The position of boatswain is very important.
In the past, Xiang Yang drove a drift-net fishing boat with only about 10 to 20 people on board, and the importance of the boatswain was not yet reflected.
But now it has become a large ocean-going fishing vessel with crew members in their seventies and eighties on board. The boatswain is a position that is directly involved in management and is in constant contact with the sailors. He often accumulates very high reputation among the crew. To put it bluntly, sometimes even the captain needs to rely on the boatswain.
Xiang Yang glanced at Xiang Chen, Chen Fusheng, Fang Youqun and others one by one, and then slowly said: "Is there anyone who would like to recommend himself and thinks he can be a good boatswain?"
No one spoke.
Most people don't think they have the ability, and the small number of people who think they have the ability don't think they are qualified. The position of boatswain certainly cannot be selected from among the new crew members.
Chen Qingsheng was moved when he saw this, and he suddenly said, "Fang Youqun, don't you want to give it a try?"
Xiang Yang raised his eyebrows. He didn't think that Chen Qingsheng said this to tease Fang Youqun.
Fang Youqun waved his hands repeatedly, "No, I can't do it. I can't even be a sailor, how can I be a boatswain? Brother Sheng, please stop joking with me."
Xiang Yang looked at Xiang Chen. From the perspective of close relationship, it was undoubtedly best to let Xiang Chen be the boatswain, but he might be lacking in ability.
In addition, Xiang Yang could not ignore Chen Qingsheng's words. The main job of the boatswain is to cooperate with the first mate. Now that Chen Qingsheng is the first mate, he thinks it would be better for Fang Youqun to be the boatswain.
"Since no one has chosen the position of boatswain, Chen Qingsheng, you can take it for now, and we'll appoint a suitable candidate later." Xiang Yang said with a smile.
"That's fine." Everyone nodded.
"We will go out to sea every day these days, but we won't go far. The main thing is to let everyone get used to each other. Master Xu, please divide these pilots into three shifts as soon as possible. If an accident occurs during the voyage, I will hold you accountable," Xiang Yang said.
Upon hearing this, Xu Fang nodded and said, "Don't worry, Boss. I will stay in the cab during the first few times we go out to sea. I will divide the crew into three shifts based on their driving skills."
Xu Fang was a little excited. He would not have to stay in the cab every day and his work would be much freer. Of course, he would be responsible for all the mechanical equipment of the entire ocean-going fishing vessel in the future. He would have much more freedom, but the workload would be much greater.
"Boss, do you want to drive the boat out for a while now?" Xu Fang asked.
Xiang Yang nodded and said with a smile: "Okay, then we will go out for a walk this morning and give you the afternoon to tidy up the dormitory."
When Xu Fang heard this, his expression changed and he instantly entered the working state of a chief engineer. "All drivers, follow me to the driving room. The first task today is to show me your driving skills."
Driving a boat is like driving a car. Just because you have a driver's license doesn't mean everyone has the same driving skills. Some people have excellent skills, while others are road killers.
Xiang Yang watched Xu Fang call all seven drivers to the cab, and then immediately ordered Chen Qingsheng to take people to put away the probe board and prepare for the maiden voyage of the ocean-going fishing boat.
Other fishermen in the sea hurriedly rowed their small boats far away to make room for Xiang Yang's ocean-going fishing boat to go out to sea.
Those crew members who had gone out to sea with Xiang Yang before were fine, but the new crew members, especially those recruited from Yanlong Village, were all excited, either looking forward to or imagining what the scenery of the distant sea would be like.
"Everyone stand firm, the ship is about to start, and no one is allowed to get close to the side of the ship." Chen Qingsheng brought his men on board to inspect the crew, then ran from the bow to the stern, shouting at everyone to stand firm in the middle of the ship.
"Set off!"
Following Xiang Yang's order, a low hum of the engine starting up was heard from the fishing boat, and then the sea water on the side of the unloading bridge began to churn, and the fishing boat left the Qinglongwan Wharf at a very slow speed.
After leaving the dock, the ocean-going fishing boat began to speed up, and soon accelerated to ten knots, heading quickly towards the open sea, leaving only a huge rolling white wave on the sea.
"Chiu—"
A loud eagle cry was heard, and the Steller's sea eagle circled several times over the ocean-going fishing boat, then swooped down and landed above the cabin of the ocean-going fishing boat.
"Brother Yang, our Steller's sea eagle is following us." Fang Youqun shouted hurriedly after seeing it.
"Yeah." Xiang Yang smiled, "It seems that this bird also recognizes people, not boats."
"I think it can eat anything." Chen Qingsheng joked, "Following the captain, this sea eagle has become fatter. If it leaves the captain, how can it eat so many delicious foods every day?"
Xiang Yang waved and greeted the Steller's sea eagle.
"Boss, should we just go around Qinglong Bend or sail in another direction?" At this time, Xu Fang's voice came from the walkie-talkie that Xiang Yang attached to his chest.
"We won't leave Qinglong Bay during the running-in period, otherwise we won't be able to get back by noon. Let's drive the boat to the sea area rich in turbot. Let's first recover the fuel cost of this voyage." Xiang Yang lowered his head and spoke into the intercom.
Naturally, Xu Fang had no objection to Xiang Yang's proposal, and he directly set the route for the boat driver.
The others would have no objections to this. Xiang Yang's words were orders, and they just had to wait to work after Xiang Yang gave the orders.
However, Chen Qingsheng remembered something. He walked up to Xiang Yang and whispered, "Captain, there are still only fifteen sets of diving equipment on the ship. We have seventy or eighty people on the ship now. If only fifteen people wear diving equipment to catch turbot, the remaining dozens of people can only wait on the deck. Isn't this a waste? Otherwise, we should cast a net first and go diving and salvage when there are more diving equipment on the ship later?"
Xiang Yang smiled and asked, "Master Chen, if we have 80 sets of diving equipment on board, how many people would be willing to go into the water?"
"Of course everyone is willing..." Chen Qingsheng opened his mouth and wanted to say that as long as there were enough diving equipment, everyone would be willing to go into the sea, but halfway through his words, he remembered the scene when Xiang Yang first arrived on Xiang Yang's boat and said that he wanted to go into the sea to fish.
"It's the first time, just for fun, everyone should be willing to go down, right?" Chen Qingsheng changed his tone and finally said uncertainly.
Xiang Yang smiled and said, "Now almost every household in Yanlong Village has diving equipment. Diving is nothing new to them. They all know that diving is very physically demanding. If I hadn't ordered them to do so, they wouldn't be willing to go down. Those students from the Maritime University might be willing to go down and take a look."