Wan Hai — Telex [repack]

Tzeo almost laughed. “You don’t fight a Wan Hai telex. You survive it.” Three days later, the surveyor arrived by launch. Mr. Hsu was a thin man with glasses and a briefcase that probably contained more legal force than a gun. He said nothing. He simply nodded at the container, watched as the seals were cut, and photographed the hollow interior with the patience of a tomb robber.

Outside, the sea was calm. But somewhere in Taipei, a clerk was typing a new telex. There was always another telex. This was Wan Hai’s world. Tzeo just sailed in it. wan hai telex

He thought of the shipper in Kaohsiung, the one who had loaded that container. A ghost now. And the consignee in Jakarta, claiming $480,000 for air . A perfect crime. And the only person left holding the bag was a captain with a Wan Hai telex in his hand. Tzeo almost laughed

That evening, another telex arrived. FM: WAN HAI LINES, TAIPEI RE: LIABILITY SURVEY CONFIRMED. USD 480,000 PLUS SURVEY FEE (USD 1,200) DUE WITHIN 14 DAYS. VESSEL UNDER DETENTION ORDER. FURTHER DISPUTES WILL INCUR DAILY DEMURRAGE AT USD 1,500. - WAN HAI TELEX Tzeo sat in his cabin. He had no $480,000. The ship’s owner would pay, then take it from his wages for the next ten years. Or simply fire him. He simply nodded at the container, watched as

“Wan Hai has frozen us. A surveyor is coming. They’ll cut our seals, open the container, and find nothing but air. Then Wan Hai will bill us for the air, plus damages, plus the surveyor’s coffee.”

Kim looked up from the radar. “Sir?”