Chapter 261 I want to buy the Minsk
The bright sunshine shines on the beautiful Kimchi Peninsula. On the edge of the peninsula, there is an inconspicuous-looking Geoje Island, a small place called Okpo, bathed in the golden sunshine.
From a wide perspective, this place is very spectacular, with seven dry docks, a sliding slipway, and a lifting slipway. The latter even has a roof to prevent it from being spied on from the air.
This is the shipyard affiliated with the most famous Daejo Shipbuilding and Marine Co., Ltd. (DSME) on the Kimchi Peninsula. (This should be the full name, but I don’t understand why we need to use the name of a Japanese company.)
A group of people were walking on the road to the shipyard.
“Our Dazhou Shipyard is the second largest shipbuilding company in the world.” A person walked and proudly introduced: “Currently, our annual tonnage can exceed two million tons.”
After hearing the translation from his fellow translators, Qin Tao nodded: "Yes, Manager Park, you are our largest shipyard in Asia. However, you still need to refuel in some areas, such as LNG ships. In terms of this, it seems like it’s still blank, right?”
Of course Qin Tao knows that when the design drawings are sent over, it will be the time when Nikolai and Orlov break up. At this time, don't go over and join in the fun, so as to avoid the big gods fighting and the little devils suffering. Qin Tao will go a few days late and do other things by the way. The preparation work.
For example, take Cong Ju and others to visit the largest shipyard in Asia.
Speaking of shipbuilding, both the island country and the Kimchi Country are very powerful. In the South Kimchi Country, there are three main shipbuilding giants, namely Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Dazhou.
It is difficult to say who is the boss among these three shipbuilding companies.
However, in the eyes of Pu Douxuan, the production and operation manager of Dazhou Shipyard in front of him, their shipyard is of course the largest.
How many advanced cargo ships and warships have they produced? At this time, there are more than 200,000 tons of oil tankers in production in their shipyard.
However, when Qin Tao mentioned the production of LNG ships, Pu Douxuan was really unable to answer.
In this regard, they are indeed just getting started.
In later generations, when domestic LNG ships started, they learned from the experience of the two countries in the east. These two countries have begun to manufacture such ships in large quantities, but now, the South Kimchi Country has not yet started.
The construction time of island countries is earlier, and they began to introduce MOSS technology in 1971. But it took ten years to build the first LNG ship. From 1983 to 1985, they delivered the first generation of LNG ships, which used five spherical tank-type cargo tanks with a diameter of 36.6m; from 1989 to 1993, they produced the second generation, four with a diameter of 40 The ship type of the cargo tank of the rice spherical tank.
Since the spherical tank type is already a thing of the past, shipbuilding companies are eyeing membrane type LNG ships.
In 1995, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries introduced the production technology of membrane-type LNG ships respectively, and then developed rapidly. In the later period, the three shipbuilding companies accounted for almost 70% of the world's LNG ship market share. They have never built a spherical tank ship before, but they used GT's thin film technology. It is precisely because of this unique vision that they have become the biggest winner in the market.
(The Dazhou Shipyard has not found specific information, and some say it started in 1993. However, in 1992, the South Kimchi Country did not have the construction technology for this type of ship. In 1984, they had This idea came to naught. In the 1990s, both Kimchi Country and the island country became major natural gas importers, and they began to decide to build natural gas ships. I don’t know how to write it earlier. If it is written that Kimchi Country can already produce natural gas It was wrong. I didn’t check the information carefully at the time. I’m sorry.)
Kimchi Country's shipbuilding strength is very strong. Once it can be built, they will begin to vigorously develop this type of ship. They not only monopolize the share of LNG ships, but also monopolize various accessories, including various low-temperature resistant components on natural gas ships. Many of the components are produced by them. Moreover, they also designed a brand new fencing system themselves, which is unique.
Of course, these are things for later generations. Now, even Mingzhou Shipyard has started building natural gas ships with MOSS tanks. Their Dazhou Shipyard has not started yet.
"If you want to build LNG ships, our group can export technology." Qin Tao said to Pu Douxuan: "The price of our technology export is absolutely cheap. Compared with the technology transfer fees of Kvaerner Company in Norway and GT Company in France, we The fee is quite small, a one-time payment of US$10 million is enough.”
Cong Ju on the side sighed secretly in her heart that Mr. Qin’s business skills were incredible.
I came back after dismantling a MOSS tank, tinkered with it myself, and successfully built a natural gas ship. However, this kind of natural gas ship has begun to become outdated after all. Even if the technology is packaged and sold, it will not have any impact. Make a fortune.
Speaking of natural gas ship technology, it is mainly in the hands of the Norwegians and the French.
In 1970, Norway's MossRosenberg Shipbuilding Company proposed a spherical tank-type ship plan, which was later acquired by Kvaerner Company and patented by it. In the 1980s, spherical tank-type natural gas ships were built in large quantities and became the mainstream, and the shipyards of island countries were among the best.
As for the membrane-type ship, it was the French GT company that came up with it. In the 1950s, they wanted to transport natural gas from the Sahara Desert to Europe, but they were afraid of the unstable situation in Algeria, so they gave up using pipeline ships. Spherical tanks waste space, and the support structure needs to withstand a low temperature of -163 degrees. So we simply changed our thinking and laid an insulating lining that can withstand -163 degrees low temperature in the cargo hold to solve the storage problem of LNG.
Simply put, it is similar to a thermos bottle.
Which one of the two is better can be seen at a glance, but the better one is more expensive!
In 1991, last year, South Korea was planning to build four natural gas ships. They did not want the order to fall into the hands of foreigners. Their own shipyards are currently racking their brains to consider how to receive the order.
It’s all right now, Qin Tao came to my door.
“A one-time payment of 10 million?” Pu Douxuan was indeed tempted.
"That's right." Qin Tao said: "Ten million dollars, including teaching and skills. The worker next to me is responsible for building natural gas ships. If you want to ask specific technical questions, you can ask her."
In terms of price alone, US$10 million is definitely not much. After all, as long as you build a natural gas ship, you can recoup the cost, and the next thing is the net profit.
However, this is outdated technology after all. Qin Tao got it for free at the beginning. Now, Qin Tao has begun to target membrane ships. Selling this backward technology for 10 million is not a small amount.
Cong Ju could only guess this. As for Qin Tao's more in-depth considerations, she could not think of it for the time being.
Kimchi Country has also begun to plan to enter the LNG market. If they can obtain the construction technology of this kind of MOSS spherical tank natural gas ship, they will definitely not give up immediately. Once they understand the technology and start construction, it will take five or six years. It's over.
With this period of time, Mingzhou Shipyard has been able to master the construction technology of membrane-type natural gas ships and can completely eliminate the spherical tank type.
Take the Kimchi countrymen on a detour, and then throw them away completely!
Not to mention 10 million, Qin Tao can sell technology for 5 million.
"Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your kindness. I will report it to the superiors." Pu Douxuan said excitedly.
10 million is nothing to Dazhou Company. The natural gas ships at Mingzhou Shipyard are already in normal operation, and there are still several ships to be built in the future. There are no technical problems.
He knows that they are currently negotiating with the French. This kind of technology transfer is quite expensive. The condition proposed by the French is 5% of the selling price of each ship! They spend huge sums of money to build natural gas ships, and the main profits have to be taken away by the French. Moreover, this is the hen that lays golden eggs, and every ship has to collect!
No matter where Mingzhou Shipbuilding Industry Group's technology comes from, or whether it has the qualifications to authorize it, if there is a commercial dispute in the future, if the Norwegians go to Mingzhou and they can't find it, they have spent money.
That afternoon, Qin Tao met the senior executives of Daizo Shipbuilding and Marine Co., Ltd. who came from Seoul.
The atmosphere in the conference room of the shipyard was cheerful.
"Mr. Qin, I heard that you plan to transfer the natural gas ship construction technology you have mastered to us for a price of 10 million. Is it true?" Li Jinshan, who is in his fifties, looks as young as three years old. Just like a teenager, as the chairman, he came here in person, of course, for the fat meat delivered to his door.
“Of course it’s true, we came all the way here to do business.” Qin Tao replied with a smile.
"So, why do you want to give us such a preferential price? Aren't you afraid that we will be able to build this type of ship in the future and compete with you for business?" Although this sentence sounded a bit unpleasant, Li Jinshan still had to ask clearly. .
Li Jinshan absolutely doesn’t believe it is for the sake of friendship.
“Well, our group recently had a big project that required a large amount of funds, so we made this decision.” Qin Tao was very honest.
Big project? Big money? It shouldn't be. Their Mingzhou Shipbuilding Industry Group has been developing so vigorously recently that some people have analyzed that it may become a strong competitor in the shipbuilding industry of Kimchi Country in the future.
The other party is not short of money!
Li Jinshan's mind was thinking rapidly, thinking about recent relevant events in the industry, and something suddenly came to his mind: "Are you interested in buying the Minsk?"
After he asked the question, he felt something was wrong and could only smile awkwardly.
Qin Tao sighed: "Yes, we plan to buy it, but we don't know if we have the opportunity. After all, I heard that Lao Maozi wants to transform this warship into an aircraft carrier and then sell it to Ah San. "
"You want to buy it? What are you buying it for?" Everyone present was a little shocked.
Qin Tao could tell something from the other party's expression. It was very simple. These people present also wanted to buy it! This can be considered a competitor, but now it is just a foreshadowing and deception.
“It will be transformed into a water park and used as a patriotism education base,” Qin Tao said.
As long as they don’t buy it back and renovate the aircraft carrier, then these people can rest assured. However, if you think about it, the other party is just a private shipyard, and it is not even part of the main domestic shipping group. If they buy it back, other than transforming it into civilian use, there is no other use.
“In this case, we are willing to support your actions.” Li Jinshan made the decision: “For US$10 million, we will buy your natural gas tanker technology!”
Cong Ju sat quietly next to Qin Tao, saying nothing, but her heart felt like it was overturned.
Ten million US dollars, just like this! Next, transfer the design drawings and so on. As for welders and the like, just send a few apprentices over to help with guidance, and you can also get good travel subsidies.
Next, they can move towards membrane-type natural gas ships!
“Mr. Qin, you just proposed that Asan would turn the Minsk into an aircraft carrier. As an industry insider, what do you think? Can this project be successful?” Li Jinshan continued to ask, his words full of expectations.
They are not asking Asan, but they are asking themselves. They also have a dream of an aircraft carrier. They want to modify the Minsk and turn it into their own aircraft carrier!
"Of course there is no problem." Qin Tao said: "The Minsk has a displacement of more than 40,000 tons, which is similar to the French medium-sized aircraft carrier. It can be transformed into an aircraft carrier. Although it does not have a catapult, it can use the ski jump that Lao Maozi has proven successful. The take-off plan is no problem for operating MiG-29 and Su-27 carrier-based aircraft."
Qin Tao immediately introduced the topic in a gushing manner, as if chatting with his closest old friend. When he was enjoying himself, he stood up and drew a design on the whiteboard in the conference room.
The people at the Dazhou Shipyard who were present seemed to have discovered something.
Mr. Qin, has he obtained some technical information on the Kiev class? Otherwise, how could he explain it in such detail?
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but feel excited.
“Mr. Qin, can you please attend our cocktail reception in our capital tonight to welcome you?”
The Kimchi Country is not that big, so it is only an hour or two drive from here to the capital. Going to a cocktail reception in their capital is of course very high-end and classy.
Qin Tao nodded: "It's an honor."
At the cocktail party that night, Li Jinshan held a wine glass and chatted enthusiastically with Qin Tao. When the people around him dispersed, he asked Qin Tao in a low voice: "Mr. Qin, have you obtained some designs of the Minsk?" drawing?"
“Cough, cough, cough.” Qin Tao started coughing immediately, as if he was choking.
“If you have it, we would like to…”
"How is it possible? We don't have that ability. Besides, those things are not cheap. It's impossible to bribe the relevant personnel for less than tens of millions of dollars." Qin Tao said seriously: "What, you want it? I There are some connections, if you give me a few million in activity funds, I can help you find out."
With what you get, you must of course maximize its profits.
Qin Tao’s design of aircraft carrier blueprints for Nikola only cost three million, but the drawings and materials he obtained could be sold for at least tens of millions! Moreover, only some of them are sold. Of course, key information must be missing.
After all, these people in front of me are very interested in Minsk’s drawings.
I don’t have it now. If you want, I can help you find out. Just asking around will cost you several million in activity funds!
This is what Qin Tao's words revealed. The other party may not take the bait now, but he will be tempted when the Minsk is officially auctioned.
After all, without the original design drawings, there is no way to modify it. This is not a renovation. You can just smash the wall. What if a stress-bearing structure is demolished and the aircraft carrier is useless? No original drawings, just looking at on-site surveying and mapping of warships? Except for the Chinese, people from other countries simply don’t have this ability.
Li Jinshan smiled and said nothing. It would be impossible to give Qin Tao millions of dollars based on just a few words. This was just an introduction.
While Qin Tao happily attended the cocktail party in the capital of Kimchi Country, Nicholas was making an angry phone call at the Pacific Fleet base.
"Our Pacific Fleet currently has no fuel to go to sea! All our warships are basking in the sun on the shore! We also owe one month's electricity bill to the newly established Far East Electric Power Company, and they have issued an ultimatum to us. If they don’t pay their electricity bill, they will cut off the power lines to our Pacific Fleet!”
Nicholas is still full of grievances, and now he just wants to dump them all on the high-ranking officials in Moscow.
"We did receive 30 million US dollars in start-up capital from Asan, thank Moscow for not withholding it." Nicholas continued to complain: "This money will greatly alleviate the embarrassment of our Pacific Fleet. At this time , the Neva Design Bureau actually wanted 28 million of them, leaving only one million for us and one million for the shipyard. They still had the nerve to go to Moscow to complain. Shouldn't they be ashamed? We originally planned, The design bureau, the fleet and the shipyard each have a part, but they want to eat all the meat and not even leave us the bones!"
After slandering the Neva Design Bureau, Orlov would definitely go to Moscow to complain. Nikolai had already prepared these words.
It’s not that we are not interested enough, it’s the Neva Design Bureau that is really talking! We are also forced.
Yes, their Neva Design Bureau is in crisis, but what about us? Our life is also very hard! We finally decommissioned a Minsk and planned to use it to improve the condition of our fleet. Are we wrong?
"Yes, we made this design ourselves. We hired some technicians and spent a lot of money, but it is much cheaper than the design of the Neva Design Bureau!" Nikolay continued to call: "Of course, there are also professional Minsk designers among them, so I guarantee there will be no problem."
"What?"
Nicholas's voice rose again: "Why are their Northern Fleets joining in the fun? Isn't this making trouble? Hey, hey!"
Nicholas put down the phone, his face extremely ugly.
At the end of the matter, a huge change suddenly occurred, which even Nicholas himself did not expect.
“Your Excellency Nicholas, what happened?” Zaitsev asked him cautiously.
"The Northern Fleet wants to refit their Kiev and sell it to Asan." Nikolai said angrily: "The Neva Design Bureau has a relationship with the Northern Fleet. They want to join forces and ruin our business. !”
The Neva Design Bureau and the Northern Fleet are not far away from each other, and they are inextricably linked. Therefore, after suffering losses in the Far East, people from the Neva Design Bureau actually went to the Northern Fleet to join forces with their Pacific Fleet. Steal business while on the side!
This is a problem.
Judging from the records of later generations, among the four Kiev-class ships, the Minsk was the first to be retired. It was honorably retired in 1992. The Kiev was only retired in 1993. As for the other two ships, it was originally planned to keep them. Yes, it got into an accident and couldn't be repaired, so we had to sell it.
In fact, the service history of the Kiev is shorter.
After the Kiev entered service in 1977, in June 1987, the Kiev sailed for the last time and returned to the Severomorsk base and went to the ship repair shop for repairs; after that, it never went out to perform missions again. In 10 August 9 In March, it was transferred to another ship repair yard, and on December 21 of the same year, it was transferred to reserve according to the instructions of the Commander of the Northern Fleet.
So, when it comes to decommissioning, there is nothing to say about the Kiev. Anyway, the Northern Fleet already has the Kuznetsov, so there is no need to keep the Kiev.
Now, seeing that the Pacific Fleet has made a huge profit from selling the Minsk, the Northern Fleet can't sit still anymore. It's useless to keep the Kiev, so just sell it to Asan!
Although it only sells for one dollar, the subsequent modification costs will definitely make a lot of money. As soon as the Neva Design Bureau fooled them, they made a decision.
The problem is that Ah San can’t buy two ships!
In other words, even if Asan wanted to buy one, he could only choose one of the two ships. The Pacific Fleet had been tossing for a long time, and it might have been overwhelming.
Although they have already received 30 million, they can still get a lot of money if they formally sign a contract for modification.
Nicola was extremely annoyed, but also felt helpless.
"So, should we invite Qin here? Ask him to give us an idea?" Zaitsev said.
At this critical moment, Zaitsev still thought of the cunning and cunning, no, the resourceful Qin, this project was promoted by Qin, and Qin will definitely help them come up with a good solution!
“That’s right, invite Qin over as soon as possible to give us advice. We must not let the conspiracy of the Northern Fleet and Neva Design Bureau succeed!” Nicholas said.
The next afternoon, Qin Tao arrived at the Pacific Fleet station.
The time has entered May, and there is also a beautiful scene of spring flowers blooming here. However, looking at Nicholas with an angry face, Qin Tao can only give up admiring the beauty and listen to Nicholas' introduction.
“The Northern Fleet actually wants to sell their Kiev to Asan?” Qin Tao was also a little puzzled: “Didn’t that warship already break down?”
"Yeah, it's still being repaired in the shipyard!" Nikolay said. He suddenly thought of something and slapped his thigh suddenly: "Yeah, why didn't I think that the Kiev was broken and could not be used at all? Yes, they want to use the Kiev to fool Ah San, I have to tell them the news!"
The Kiev was decommissioned while waiting for repairs, and the Minsk was decommissioned directly during normal service. The two warships have different levels of integrity. How should Asan choose? Needless to say?
"If there is a chance, it would be better to make the Kiev more completely damaged." Qin Tao said.
(End of this chapter)