这次的谋杀案发生在一艘船上。陈查理家里的电话响了,但陈查理刚刚好出外了。他的孩子Jimmy充当他的父亲而接受了这单案子。Jimmy独自到船上查案。发现这不是一宗简单的案子。其中船上一人被杀,30万不见了,一名船上的警察抓了一名‘嫌犯’,一名医生的皮夹里有一个人脑,当Jimmy毫无头绪的时候,陈查理终于出现!With Charlie Chan distracted by the imminent birth of his first grandchild, young Tommy Chan persuades his older brother Jimmy (eager to be a detective) to take Pop's place when a call comes in directing Charlie to investigate a murder aboard a freighter. Charlie eventually learns of this and boards the ship to straighten out its slew of suspects, a cargo hold full of wild animals, and two well-meaning but ineffectual sons.