The leadership of the Changhang Police Bureau is awaiting news.

Zhang Junyan asked: "Anything else?"

"Yes."

Han Yu turned his head to look toward the river and said: "They also neglected the lookout (the term 'lookout' was used by the maritime sector instead of 'vigilance'), made wrong judgments, and none used safe speed. When they discovered the Jiang Han 21 vessel while crossing, amid the disunity of navigational intentions, they did not decelerate or stop as required, failed to take effective evasive actions, blindly turned the rudder to port by ten degrees, and kept it there, ultimately leading to the accident."

Zhang Junyan was a little stunned and asked, seemingly partially understanding: "Did they have a chance to avoid the collision, took evasive measures, but due to poor navigational skills, not only failed to avoid it, but ended up colliding?"

"Although I was only auditing and didn't ask directly, I could tell that the captain of the 'Atuha' probably hasn't navigated much."

Han Yu turned to look in the direction where the investigation team members were leaving, thinking further, then said: "If possible, have Manager Zhang strongly suggest the investigation team examine the qualification of the trial captain of the 'Atuha,' and find out how he obtained his Certificate of Competence."

Zhang Junyan asked with a bitter smile: "How can we investigate this?"

"If you're afraid of offending people, then accept defeat. If you don't want to accept defeat, you can't be afraid of offending people. If necessary, the investigation team can be advised to have the Seaman Examination Department organize a separate exam for him to see if he is indeed fit to serve as a sea captain."

"How confident are you?"

"If it were me, even if I hadn't noticed the Jiang Han 21 vessel before, even crossing illegally as they did, once I noticed the Jiang Han 21, I'm 100% confident of avoiding the collision. In fact, not just me, any experienced sea captain would have been able to avoid it."

Han Yu paused and affirmed: "In my view, he's only at the level of a third officer."

Zhang Junyan didn't think Han Yu had misjudged and immediately pulled out his phone: "Got it, I'll report to the bureau leadership right away."

…

The investigation lasted four days.

The passenger company, based on Han Yu's investigation results, submitted a maritime declaration of Jiang Han 21 vessel, admitting Jiang Han 21's violation, while also pointing out that the 'Atuha' had more violations and bore greater responsibility. They also questioned the trial captain of the 'Atuha''s qualifications.

The captain's Certificate of Competence was issued by a brotherly Maritime Bureau, making it challenging for Director Tang to comment.

Han Xiangning, with rich water law enforcement experience, doesn't equate to navigating skills, immediately requested higher-ups to invite three experienced sea captains to formulate a few questions for that captain to complete.

As expected, he failed!

To ensure thoroughness, Han Xiangning, with authorization from higher-ups, took the captain to Jiangcheng Shipping School, using the school's ship simulator, had three experienced sea captains set practical test questions.

Again, he failed!

While Han Xiangning was preparing to request investigators to check with the relevant Maritime Bureau on how that captain got his Certificate of Competence, the superior did not agree further.

Feeling dejected, Han Xiangning considered it normal, after all, family scandals shouldn't be spread.

Moreover, the incident was already embarrassing enough, with two vessels from companies under the Changhang Group colliding, and the Changhang Group is an enterprise under the Ministry of Transport…

The investigation results were reported, and the responsible persons and captains from both companies hung their heads without daring to refute.

Vice Minister Ren and Vice Director Mei from the Ministry of Transport Maritime Bureau were present. Han Xiangning steadied his emotions and summarized emphatically: "In conclusion, the collision between 'Atuha' and 'Jiang Han 21' is a responsibility accident! 'Atuha' took the wrong route, navigated blindly in fog, neglected lookout, and made erroneous evasive actions when approaching, which were the main causes of the accident and therefore bears primary responsibility. 'Jiang Han 21,' for navigating in fog, neglecting lookout, and failing effective evasive actions, bears secondary responsibility for the accident!"

When Jiang Han 21 sailed from berth 6 of Jiangcheng Port, not obeying the Traffic Control Center's bridge passage command was a violation, but the Yangtze River Bridge is very far from the accident site, thus having no legal causation with the incident.

Han Xiangning had already asked the investigation team's Legal Affairs Department staff to explain this earlier, leaving the shipyard's representative unable to refute further.

As the leaders presumed the investigation had concluded, Han Xiangning picked up a thick stack of penalty notices and said coldly: "The aforementioned accident investigation result will be provided to you in writing. But before that, for both parties' violations of Articles 6, 8, 9, and Clause 1 of Article 10 of the 'Inland River Collision Avoidance Rules'…

And regarding 'Atuha''s violations of the 'Yangtze River Lower Reach Divided Channel Navigation Rules' and the 'Several Measures for Water Traffic Safety on the Main Channel of the Yangtze River' under Article 8, Clause 3, and Article 9, we will impose administrative penalties. Here are the penalty notices; please review them and sign below if there are no objections."

This was an accident investigation, yet there is a penalty phase.

Vice Minister Ren was quite surprised, and Vice Director Mei was equally stunned.

Han Xiangning disregarded the leaders' expressions and added: "Even if there are objections, you must sign because this is a penalty notice, but you can file an administrative lawsuit with the Jiangcheng Maritime Court within fifteen working days."

Indeed, violations did occur and these have been thoroughly investigated over the past few days.

The responsible parties and captains from both sides had no choice but to sign despite their reluctance.

The leaders exited the large conference room but did not go downstairs, instead moved to a small conference room for a brief meeting.

Vice Minister Ren gestured to the secretary to close the door and asked meaningfully: "Director Mei, now that the investigation results are out, what are your thoughts?"

"Director Ren, the investigation team's work was meticulous and comprehensive; I believe the investigation result is sound."