Chapter 179: Ship Acquisition and New Supply Chain Issues
The time soon came to July, and Sun Zhiwei, who was far away in Europe, sent news of several ships for sale in Europe back to Hong Kong via air transport.
Su Yiyi looked at several different photos and asked: "Brother Dong, this boat is so expensive. If we are in Hong Kong, how should we choose?"
"We still have to go there. Europe, but you have to check all the information in Hong Kong before going." Yang Wendong followed: "I also used other connections and found several captains or first mates who have been working in the shipping industry for decades. Ask them for their opinions. ”
Although there is no need to be suspicious of people who are suspicious, but when a transaction involving millions of Hong Kong dollars is involved, he cannot really trust someone he just met.
Sun Zhiwei went to Europe with the specific purpose of obtaining more accurate information. After the information was sent back to Hong Kong, he also needed to find some other people for cross-verification.
If a few strangers and experienced veterans agree on the same price, and they also go to see it in person, then they can make up their mind to buy it.
Wei Zetao next to us also said: "Ms. Su, in addition to finding several professionals, we also entrusted a third-party agency in Europe to verify whether the information on these ships is authentic and the operation history of the ships. Has anything big happened?"
"Oh." Su Yiyi nodded: "Such a high price, we must pay attention to it."
Yang Wendong asked: "Old Wei, European institutions. How's the investigation going on the Wilson over there?"
Wei Zetao said: "There is no big problem. The information provided by Oslo is a bit embellished, but the ship itself has not had any major accidents.
In terms of fuel consumption, there may be a slight gap, about 10%, because this The ship’s engine is from the 1940s, and the technology is lagging behind.”
< br>"Well, second-hand ships themselves are like this." Yang Wendong nodded and said: "But the oil price is not high now, so this difference is still acceptable."
In this era, many Hong Kong shipping kings like second-hand ships. An important reason is that the price of oil is very cheap. It is so cheap that even if the old ship consumes more fuel, it doesn't matter.
It was not until the oil crisis broke out that this situation changed.
Wei Zetao said with a smile: "Actually, fuel consumption is not very important to us. Our cargo has a large space, but its mass is very light."
"Yes, I didn't expect this. "Yang Wendong said with a smile.
Wei Zetao added: "Sun Sheng is in Europe and has also checked the information of several other freighters. It is estimated that it will be sent to Hong Kong in a few days. Let's confirm again. If there is no problem, Yang "Sir, we need to make a decision as soon as possible."
"Is there a problem with the export transportation in the United States?" Yang Wendong asked.
During this period, in addition to exporting trolley cases to Japan and Wanwan, we also began to try to export them to the United States. After all, there is a large distributor in the United States that we have cooperated with for a long time.
After the first batch of goods was delivered, 3M received very good feedback and hoped to increase the purchase volume.
Wei Zetao said: "Yes, the boxes we export take up too much space on the ship, and the cost is very high. Moreover, Hong Kong exports a lot of goods to the United States today, and many ships simply don't have that much space. Leave it to us."
"Okay, let's finalize it, and then we'll go to Europe together to finalize the matter," Yang Wendong finally decided.
A week later, after all the information had been verified by multiple parties, Yang Wendong and Wei Zetao went to Europe together to inspect several ships that might be bought and visited two information investigation agencies.
Finally, a 10,500-ton displacement freighter from the Norwegian Oslo Company was purchased for US$476,000.
After the agreement was signed, Yang Wendong and others paid an advance payment of US$200,000, and the remaining balance would be transferred to Hong Kong after being shipped to Hong Kong for detailed inspection. The remaining balance would be transferred to Hong Kong after the transfer of ownership. A crew team is in charge.
Arrived on the 10,000-ton cargo ship again, Sun Zhiwei said: "Yang Sheng, according to the cargo size provided by Wei Sheng, I calculated that this cargo ship can place about 60,000 to 70,000 tie rods inside. box.”
< br>"60,000 to 70,000? Yes, not bad." Yang Wendong nodded. According to the normal freight rate, this trip would cost almost HK$500,000. Then he asked: "How long does it take to get from Hong Kong to Los Angeles?"
Sun Zhiwei replied: "It depends on whether we are willing to give up the fuel. If we run at normal speed, it will take almost four weeks. If we increase the speed, it will take about 3 weeks, but the fuel consumption will increase by about 50%.
In addition, if you keep running the boat at high speed for a long time, it will consume a lot of life of the boat, and the maintenance cost and time will also increase. In this regard, I need to be familiar with the boat in the future before I can make an accurate judgment. "< br>
"Well, okay, as fast as possible." Yang Wendong nodded and said: "If one ship is not enough, we may continue to buy more."
As long as the first ship can After proving its economic benefits and sufficient orders from various places, it will be necessary to add more ships later.
Just like real estate, ships themselves can also be profitable, or even higher. However, the risk is that the technical requirements are very high, and they also need to understand the market and operations. There are many people who play boats in Hong Kong, but in the end Only a few people became ship kings.
"Okay, I understand." Wei Zetao said again: "Yang Sheng, when the ship returns from the United States, what should we transport? Or should we contract the business to other shipping companies?"
< br>Yang Wendong asked: "I remember that the ships between Hong Kong and Europe and the United States are mainly shipped from Hong Kong to Europe and the United States. When they return, they are relatively empty, right?"
Sun Zhiwei replied: "Yes, that's true. Hong Kong itself is a trade transit center. In addition, Hong Kong's manufacturing exports have been increasing in recent years, and the destinations are basically Europe and the United States, especially the United States;
When the ship returns, the cargo will be much less. Hong Kong is a city in itself and cannot import many things. The ships returning from the United States always bring some cargo and then transfer it in Hong Kong. "
Yang Wendong again. Asked: "It takes a long time to load and unload goods on the ship now. I remember that it takes three to five days for short ones and a week for long ones, right?" It is very time-consuming, especially when it comes to some very heavy goods, but our trolley suitcases are large in space and light in weight, so it is very easy to load and unload goods. If there are enough people, it can be completed in a day or two. "
“This is an advantage.” Yang Wendong thought for a moment and said, “I will definitely bring goods back from the United States.
I don't know exactly how to operate it now. I'll look at the specific situation when I actually operate it in the future. ""OK. " Sun Zhiwei agreed.
Yang Wendong added: "Sun Sheng, I have recruited the first mate and some important technical personnel on the ship in Hong Kong. You go back with us. Get to know them first. "
"Yang Sheng, I think it's better to invite them over. Sun Zhiwei suggested: "Although this ship will undergo a comprehensive inspection when it arrives in Hong Kong, many problems may not be found when it is parked;
So I plan to follow the cargo ship back to Hong Kong. , this journey lasted nearly a month, which was enough for me to become more familiar with the ship. The staff you recruited for various positions in Hong Kong should also be together;
In this way, everyone can study the ship together. If there are any problems, there will be former sailors and crew members of the ship during this voyage, and they can also communicate and understand. "
"Well, that's a good idea. Yang Wendong nodded, and then said to Wei Zetao: "Old Wei, let the 13 people from Hong Kong fly over immediately, and then follow the ship back to Hong Kong." ”
Having bought a ship for several million Hong Kong dollars, he doesn’t care about other investments. The most important thing now is to ensure that there are no problems with the ship, or that the seafarers become familiar with the cargo ship as early as possible;
In this way, once the ship arrives in Hong Kong and the transaction is completed, you can start working immediately
Time is the most important
Wei Zetao agreed and said, "Okay, I'll make a call right away."
After that, the person left.
Yang Wendong glanced at Sun Zhiwei and said with a smile: "Old Sun, I still have to work hard for you during this period."
"You're welcome, Yang Sheng." Sun Zhiwei said with a smile.
Yang Wendong added: ‘When our colleagues from Hong Kong arrive, we can be more prepared in terms of sea supplies. ’
"Okay, thank you Yang Sheng." Sun Zhiwei nodded and said: "However, it is not appropriate to supply too much, just enough. It is difficult to store vegetables for a long time, generally those vegetables that can withstand storage."< br>
"Yeah, okay." Yang Wendong didn't care.
With trouble in Europe, Yang Wendong and Wei Zetao returned to Hong Kong.
The five main products of Changxing Industrial are also being expanded within the plan. The three products are small in size and are very good for export. Because they do not take up space, ships can be easily ordered.
As for larger suitcases, we can only wait until the ship arrives before considering exporting them in batches. Now we can only focus on the nearby Asian market, and export a small amount to the United States for exhibitions or samples.
On July 15, Yang Wendong came to the factory of Changxing Industrial.
After Wei Zetao reported some internal matters in the factory, he said: "Yang Sheng, we have done some internal calculations. Even if the rotary mop is transported by our own ship, the price will be very high in Europe and the United States.
Although it is not as heavy as a suitcase, it is irregular in shape, takes up more space, and the transportation cost is too high."
"Well, I remember that the sales of spin mops in Japan were not very good. Right?" Yang Wendong asked.
Wei Zetao nodded and said: "Yes, even if it is sent to Japan, the cost is still high. The goods transported by sea are not afraid of being heavy, but they are afraid of taking up a lot of space."
"Well, it's really not suitable for the exit to be too far away." Yang Wendong nodded.
In this era, because containers have not yet become popular, the cost of shipping general goods by sea is too high.
And Yang Wendong also knows that container shipping has actually appeared, and European and American countries have begun to gradually test and use it. However, this involves changes to the entire ocean transportation vessels and terminals, which creates great resistance.
Even Hong Kong did not start container reform until the late 1960s.
Wei Zetao added: "So in order to maximize profits, I suggest that we directly authorize it to factories in some countries."
"Then how do you determine the other party's production quantity? There is no way to monitor this, right?" Yang Wendong asked rhetorically.
Wei Zetao said: "You can not use the counting model to charge, but roughly calculate the licensing fee based on a market size.
Although it may not be accurate, it can also be obtained in a short time. With a large amount of cash, we can continue to buy ships to expand the export speed of trolley cases."
"Okay, let's negotiate this matter with the international lawyer," Yang Wendong nodded.
If something can be produced in Hong Kong, he will try his best to produce it in Hong Kong.
But the transportation cost is too high, which stifles the possibility of export, so it is better to authorize it to go out.
With more cash, you can develop other industries of your own, which can also create employment, and you will also benefit from it.
“Okay.” Wei Zetao added: “One more thing. Just yesterday, several major plastic particle suppliers in Hong Kong notified all factories at the same time that they would increase prices by 20% to 30%. .”
……
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(End of this chapter)