Great warships

Chapter 454 Icebreaker Natural Gas Ship

Huating, Chongming Island.

The sound of ping-pong-pong firecrackers sounded, and the air was filled with the smell of sulfur.

After the sound of firecrackers passed, Qin Tao stood in front of the microphone, looked at the large crowd at the scene, and said excitedly: "Now, I announce that the Chongming Island Shipyard, a joint venture between Mingzhou Group and Sanhang Group, is officially open for business! "

Regarding the name of this shipyard, the two sides discussed for a long time. Qin Tao wanted to call it Mingzhou No. [-] Shipyard, but Sanhang Group disagreed. They wanted to call it Sanhang Heavy Industry Shipyard, and Qin Tao also disagreed. Finally, Big guys, why don't everyone name the group, and just name it after the place name here.

Anyway, the other shipyards were all relocated, and their original name, the Chongming Island Shipyard, was only used by them.

In this way, the two sides finally had no disputes, and the name was approved.

After intensive construction, the slipway was finally completed, the gantry cranes were installed, the nearby factory buildings were built, and the workers were in place. It's time to start work.

The Chongming Island Shipyard has just started construction!

"For us, this is a new beginning." Mr. Li, the person in charge of Sanxing Group, and Zheng Zhenze of Sanxing Heavy Industry both came. Mr. Li came to the front of the microphone and began to speak in the language of South Kimchi.

"Through this shipyard, we will officially get involved in the LNG natural gas ship business. This type of ship is currently the most sought-after in the international market. Our Sanxing Group will continue to achieve glory because of this project!"

The workers from the southern kimchi country cheered immediately.

"Now, let's cut the first steel plate!" This time it was the turn of Zhang Yang, the person in charge of the shipyard.

After his words, the plasma cutting machine started to move. Amid the cheers of everyone, the first steel plate was cut into corresponding graphics, and the workers returned to their posts, ready to enter the working state.

The lively opening ceremony ended like this.

In the meeting room of the shipyard, it quickly became lively.

"Mr. Qin, we are very happy that Chongming Island Shipyard has finally started construction, and we can also step into the production of LNG ships!" Mr. Li said with a smile.

"Yes, at present, this type of ship is the most in demand in the world, and it has always been in short supply. We opened this shipyard to provide more ships for a large number of ship owners, which can be regarded as our contribution to the world's environmental protection. contribution." Qin Tao nodded.

The two parties were discussing enthusiastically. Xu Zhengyang walked in and whispered a few words next to Qin Tao's ear.

"What kind of icebreaker ship? We can't even produce ordinary natural gas ships, so what kind of icebreaker ship will we take?"

"But the relationship between you and Da Mao has always been very good. Are you really not going to agree to their request?" Xu Zhengyang was a little worried.

"Da Mao's customers? Tell them that the order has been scheduled for three years and they want to place an order. Now, if you place a deposit, we can only schedule production in three years, and they will get the ship after five years. Moreover, we also We do not guarantee enough ice-breaking capability, and we are not responsible for any damage.”

Xu Zhengyang nodded and went out.

Mr. Li and Zheng Zhenze were overjoyed.

They feel that they cannot sit still in the conference room.

Half an hour later, the friendly talks between the two sides finally came to an end. Mr. Li and Zheng Zhenze left immediately by car.

"This market is very unfriendly. Some old factories keep ordering, but new factories are suspected and it is difficult to receive orders." Zheng Zhenze said excitedly: "In particular, our Sanxing Heavy Industry has just begun to involve in the manufacture of natural gas ships. The shipowners must be skeptical, it is very difficult for us to start from scratch, but now, we have a chance!"

"That's right, as long as we take over the orders for these ships from Da Mao, we can officially enter this market!"

"The ice-breaking type is nothing special. We only need to increase the strength of the steel and increase the power of the engine on the design drawings of the Mingzhou Group to realize the ice-breaking function!" Zheng Zhenze said: "We have rich experience!"

"Now, it depends on whether Da Mao can trust us. After all, we haven't built an ice-breaking natural gas ship yet."

"They have no other choice. There is no shipyard to build ice-breaking natural gas ships for them. They can only ask us for help!" Zheng Zhenze was extremely excited at this time.

The Chongming Island Shipyard has started construction, and the order is ready-made. If the Mingzhou Group cannot build it, it is enough to allocate a part of it. However, even if this shipyard has shares in Sanxing Heavy Industry, from the perspective of outsiders, it still belongs to the Mingzhou Group.

If the local shipyard of Sanhang Heavy Industry wants to start building natural gas ships, it is not only necessary to bring back a large number of skilled invar steel welders from the Chongming Island shipyard, but also to purchase some advanced automatic welding machines. The most important thing about equipment is to allow users to recognize that they have this ability!
This is the critical first step!
They must enter this market as soon as possible, because in China, more and more shipyards are beginning to introduce Mingzhou Group's patents and enter the field of natural gas ships. miss a meal.

For them, this is an opportunity, an opportunity that must not be missed!

Huating International Hotel, third floor.

Mr. Li and Zheng Zhenze knocked on the door, and several old men appeared inside.

"Hi everyone, we belong to the Sanxing Group, and I want to talk to you about the natural gas ship." Zheng Zhenze said: "The person next to me is the person in charge of our Sanxing Group. You may see him on TV and in newspapers." pass him."

"Mr. Li?" The old Maozi on the opposite side looked at the visitor in surprise: "Please come in!"

"We are sent by Hyundai Merchant Marine." After sitting down, the old man opposite said: "I am Tukovydov, the person in charge of this procurement project."

Hyundai Merchant Shipping Company, the largest maritime transportation company in Damao?Both Mr. Li and Zheng Zhenze were very excited. It seems that they took the initiative to come to the door to find the right person!

"Our company has also realized that natural gas will play more and more roles in future energy sources. Therefore, we want to obtain a large number of natural gas ships. In order to use them in high latitude areas of our country, we need them to have ice-breaking capabilities. After all , Our domestic companies have already operated independently, if we have to hire an icebreaker to clear the way every time, the cost will be huge." Tukovydov explained.

In the whole world, apart from Damao and Maple Leaf countries, it is estimated that there is no third country that needs to use icebreakers in large numbers.

In the past, if Da Mao's ships wanted to sail into frozen areas, they could just use icebreakers to clear the way. Anyway, they were all a family, but now they can't. If they want to use it, they have to spend money!

"We can help. We have rich experience in ship design. Just last year, we just received an order for an ice-breaking shuttle tanker." Zheng Zhenze said: "We can also complete the design of an ice-breaking natural gas ship."

"Sorry, I don't seem to have heard that you are still producing natural gas ships." Tukovydov had doubts on his face.

"Yes, in the past, we did not produce, but now it is different. We have introduced a full set of technology from Mingzhou Group, and the Chongming Island Shipyard, which we jointly established with Mingzhou Group, has also The official start of production is mainly for the production of natural gas ships. Our domestic shipyards are about to start producing natural gas ships. You don’t need to trust us, don’t you trust Mingzhou Group?”

Pulling out the tiger skin of the Mingzhou Group, the old Maozi on the opposite side has gradually begun to believe it.

"Then, let's talk about it in detail. What we need is Arc7 ice class and an ice-breaking capacity of at least 2.1 meters, and a load capacity of at least [-] tons. Do you know how this should be designed?"

"Of course, icebreakers are very different from ordinary ships. Their hulls are wider, so that they can break through the ice and open up passages. According to the load you mentioned, if converted into volume, the hull The length must be at least 300 meters, and the width is about 50 meters."

Ordinary ships have an aspect ratio of about ten, but icebreakers have to reduce it to about six or seven, which is more convenient.

It is said that the ratio of length to width is large, and the ship is slender, like an awl. Isn't it better to break through the ice?
This is indeed easy to break through the ice, but it is not easy to maintain. The slender ship has a narrow passageway. It just broke through. Not long after, the ice layer froze again. Maybe even the ship was frozen If you can't move forward, how can you start this?
Only by breaking through a channel wide enough can the ship continue to move forward.

At the same time, the structural rigidity of the slender hull is obviously insufficient, and may not be able to withstand the force of the impact. The wider the ship, the stronger it can be.

Hearing what the other party said, Tukovydov nodded: "You are right, it must be designed in this way, so what about the ship's power system?"

"The load capacity exceeds 45 tons, and the ship as a whole needs to be strengthened. The total weight will exceed [-] tons. Then its power needs at least about [-] megawatts." Zheng Zhenze is a veteran in this field, and he quickly calculated the specific data. : "We should use two kinds of engines for it. At low speeds, we can use ordinary small engines to save fuel. When we need to break the ice, we can use high-power engines. The small engines can be diesel engines, and the big ones are Gas turbines, however, these engines can all run on natural gas, which saves money.”

For ship owners, the first consideration is economic benefits. Therefore, a [-]-ton giant ship only has an engine of tens of thousands of horsepower, and even uses a low-speed diesel engine that can burn heavy oil. Very important shipping costs.

However, icebreakers are different.

An icebreaker of several thousand tons needs an engine of several megawatts, so that it can drive the icebreaker to a high enough speed in a short distance, either directly breaking through the ice layer, or driving directly onto the ice layer, Then rely on the gravity of the hull to crush the ice.

The engine power is not enough, and everything is useless.

A 45-ton natural gas ship needs a [-]-megawatt engine, which is almost the same as the power of a warship.

"In terms of engines, we also have a lot of choices. We can install engines from the United States, Britain, and island countries. Of course, different engines have different prices. You can choose according to your needs."

Tukovydov nodded: "Okay, then we can consider you building natural gas icebreakers for us, we need eight."

Eight ships!

Order eight at once!
This is a big deal!

Both Mr. Li and Zheng Zhenze were very excited.

"Please rest assured that our first-class design ability and advanced production capacity will definitely satisfy you."

"So, when will you deliver the goods?"

"Three years later." Zheng Zhenze simply calculated, and then said: "After three years, we can deliver four ships, and the other four ships can be delivered within five years."

Building a ship is not like building a car. It takes a long time, and the three-year construction period is not a big deal, especially considering that it is still the most technically difficult natural gas ship.

"After three years, all eight of our boats need to be produced!" Tukovydov said: "We can't wait too long."

Three years, eight ships?

In fact, they can produce hull engines and the like. The key is the liquid cargo fencing system of Invar Steel. This thing is uncertain!

You know, according to the agreement, their workers need to stay here for a long time and engage in production here. It will take time for these workers to return to China after their studies and then produce Invar Steel's liquid cargo fencing system.

It's too late!
"Mr. Tukovydov, please let us think about it."

"Okay, let's go out for dinner first, and hope to get an answer when we come back from dinner."

Originally, Mr. Li and Zheng Zhenze still had a headache on how to discuss in private, but now that the people in this room have left, it is great for them.

After sending away a few old men, the people from the South Kimchi country who had occupied the magpie's nest immediately began to study it.

"We only have one year, and we can't finish the production of the liquid cargo fencing system for eight ships anyway. Even, because the production has just started, there are various problems. It would be great if we can produce one." Zheng Zhenze said .

"However, the three-year delivery requirement they put forward is a must."

"Can we order from Mingzhou Group?" Finally, Zheng Zhenze thought of this trick: "We only produce the hulls, and hand over the liquid cargo fencing systems of these eight ships to Mingzhou Group for production, and then assemble them there? "

"Order? Then what do we earn?"

"Earn a reputation." Zheng Zhenze said: "As long as we complete this production, we will gain a reputation, and we will be able to receive a large number of orders in the future, and we can also produce liquid cargo fence systems. can do."

"In short, the sooner we enter this market, the better. Moreover, if we stand out and can produce ice-breaking natural gas ships, we will open up the market in this area in the future. I heard that Da Mao and China are looking forward to opening up the Arctic air route, shorten the transportation mileage.”

Mr. Li nodded: "Then we need to confirm with Mingzhou Group first."

This is very risky. What if their hull is produced and the liquid cargo fencing system fails to catch up?If the delivery date is delayed and the shipowner abandons the ship, their losses will be heavy.

After speaking, Mr. Li took out the phone.

After connecting, Mr. Li talked to the other party.

Of course he didn't call Qin Tao, and he didn't know Qin Tao's phone number, so he could only call Qin Tao's secretary Xu Zhengyang first, so that he didn't need an interpreter, and Xu Zhengyang could communicate with him directly.

Once you're done, you have to wait for the results.

Time passed little by little, and when Mr. Li and Zheng Zhenze began to feel disappointed, the call finally came back.

"Hey, Mr. Li, after careful consideration, Mr. Qin decided to agree to your request. Mr. Qin attaches great importance to the friendship between our two groups. We hope that we can cooperate happily in the future."

"Yes. Thank you very much." Mr. Li was very happy.

As soon as the phone call was finished, the door was opened, and Tukovydov and others had already entered from the outside.

"Mr. Tukovydov, we think we are capable of fulfilling the booking date proposed by you, and we can talk about some specifics." Mr. Li smiled.

On the other side, Xu Zhengyang put down the phone and looked at Qin Tao with complicated eyes.

Just like that, Sanxing Heavy Industry jumped into the pit?Even this operation may put Sanxing Heavy Industry into bankruptcy?
Qin Tao had a smile on his face: "What's the matter, Zhengyang, do you have something to say?"

"President Qin, your methods are too powerful." Xu Zhengyang said.

"What's the matter? It's a small trick commonly used in the world. Give the other party food that they can't eat, and make the other party die. In fact, we can't blame us, but they are too greedy. People, no matter what time it is, you must Remember, don't be greedy."

"Mr. Qin, I'm still a little puzzled. Even if they are given an order for eight natural gas ships, they can't take it, but they are not stupid. They will definitely take all kinds of issues into consideration, including signing the contract and various terms and conditions. It will be very meticulous, there is no way we can delay the delivery of those tank fencing systems made of Invar for them.”

"We don't intend to delay, we have to deliver the work on time, otherwise we won't make any money." Qin Tao said: "Moreover, we can also weld at the Chongming Island Shipyard, let their own workers participate, and let them put a hundred heart."

Still on time?Then how to cheat the other party?
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang was shocked.

"You should know that in all contracts, we will add a force majeure factor, right?"

Xu Zhengyang nodded: "So what? Could it be that at that time, there will be a force majeure factor?"

"Congratulations, you got the answer right." Qin Tao's answer was full of ridicule.

According to the usual practice, it is enough for the ship owner to pay a 20.00% deposit when booking a ship, and then pay a part of it when it is launched, and pay all the final payment when it is in hand.

However, as long as the deposit is paid, the shipyard has to produce eight natural gas ships. The cost is quite expensive, especially the ice-breaking type, which is more expensive than ordinary natural gas ships.Even, the running cost is also high.

At that time, there will be a force majeure factor, if Da Mao's Hyundai Merchant Shipping Company does not take over the ships, the other party will have to throw these ships in their hands, and there will be no second ship owner to come back to buy.

Even Sanhang Heavy Industry can't sell it at a low price, because this kind of ship has been strengthened when it is built, the hull is too heavy, and extra engines are added behind it, and the operating cost is too high.

As a result, Sanxing Heavy Industry not only failed to make money, but also suffered a blood loss.

However, relying on these alone, it is impossible for Sanxing Heavy Industry to collapse!
Xu Zhengyang still didn't understand.

Qin Tao said with a smile: "This is just the beginning. In two years, there will be more demand for natural gas ships, and there will be huge orders in the market. Sanhang Heavy Industry will also receive a large number of orders. If they can’t make it, just compensation can make them go bankrupt.”

What are eight boats? This is just the beginning.

The next method is more important.

Can't make one?

Xu Zhengyang suddenly came to his senses: "Boss Qin, we won't provide them with Inwa Steel by then?"

If you want to build this kind of membrane-type natural gas ship, you need invar steel as the shielding layer. With a substantial increase in orders, the demand for invar steel will also increase, but the production is certain.

In the world, there are only two factories that can produce. The one in Europe will definitely be given priority to European shipyards. The one in Mingzhou will of course be given priority to domestic companies. By then, Sanxing Heavy Industry will have orders and no Invar Steel. , and cannot be produced.

Xu Zhengyang immediately thought of this idea.

Qin Tao nodded: "That's right, but it's just a trick."

Is this still a small trick?

So what is the big trick?
Qin Tao didn't say anything, just smiled.

Everything is for that node in 98, which happens to be the Asian financial crisis!At that time, even the Sanxing Group has no funds to rescue Sanxing Heavy Industry, so Sanxing Heavy Industry has no other choice but to go bankrupt.

While talking, the phone rang again.

After Xu Zhengyang answered the phone, he said to Qin Tao: "President Qin, Mr. Li called and asked to meet with you again to sign the contract."

"Of course it's no problem. Take this opportunity to beat them and ask them to quickly deliver the equipment that our chip factory needs. Our factory building is almost built. After installing the equipment and debugging, we can start production." .”

The cooperation with the Sanxing Group is only incidental to the shipyard. The important thing is the chip factory. In Qin Tao's plan, this chip factory will be more important. Once the industrial gap widens, it will not be easy to narrow it down.

Qin Tao is full of expectations for SMIC. Now that he has a good opportunity, Sanxing Group will definitely not delay any longer.

Xu Zhengyang nodded: "Then I'll invite the person in charge of SMIC over here."

(End of this chapter)