The moment the signal flags identifying Ryntum's returning fleet were recognised, the pattern of movement outside the gulf subtly shifted.
Lantern codes flashed from the lighthouse tower, followed by horn signals from the patrolling boats stationed near the narrow passage.
Merchant captains, though reluctant to lose position in the queue, complied without protest. They pulled their ships aside, allowing a clear corridor to form.
The steamships advanced, escorted by two patrol cutters that guided them safely through the entrance.
Entering the Gulf of Napuna, the scene inside was no less crowded.
If the outer sea had been just a congestion, the gulf was quite chaotic, though the ships still moved in their own dedicated lanes.
Tugboats' presence constantly appears within the gulf, guiding cargo vessels, and harbour signals flicker between towers along the shore.
The early morning light revealed cranes, warehouses, and docks already alive with activity despite the hour.
