know what it meant, but I pressed the emergency bell and shouted loudly into the megaphone.
“Start the Nether Voyage!”
Out of nowhere, students from the Maritime University popped up.
Flare in hand, he stepped out onto the dangerous deck.
“Flame No. 1…throw it…”
“Throw flare number 1!!!!!”
As Captain Yoon told us, he shouted again.
“Throw it!!!!”
Woo…..
A flare fired by a student soared high into the sky.
White tails scattered wildly in the red light.
“Starboard 15 degrees, Head to!!”
The student who threw the flare shouted as if vomiting blood.
I took the helm with Captain Yoon, now completely passed out, next to me.
“Starboard 15 degrees, Head to!”
I made a 15 degree turn to starboard, following the student’s advice.
Perong! Perong!
Amazingly, the athlete crashed into the waves.
It was hit precisely at a 45 degree angle.
Eyes flashed open.
The feeling of hitting was completely different from the waves I had hit so far.
Waves flowed along the streamlined hull to the stern, like a boxer throwing away his opponent’s straights.
I get it now!
Predicting the direction of the waves and wind with flares. Fighting against the waves moment by moment and making your way through is Nether Sailing.
“Throw 2 flares!!!!!”
“Throw it!!!!”
Beep beep!!!
“Ten degrees to port! Head to!!”
“Ten degrees to port! Head to!!”
Me and the maritime university students got hit hard.
Thanks to this, the technicians who were wandering between life and death on the deck were able to properly play.
I also clearly understood the meaning of head to head.
“Throw 3 flares!!!!!”
“Throw it!!!!”
“Starboard five degrees! Head to!!”
Each time they threw a flare, they advanced into the storm. The storm got worse, but somehow it felt like we were moving to safety.
Sambok also loaded a lot of flares.
If I go alive, I’ll promote you, son of a bitch.
“Scudding! Scudding!”
How many flares were thrown?
Suddenly, the maritime college student who was making a head-to-head shouted and cheered.
“I will take it. Captain, please.”
Suddenly, the navigator came to my side and took the helm.
“You are sober. What is scudding?”
“It means that we have entered the navigable zone. Now the waves will push us out of the typhoon.”
navigable area? scudding? Do the waves push us?
It was hard to understand what he meant, but the relief on his face said it all.
“Are we alive?”
“Get some rest. Leave the rest to me.”
“Scudding!”
“Scudding!”
On the deck, marine students pointed forward and shouted.
knock knock knock
Somehow, the waves really started to hit the stern.
“Lower engine room engine power. 80 rpm.”
＜80rpm! Wow.＞
Cheers were heard from the engine room.
At around 80rpm the engine should be fine.
“Captain Yoon, fainting alone… It’s against the rules.”
dump.
As soon as I pulled Captain Yoon out to a safe corner, I passed out.
Everyone did their best.
***
a few days later,
messed up messed up
We came out to the prow in the dawning light.
Everyone jumped to the mission at the sound of someone seeing a seagull.
Indeed, the land was right in front of my eyes.
tu-du-du-du-du
“This is Portland. answer the signal over.”
“This is Korea’s national flag ship No. 1. Request permission to enter Portland. over.”
“Treasurer No. 1, I’ve been waiting for you. Although the storm was severe, is the situation of the crew okay? Need help? over.”
“Everyone is fine. Thank you for your concern. Can I come in? over.”
“The entry of Daesae No. 1 is permitted. On behalf of the United States of America, I warmly welcome the first port of call of the Republic of Korea flag ship. over.”
“Thank you. over.”
pop! pop! pop! pop!
Portland began saluting for us.
I don’t know how I came out, but there was a huge crowd on the pier waving at us.
“Raise the Taegeukgi.”
“Raise the Taegeukgi!”
A maritime college student raised the national flag and gave a sharp salute.
“Seonlord! Korea’s No. 1 national flag No. 1 trend! We report that we have pioneered the North American route.”
Captain Yoon saluted me.
Instead of Daehan, the name Daesae No. 1 was used.
Everyone gathered at the bridge and everyone on deck saluted me.
I tried to suppress my trembling heart and responded with a salute.
“thank you for your effort.”
“Woo!!!”
“We will become legends. Cheers!”
“aaa!!!”
pop! pop! pop! pop!
In the meantime, I was the only one talking to people.
One hundred sailors all shouted in unison to the front.
Portland’s salute sang our legend.
Have I ever been so thrilled in my entire life?
I couldn’t handle the flowing tears
Boom.
I popped the beer I was saving like champagne.
“Let’s drink.”
“It’s a festival!!!”
“Waaa!!!”
It was a celebration that opened the era of romance.
You don’t have to go through such high school again.
