My Lord, you need to stand up!

Chapter 733 Being profit-driven is human nature

At this point, Li Bancheng took the lead in speaking: "I don't doubt the momentum of the mainland's economic development, but its sustainability and stability are questionable. We definitely need docks, and once they are built, they can gradually expand with the volume of cargo. But what about ships? What about building the large ships you mentioned?"

Wei Dong asked remotely, "Have you asked experts to make comparisons?"

He could then realize that Li Bancheng's public question was tantamount to dragging others down with him.

It's good to have someone conduct mine detection to share the risk in this kind of situation.

Li Bancheng was indeed cautious: "I did a simple calculation. Ship depreciation, fuel, and crew are the key areas for reduction. If it goes according to your plan, the cost per container for a 4,000 TEU Panamax ship is $300, for a 6,000 TEU ship the cost can be reduced to $200, and for a 15,000 TEU ship it may be reduced to $120."

The entire audience gasped.

This is the cost per box. For products with the same quality and service, the cost is reduced by more than half. So, how much profit is there?

It can completely destroy the global shipping market!
Of course, Li Bancheng also brought up the risks: "First of all, it has to be fully loaded. If it is not fully loaded, the cost per container of this kind of ship will soar because fuel is a fixed expense and the spread will be large. Secondly, the port must be relatively deep. There are only a few dozen ports in the world that meet the standards. If it docks in a deep-water port for transshipment, then the feeder transshipment fee will be increased."

Hong Kong's wealthy have all been involved in port trade to some extent; these basic principles are easy to understand.

But they couldn't hide their excitement, and they whispered among themselves.

They admired Lao Li even more.

After all, Li Bancheng's decisive and ruthless move to build a wharf in the Deepwater Bay area of ​​Pengzhen East District shows that he certainly has foresight.

This may be why he is particularly concerned about why Wei Dong would push for ultra-large container ships, since the West Wharf does not yet have the capacity for such berths.

To everyone's surprise, Wei Dong said, "We need to be bolder. Since we've already surpassed the Panamax standard, let's go for the largest possible scale. Fifteen thousand boxes is definitely not the end goal. As long as the volume is large enough, let's aim for twenty thousand or even more. Let's do our best to serve European and American countries, especially Citibank."

His tone was almost universally accepted in the 1980s.

It's impossible for us to catch up with developed countries in Europe and America, so it's only natural that we should put in more hard and tiring labor and continuously process goods for Europe and America.

But the latter half was completely devoid of common sense. Old Heng and Qian Bo, who were more familiar with him, started laughing and scolding: "Do you know that the tonnage of a Panamax ship is around 60,000 to 70,000 tons, and slightly more than that is 100,000 tons. 15,000 TEUs would be at least 160,000 tons. There are not many manufacturers in the world that have the capacity to produce this kind of ship."

Wei Dong, however, didn't care: "How much capability do they have? Container ships aren't that technologically advanced. Don't always think of them as the crown jewel of industry. That's just bragging to sell at high prices. If you're so capable, get the technology and find a shipyard in the mainland to produce them for you. I guarantee you can even reduce the cost. I think the idea behind this shore crane is excellent."

It's clear that some people are interested in this idea again.

Just look at the Taiwanese-made machine. It's a piece of machinery worth seven or eight million US dollars. The key components and all the architectural solutions are imported from abroad, but the domestically made version is only half the quality.

Shipbuilding is primarily a labor-intensive industry, and developed countries in Europe and America are no longer willing to endure such hardship, so they have shifted their production capacity to Japan and South Korea.

If this kind of international shipbuilding business could be developed in mainland China, it seems like there's real potential.

Some people want to build docks and collect rent steadily, while others want to own large ships to rent out, and naturally, some people want to build ships to make money.

At this moment, standing on the aircraft carrier, one could see the quay cranes on the dock not far away skillfully lifting and transferring containers. Soon, Black Pearl called: "Boss, no problem, the quality of their quay cranes is indeed fine. We'll apply to stay for two more days to get a better understanding of the situation."

Li Bancheng quickly made his decision again: "Ten units. We'll sign a contract and place an order for ten quay cranes right now for the HK International Container Terminal, and then order another ten next year for the partially completed Eastern Port Terminal..."

In reality, a mature large container terminal needs dozens of quay cranes to simultaneously handle the loading and unloading of multiple cargo ships.

The row of quay cranes surrounding a giant cargo ship looks just like an operating table.

The international container terminals in Hong Kong are mainly owned by Li Bancheng, and there is a significant shortage of quay cranes.

Upon hearing this, the others immediately placed orders to fulfill their obligations.

Wei Dong hurriedly asked Qin Yuye to bring over the draft contract he had prepared for the bosses to sign.

He then turned to Li Bancheng and gave the same positive response: "My recommendation for Chen Wenliang to build large container ships is based on my view of the mainland market and economic development. The demand for long-distance container transportation from the mainland to North America and Europe will surge. If we only start building ships and improving models in a panic three to five years after this demand arrives, the market may be snatched away by others. Last month, I also spent a lot of time in Shanghai accompanying experts to submit a site selection plan for a deep-water port ocean terminal. This is the clearest signal."

Everyone else gathered around, listening intently.

In an era without the internet and the ability to disseminate massive amounts of information at any time, Li Bancheng was surprised to hear this: "Huhai has a lot of guts."

Wei Dong nodded: "Shanghai does have the advantage of connecting the Yangtze River shipping route to the world, but I think Shenzhen and Hong Kong are the export ports for the entire eastern Guangdong region. Including this invitation to sports brands to come north to learn about industrial parks, it is also hoped that they can set up factories for OEM manufacturing. The more factories like these come to the Pearl River Delta to set up factories, the more export trade goods there will be."

Li Bancheng nodded slowly.

He will not promote the manufacturing industry. Having started his business with a plastic flower factory, he knows all too well the hardships and low profits in the manufacturing industry, especially in export trade, where even a slight fluctuation in interest rates can lead to huge losses.

Therefore, they only focus on industries that generate stable profits, such as real estate and docks.

Now, looking out over a busy coastline.

Actually, the entire western district was still quite desolate at this time, which is why Wei Dong found the hotel so out of place. He felt that the surrounding area was almost like it was during the Qing Dynasty or the Republic of China era, with not a trace of modernity in sight.

Then Li Bancheng spoke up: "Since we're going to build a lot of factories here, we should need to build a power plant, right? Is there a need for that?"

Wei Dong nodded quickly: "Yes! Definitely!"

The nuclear power plant in Pengzhen, invested by HK, has just been signed and started construction, and it is also located in Deep Water Bay in the Eastern District.

In the future, the power supply will mainly be directed to Hong Kong and Shenzhen city areas.

Power outages are still frequent throughout the country right now.

Even in his past life, Wei Dong didn't understand. Now that he has access to higher levels and more internal information, he knows that they are trying to export as much of the coal they mined as possible in order to generate foreign exchange.

It's all thanks to Lao Fang buying electricity from Hong Kong and sending it over via the Pengzhen Bay submarine cable. Now, he's the main force ensuring that the two chip factories have sufficient power from the commissioning and installation phase.

However, there is a significant power shortage in the face of the large-scale factory area that is under rapid construction.

Building a power plant in this area is like ensuring production capacity in Red Alert!

Old Fang had deliberately avoided coming to steal Wei Dong's thunder, but upon hearing the news, he was overjoyed and hosted a banquet at the hotel to entertain everyone.

By this point, Wei Dong hadn't interacted with Du Hongyi at all; he just let him look around.

With so many wealthy and powerful figures around, it's impossible for him to have any public contact with gang members.

Two guards were specially assigned to drive them around the city and to the docks.

Even if gang members and triad leaders cannot be eradicated in Hong Kong in the short term, effective communication control must be implemented.

At least now Weidong can openly say that he is not allowed to develop in Pengzhen, and there is a channel for communication.

Du Hongyi returned when it was time to play ball in the afternoon and sat next to Rang Weidong.

In fact, most of the wealthy Hong Kong businessmen returned to Hong Kong after the luncheon, and they had their own luxury cars to pick them up at the border.

Old Li also left, leaving behind professional engineers and business assistants to follow up on the contract details of the quay crane, and someone else to coordinate the site selection for the West District power plant.

Before leaving, he asked Cheng Lang if he wanted to go the same way.

The old feng shui master chose to sit behind the two men, looking quite energetic, which annoyed Wei Dong. "Are you trying to spy on the details of my united front work?" he thought.

Liang Jiahui will not get involved in business matters and will focus on doing a good job with the basketball club.

They're becoming increasingly skilled at narration. When Chow Yun-fat isn't around, they call on the actress who speaks Cantonese and Mandarin to fill in. These Hong Kong artists all have the caliber of hosts, and their variety show-like presentations are very effective.

His girlfriend, Jiang Jialing, helped connect the details of filming and promotion.

As a result, Wei Dong discovered that the head of the Hesheng Gang was following the female star. Given the stereotypical image of gangsters who bully men and women, he was a little shocked. Seriously, are you guys that interested?

The atmosphere on the basketball court was actually great. Several large circles of folding chairs were placed around the specially paved cement basketball court, and Wei Dong even suggested to the infrastructure company that some stands be built.

Two to three thousand people came, mainly college students from Pengda University, construction soldiers, and factory workers. Although there were not as many as the college students from Guangdong, they had a stronger sense of ownership. The aircraft carrier belongs to our company, and they voluntarily gave up their seats to their Hong Kong friends and then crowded the island next to it.

Wei Dong remained inconspicuously hidden in the second or third row, and couldn't help but whisper to the underworld boss, "What, is something on your mind?"

The guy, carrying a paper folding fan, translated: "We saw Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Rong Gu interacting with you. Do you want to join the film industry?"

Wei Dong had never considered coming to Hong Kong to do this, as he was too busy with his own business: "No, just a friend."

From the moment Wei Dong befriended Wang Zhiwen, all he could do was promote some celebrities to generate buzz for his business.

He didn't even get involved in that TV series about martyrs.

As long as there's no inexplicable ulterior motive here, it's fine. The female star has nothing to do with me, but at least she can't get into trouble since we've come to the mainland together.

Unexpectedly, the boss said, "We want to join forces with you to start a film company. Anyway, your wife already has existing businesses."

Just as Wei Dong was about to refuse, he heard the other party say, "We've never done this before, but we have to have a business that makes money, right? Competing with Xin'an for business is better than selling noodles, isn't it?"

Oh dear, they're even resorting to threats now.

(End of this chapter)