Guarding This Sea—A Tribute to the Ninth Zhejiang Province Moral Model, Captain Wang Sanhan of "Hai Xun 22"

Waves surged, flames soared, and a ship navigated through the storm... On June 17th, in Hangzhou, at the Ninth Zhejiang Province Moral Model Advanced Deeds Release Event, a scene dance was being performed. The prototype of the story, Wang Sanhan, captain of the "Marine Patrol 22" and the Ninth Zhejiang Province Moral Model, sat in the audience. On the podium, he received the trophy from the award presenter, becoming the first provincial moral model in Zhejiang's maritime system.

Half a month later, I visited the Ningbo Maritime Bureau Marine Patrol Law Enforcement Team. Standing in front of the "Marine Patrol 22," the sea breeze carried a faint smell of paint. On the deck, a figure in a blue jumpsuit was drenched in sweat, covered in paint spots. Just as I was about to step aboard, he quickly raised his hand and said, "Be careful, the paint is fresh!" With a reminder from those around me, I learned that he was Captain Wang Sanhan, looking completely different from the upright uniformed figure on the award stage. No wonder I didn't recognize him.

He has guarded this sea for 35 years. Over 7,000 days and nights of duty, 120,000 nautical miles of patrol routes, he has participated in over 300 maritime rescues, saving the lives of more than 700 people in distress, and ensuring the safe navigation of over 800,000 ships annually at the world's largest port, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port...

When the sea is calm, the waves are peaceful. He said, "It is my greatest honor to have the privilege of safeguarding the tranquility of this sea in my lifetime!"

A Trendy Youth Grows into a Flagship Captain

"I don't have much talent; I just persisted a little more."

In the yellowed old photo before me, a young man is dressed in a sleek black leather jacket, paired with flared trousers, and his polished leather shoes gleam brightly. No one could associate this stylish and carefree young man with the now sun-darkened captain of the "Marine Patrol 22," who has spent years stationed at sea.

In 1991, Wang Sanhan graduated from high school and joined the Ningbo Marine Surveillance Bureau at the time. Later, with institutional reforms, his colleagues who joined at the same time gradually left through exams, but Wang Sanhan stayed on the ship.

"I felt a bit upset at the time," Wang Sanhan admitted. He felt down and confused because of this. "But I thought I needed to work hard to change my state."

From then on, he focused his efforts on areas that could take him further—self-studying English, earning diplomas, and practicing ship operation skills. He used all his spare time to recharge and grow while others rested. "Bending down to tie your shoelaces is to run faster when you look up," he told himself.

The Xiangshan Shipu route is dense with fishing boats and has a complex navigation environment, making it a natural training ground. The captains and mentors around him became his most important guides on this sea. The older generation of sailors spoke little but worked solidly. They taught him to read tides, discern wind directions, steer and dock, and also taught him the principles of being a good person.

His learning method was simple, summarized in two words: persistence. During the day, he followed his mentors onboard for practical operations, actively seeking advice from them, observing how old captains judged tides and docked ships. At night, he read books to find answers, subscribed to numerous related newspapers and magazines, closely followed industry developments, solved daytime doubts one by one, and verified them onboard the next day, repeating the cycle.

Day after day, he eventually earned a university diploma and mastered precise docking and quick troubleshooting of ship faults, excelling in various maritime skills among his peers. Step by step, he climbed from sailor to second mate, then chief mate, continuously advancing upward. "I don't have much talent; I just persisted a little more," he said.

Wang Sanhan's wife, Liu Jun, understands her husband's inherent persistence best: "I often tell our son that your father's strengths are seriousness, persistence, and hard work." Once, Wang Sanhan was preparing for a competition in Ningbo City, practicing knot tying at home late into the night for several consecutive days. That time, he won first place in three individual events. For him, striving for the best and competing for first place has never been just a slogan on the wall but a standard for doing everything.

On August 22, 2013, the largest, most advanced, and most capable public law enforcement vessel in Zhejiang's maritime system, the "Marine Patrol 22," officially joined the fleet, and Wang Sanhan was entrusted with the responsibility of being its captain.

During an anchoring duty, a small fishing boat approached the "Marine Patrol 22" directly. Before Wang Sanhan could speak, the other party had already called out his name on the VHF radio: "Captain Wang, I know you; you saved me." Later, Wang Sanhan checked the rescue records and found that he had indeed saved this fisherman during a dangerous situation years ago. Meeting again in the vast sea of people, although he could no longer recall the details of the rescue, the rescued fisherman always remembered the maritime blue that stood out in times of crisis.

Since becoming the captain of the "Marine Patrol 22," he has rooted himself in this sea, leading the entire crew with "a little more" persistence to maintain 24-hour fixed-point duty in the core area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, ensuring the safe navigation of about 800,000 ships annually, participating in over 160 various water safety special rectification activities, and becoming a flag on this vast blue sea.

The path he has traveled coincides with the journey of this sea from desolation to prosperity—early on, the shores of Chuanshan and Meishan were barren mudflats, the waterways were rudimentary, and going out to sea was a major event; now, the port is brightly lit, giant ships shuttle back and forth, and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has ranked first globally in cargo throughput for 17 consecutive years.

Wherever there is a need, he will be there

"Received, setting off immediately!"

On February 16 this year, Liu Jun posted a message on her social media: "Another New Year's Eve." The accompanying pictures were nine video call screenshots—from 2018 to 2026, every New Year's Eve when families reunite, Wang Sanhan is on the ship, she is at home, and their son is studying in the UK. The family of three gathers on the screen.

"Received, setting off immediately!" This is the phrase Wang Sanhan has said most often during his 30-plus years of guarding the sea.

On May 15, 2014, after being on duty for over 10 consecutive days, Wang Sanhan finally returned home for a break, only to receive an urgent order—return to the ship immediately to head to the South China Sea for the "Weiyuan Operation." "When the country needs me, I feel it's my duty," he said. Due to the special nature of the mission, he quickly returned to the team to carry out the special rights protection task.

For 81 days, the South China Sea was turbulent, with extremely harsh sea conditions. He led the team to drive away provocative foreign vessels 396 times through warnings, pursuits, and water cannon sprays, fully safeguarding the operational safety of the 981 drilling platform and ensuring the safe return of 3,562 compatriots to the motherland. To this day, when he recalls hearing "The motherland thanks you" after the mission was successfully completed, his heart still burns with passion.

On January 6, 2018, the Panamanian oil tanker "Sanchi" and the Hong Kong cargo ship "Changfeng Crystal" collided in the East China Sea, and the "Sanchi," carrying 110,000 tons of condensate oil, exploded and burned.

"The whole world is watching now; we must go, and we must handle it well." After receiving the task late at night, Wang Sanhan immediately activated the emergency plan and led the entire crew to rush to the scene against the cold wave and strong winds.

Upon arrival, the scene shocked everyone: thousands of meters of thick smoke and raging flames engulfed the sea, explosions occasionally occurred, the surrounding waters were filled with pungent gases, and the ship was at risk of secondary explosions at any time.

"Entering the core area of the accident to collect water samples—every approach was a direct confrontation with death. But you have to step up; the country entrusted this ship to you, and you must shoulder the responsibility," Wang Sanhan recalled.

Jing Pengfei, who participated in the "Sanchi" rescue mission, recalled, "In the fierce winds and waves, the entire ship shook violently, and everyone struggled to hold on." But every time he entered the bridge, he saw Captain Wang standing upright, holding binoculars, staring resolutely at the sea ahead. "Just seeing that figure made us all feel calm and reassured." Jing Pengfei marveled that the figure standing firm in the storm was the stabilizing force of the entire ship.

Over 95 days, he led the team to the accident site eight times, continuously carrying out personnel rescue, oil pollution prevention, and other challenging tasks. Wang Sanhan and the entire crew of the "Marine Patrol 22" fulfilled the responsibilities of maritime personnel through their actions.

In April 2021, a Jiangsu fishing boat sank off the coast of Zhoushan, with 20 people in distress. After completing a three-day, two-night inland river vessel monitoring task, Wang Sanhan led the "Marine Patrol 22" to the incident area at full speed without taking a break. After five days and four nights of continuous rescue, 17 people were successfully saved!

...

Over 35 years, Wang Sanhan has experienced countless rescue scenes like this.

As captain of the "Marine Patrol 22," according to regulations, Wang Sanhan can rest for seven days per shift. However, over the years, he has never taken a complete vacation—during holidays, he always volunteers for duty, and whenever there are major rescue missions, large-scale drills, or joint law enforcement tasks, he is always the first to appear on the ship.

"Every time, he is the one rushing to the front. After receiving a task, his first question is, 'How soon can we get the ship out?'" said Li Junxi, the second engineer of the "Marine Patrol 22." "During ship duty, the midnight to 4 a.m. shift is the toughest, the easiest to get sleepy, and the most prone to problems. Captain Wang is always there during this time."

This is Wang Sanhan—every departure is the simplest answer to "people first, life first." He is not unaware of the dangers, nor does he not miss his family; he simply places "someone needs me" ahead of everything else. "Our mission is to protect every life at sea and ensure they return home safely," he said.

During the interview, Captain Wang's phone rang again—the "Marine Patrol 22" was about to begin a new round of duty.

Arriving one minute earlier brings one more chance of survival

"It's not that the ship can't do without me; it's that I can't do without the ship."

Living with the waves and brushing shoulders with death for years, witnessing countless maritime crises and farewells, what touched me most was that Wang Sanhan still tears up when talking about each rescue experience.

In the winter of 2025, off the coast of Xiangshan, Ningbo, a fishing boat suddenly capsized, and five crew members fell into the icy water. During the long wait, everyone silently prepared for a final farewell to their families. Fortunately, the "Marine Patrol 22" was patrolling the area at the time and arrived at the rescue site in less than 20 minutes.

When the crew was transferred aboard, they were trembling all over. Wang Sanhan handed his phone to the rescued crew members so they could reassure their families. Holding the phone, the crew burst into tears. One crew member said that before the ship sank, each of them had said goodbye to their families, never expecting to be able to reassure them again. At that moment, even Wang Sanhan almost cried.

"Experiencing these moments makes you feel that all the effort is worth it, and you will keep going." When he said this, Wang Sanhan's voice was low, and his eyes were red.

However, in his 35 years of guarding the sea, not every rescue mission has had a perfect ending, which is the heaviest regret in his heart. "During one rescue, we found a distressed person clinging tightly to the mast of a capsized fishing boat. As the rescue ship approached, before the small boat could be lowered, the person jumped into the sea from the mast. However, the waves were too strong, and after entering the water, the person never surfaced again..." Talking about this failed rescue, his voice was heavy, and he couldn't let go for a long time.

Maritime rescue is never a cold task but a mission to protect lives and uphold hope. Arriving one minute earlier brings one more chance of survival. Persisting one more moment prevents one more farewell. His countless experiences of life-and-death rescues have filled him with reverence for life, leading him to repeatedly review rescue details late at night, hypothesizing and refining to make rescue actions faster and more meticulous.

This year, in response to frequent intersections of commercial and fishing vessels in the jurisdictional waters, the "Marine Patrol 22" extended its stationed point by 20 nautical miles. This decision was based on years of experience and suggested by Wang Sanhan. Moving the stationed point forward reduces danger and increases the hope of survival.

After half a lifetime of patrolling the sea, Wang Sanhan has long become one with the "Marine Patrol 22" and this vast blue sea. He said, "It's not that the ship can't do without me; it's that I can't do without the ship." Despite undergoing three major surgeries and five hospitalizations in five years, each time the doctor advised him to "rest well," he agreed but soon returned to the ship.

Spending years stationed at sea, Wang Sanhan treats the ship as his second home. He always remembers the teachings of his mentors, taking the lead in tasks like deck rust removal, hull painting, and engine room maintenance. In this home, his specialty dish is "green fish in water." Besides cooking, he also grows vegetables. When the ship docks, he opens vegetable plots on both sides of the gangway, planting bayberries, corn, and potatoes. "When someone has a birthday on the ship, Captain Wang cooks noodles for everyone. When colleagues retire, he organizes group photos for farewell," said Ran Tianlong, the second mate of the "Marine Patrol 22." "The 'Marine Patrol 22' is like a big family."

Through the collective efforts of this big family, the "Marine Patrol 22" has won numerous honors in recent years, including the national "Youth Civilization Unit" and "National Water Transport System Safety Excellent Vessel," becoming a model ship in Zhejiang's maritime system.

Uplifting and virtuous values have long been part of his life

"Serving the people wholeheartedly is a lifelong practice"

Over 35 years of patrolling the waves, Wang Sanhan has dedicated most of his life to this sea. What people know are the moments when he responds to orders in times of crisis and rescues people in distress. But beyond the waves, his kind-hearted nature has long been integrated into the details of his life.

"Once again, we received Uncle Wang's donation, making us feel infinite warmth in the cold winter. Please rest assured, Uncle, we will take good care of our parents, study hard, and help others like you in the future..." Through letters of gratitude crossing mountains and seas, the story of Wang Sanhan funding impoverished students was accidentally discovered by those around him. Since 2014, he has funded seven impoverished students to complete their studies. He rarely mentions this to others.

Kindness is not a grand gesture but a simple duty within one's ability. When asked about his years of silent charity, his answer was straightforward and pure: "I think helping others is happiness. Being needed is also a kind of happiness." Doing things without seeking fame or reward, only seeking inner peace and a clear conscience—this is his principle of life engraved in his bones.

This genuine and kind character also nourishes his entire family, becoming a family tradition passed down through generations. He doesn't excel at preaching grand principles but often reminds his son with one sentence: "I hope you become a good person, a person with integrity. The strokes of the character '人' (person) must stand firm."

Building character and virtue in the family, practicing dedication at work—from his home onshore to his home on the ship, Wang Sanhan's character gradually influences every crew member on the ship, passing it on to batches of new maritime youth.

Every year, new employees of the Ningbo Maritime Bureau board the "Marine Patrol 22" for training. These "new maritime youth" go out to sea with the "Marine Patrol 22," staying up all night on duty.

Through the "Wang Sanhan Model Worker Studio," Wang Sanhan shares all his accumulated practical experience and passes on the pragmatic style of generations of outstanding maritime personnel. The young employees learn not only professional maritime skills but also the principles of steadfastness, kindness, and proactive responsibility in ordinary positions.

"With Captain Wang as a flag ahead, we can look up to him as a role model. When Captain Wang is around, things are steady. Everything he does, we can learn to do in our daily work," said Yao Yuwen, the duty supervisor at the Ningbo Maritime Bureau Vessel Traffic Management Center.

In recent years, 1,179 "new maritime youth" have boarded the "Marine Patrol 22." From here, they set out to various duty points in Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, continuing to guard the vast blue sea and ensure safe navigation in the port area.

Over 30 years, Wang Sanhan has received more than 60 honors, including National Outstanding Crew Member, Outstanding Communist Party Member of the Ministry of Transport, 2021 Touching Transportation Top Ten Annual Figures, Zhejiang Provincial Model Worker, China's Good Person, and the Ninth Zhejiang Province Moral Model. Facing the accolades given by the outside world, he always emphasizes: "Rescue, patrol, and rights protection are never my achievements alone; they are the results of the joint efforts of every crew member and all forces. These honors don't belong to me personally but to every maritime person who fights alongside me."

At the end of the interview, sunlight shone on the party emblem on Wang Sanhan's chest. He expressed his lifelong belief with calm and gentle words—serving the people wholeheartedly is a lifelong practice.

The Ningbo Maritime Bureau closely aligns with the goal of building a world-class strong port, continuously enhancing the resilience of the industrial and supply chains, and accelerating the construction of a hub for resource allocation of bulk commodities. In the first half of this year, it issued 1,433 related port entry warning messages, achieving "zero accidents" for ultra-large vessels entering and exiting the port; ensured the safe and efficient entry and exit of 606 ultra-large vessels, safely unloaded 40.0672 million tons of imported iron ore and 39.0275 million tons of crude oil, strongly supporting the construction of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port as a world-class strong port...

Behind these numbers are countless sea guardians like Wang Sanhan rooted in their posts. "Doing solid work has no end, staying ahead requires new plans, and standing at the forefront demonstrates responsibility." They are rooted in this sea, guarding the ships, the sea, and everyone on the sea.