The "River Watcher" in the Wind and Rain -- A Record of Wancheng Examination of Wenzhou Feiyunjiang Marine Department

“The typhoon is coming, but I still need to go on-site to check the condition of the ship 'Haobo Lifting 500,'” said Wan Chengkao, a veteran party member from the Wenzhou Feiyunjiang Maritime Office. Among the many typhoon sheltering ships in the jurisdiction, the lifting ship "Haobo Lifting 500," anchored at the Pandai anchorage upstream of Feiyunjiang, particularly worried him. This ship has a tall structure and a large wind-receiving area, and if it drifts anchor, the consequences would be unimaginable. To ensure the ship's safety during the typhoon, he organized experts to evaluate the typhoon prevention plan for the ship and determined targeted scientific measures for typhoon prevention. This year's 13th typhoon, 'White Dolphin', was approaching, and he led a team to the anchorage, boarded the ship to inspect the anchor machine, anchor chain, and other conditions one by one, repeatedly reminding the crew to evacuate as required. As the typhoon drew closer, he made multiple trips to the Pandai anchorage to recheck the anchoring conditions, ensuring the ship was securely anchored and no personnel were left behind before he could finally feel at ease.

“Typhoon prevention work must focus on 'early warning and early action,'” Wan Chengkao repeatedly reminded his younger colleagues. Since Wenzhou initiated the waterborne typhoon emergency response at 4 p.m. on August 3, he immediately led a team to the jurisdiction's waters for on-site supervision, boarding vessels to conduct typhoon prevention inspections on key ships such as passenger ferries and engineering vessels, preventing risks like anchor drifting and cable breakage from the source. After boarding inspections, he took a patrol boat to conduct full-area patrols of the upstream and downstream waters of Feiyunjiang, bridge areas, docks, and anchorages, thoroughly identifying safety risks and hazards. In addition to on-site inspections, Wan Chengkao placed another "eye" on the screen. During low tide, nighttime, or other times when on-site patrols were inconvenient, he used technology such as monitoring systems, ship positioning, smart maritime platforms, and drone aerial patrols to track the dynamics of ships in the jurisdiction, leading the duty team to conduct high-frequency remote ship inspections 24/7, sending warning messages to each ship individually.

On the evening of the 6th, while conducting electronic patrols through the smart maritime platform as usual, Wan Chengkao suddenly noticed a cargo ship navigating along a small route. Based on its current speed and direction, he judged that the ship was highly likely to be affected by the typhoon as its impact range expanded, and the window for seeking shelter was narrowing. Wan Chengkao immediately called the ship via VHF, reminding it to closely monitor the typhoon's dynamics, quickly choose a nearby safe water area for shelter, and informing it of the locations of nearby anchorages suitable for sheltering. After hanging up the call, he still felt uneasy and checked the ship's position periodically until confirming that the ship had safely entered the sheltering anchorage and anchored.

Typhoon prevention work requires both the strength of "coordination" and the precision of "individualized measures." Facing the sheltering challenges of different types of ships in the jurisdiction, Wan Chengkao adhered to the principle of "one ship, one plan," analyzing and implementing measures for each ship individually. When the owners of three coastal passenger ships hesitated to move their vessels to shipyards for sheltering, Wan Chengkao proactively contacted the shipyards in advance to reserve space for the vessels. Combining typhoon path forecasts with hydrological conditions in the Feiyunjiang port area, he repeatedly communicated with the shipowners, deeply analyzing the potential sustained strong winds and flood discharge caused by the typhoon in Feiyunjiang. He explained that if they only chose to anchor for shelter, the large wind-receiving area of the passenger ships and the evacuation of crew members would make the vessels highly prone to drifting anchor, posing severe threats to bridges and ship safety. Using professional data and objective analysis, he dispelled the shipowners' luck-driven mindset and successfully persuaded all three passenger ships to move to shipyards for sheltering, eliminating major safety hazards in typhoon prevention at the root.

In the wind and rain, his figure appeared at every critical point along Feiyunjiang. “This typhoon may make a direct landfall, so everyone must carefully choose safe areas for sheltering based on actual conditions, and ensure preparations and evacuations are done in advance.” These were the words he repeatedly reminded the crew, and they also represented his solemn commitment to himself and his responsibilities. From early warnings to full-area supervision, from precise measures to steadfast perseverance in the storm, Wan Chengkao has always rooted himself on the front lines with a sense of responsibility that "never rests easy." Through his actions, he exemplified the loyalty and dedication of grassroots maritime personnel. Facing fierce winds and waves, he stood firm and resilient, building an indestructible maritime safety barrier on Feiyunjiang.