(eng) Mackey Chandler - April 08 by It's Always Something

Author:It's Always Something [Something, It's Always]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

"We have a ship for you," Myat assured Jeff.

He was so skeptical from the previous offer he just lifted an eyebrow silently.

"Don't be that way," Myat said, to the dubious look. "This is a much better deal, and you didn't get burned by the last one. I did withdraw it before you actually turned it down," she reminded him.

"But only because we stubbornly delayed while you were rushing us to accept," Jeff thought, but he didn't say it out loud. She was well aware..."There's no urgency about this one?" he asked, which was somewhat milder a response than his real thoughts.

"Look, Huian made me present this offer directly instead of through her. I won't do anything again to make her doubt my judgment. I'd like to regain her trust until she'll broker my deals again. There's no urgency, as far as the offer being open. The ship is anchored in Singapore harbor so it isn't running up dock fees, and they have waived anchorage fees, but it's a security concern. The owners are bankrupt and it is an uninsured vessel. The crew was mostly Nigerian and abandoned it when they hadn't been paid for some time, and the ship was running low on stores. The local court has asserted not just a lien, but forfeiture for public safety, and is asking, begging, for anyone wishing to lay claim to it. They don't want to lift the accommodation stairs that took the crew off. If they need to board a pilot quickly they don't want to drop him from an aircar or helicopter. So the harbor master has two security guys, in two shifts, mooring to the end of the ship's ladder guarding it, and one climbs to the deck and does a circuit once a shift."

"So, there are fees adding up for anybody who claims it or offers a deal?" Jeff asked.

"Supposedly five thousand Singapore dollars a day," Myat said, "but they aren't really spending that. They are using a couple of cops who are pulled off something else, and fuel for the pilot boat twice a day."

"What are Singapore dollars running now?" Jeff demanded.

"They insist they're on a par with Australia, so there's almost no official exchange. But the black market rate is running three of their dollars to one Australian. If you just offer to take it off their hands they might refuse because it looks bad. But offer them anything cash and I'd be surprised if they turn you down," Myat insisted. "They don't want others abandoning ships there, and that's a danger."

"What sort of ship?" Jeff asked.

"Bulk carrier, gearless, that is, no cranes and crap cluttering the deck you'd have to remove. It was designed to haul grain and the machinery to unload it is dedicated and installed on the docks. It's three years old. I was told it hasn't been stripped or looted by the crew, and the com gear is still hot and running from solar power. I can give you links to look around the ship with its own security cameras if you want," Myat offered.

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