Making the mighty Mekong safer

Ship's captain joined police patrols after 13 friends were killed in 2011 massacre on the river

Tan Jianhua is not far past the midpoint of his career as a ship's captain, but he knows he wants to spend the rest of it ensuring safer navigation on the Mekong River.

After years at the helm of a ship, Tan became a surveillance officer in Yunnan province's border patrol police department, performing marine patrol and law enforcement duties on the river.