Firstly I would like to own up that I have an interest in the following subject, I spent almost 40 years working at sea. Not only that, my son currently is an 2nd Engineer on container ships plying between China and Far East ports and West and South West African ports.
I always have an ironic smile when I listen to TV or radio where people are bemoaning the fact that they are separated from their loved ones for Bank Holiday, Easter or Christmas periods of a few days. I think I spent around half of every Christmas when I was working on ships away from home. I'm not complaining as I knew that it was likely to happen, and luckily a found a girl who could cope extremely well with out me been present all the time and bring up our family and manage the house with out me there. At this time of COVID19, and lock down, and mass praise for the NHS, shop workers, refuse collectors, delivery drivers and all the others that do a sterling job of keeping the wheels of the country turning, I would like you all to think for a moment about the seamen, of all countries, that are away from home at this time.
Since 9/11 life at sea has been very different as it has been extremely difficult for folk at sea to get ashore. A lock down started where every ship and crew were suspected as a source of terrorism and not allowed to go ashore. My longest period alongside was in Guatemala for about 8 weeks, brilliant! My son is lucky if in a three month trip he steps off his ship just once. This is not only due to terrorism but also due to the size of the ships these days requiring deep water ports that are many miles away from anywhere you would want to go ashore, and containerisation means turn round times are hours rather than days. To make for some sort of compensation periods away at sea have reduced from 6 months to three, but for many other nations they are still on contracts of 12 months. There are also compensations in the form of being able to contact home via the internet most days. It was a letter every now and then and with luck a phone call once a trip in my early days. This has meant that basically once aboard crew members are isolated from the world other than their fellow crew members, none of which may be of the same nationality either.
Currently there are around 65000 ships transporting the very fabric of life around the world. These vessels are manned by around 1.2 men and women. Internationally 90% of all trade is carried by sea. In the UK it is over 95%. If ever there was a job that warranted being designated key worker status it is crews of these ships. It is shipping that has allowed world trade to prosper and to mean that you can buy a TV made in the Far East at so low a price. Containerisation has been the driver of trade and cheaper consumerism. It costs approximately £1000 to ship a 40' container from UK to Hong Kong. The container has around 65 sq. mts and that can hold an awful lot of television meaning the cost of bringing them to the UK adds very little to the cost to the consumer. Obviously this is also true for shiploads of raw materials too.
Many millions of pounds were spent bringing 'holiday makers' back to the UK from around the world at the start of the current pandemic. Currently there are approximately 150,000 seafarers that are working beyond their expected contract period. Whilst delays to repatriations have always been a risk for those at sea as the weather etc can not be planned for and delays to schedules are common, and expected. However when you are away at sea you mentally pace your self to get through the separation and there was the well known phenomena of the 'Channels' when somebody was getting close to going home they were cheerful and happy and lighthearted. Named after the sailing ships returning home and getting to the English Channel after a year or two away. Even when delays occurred there was always the knowledge that it would be the next port. At the present time there is no such assurance. Once again compulsory socially distanced seafarers are denied repatriation as ports deny them landing, governments cancel all flights and restrict land travel to get relieving crew in, and the tired and time served seafarers home.
Shipping companies are adept in normal times at finding ways to move crews about but currently it is not possible. It needs a concerted effort from all involved to realise the importance of shipping and seafarers to make it happen. It will need boarders to be opened to allow flights in and out. Maybe a few designated ports in each area where it would be easier. This will add time and money as vessel have to divert etc. But to keep crews at sea beyond their contracts could well mean more accidents and incidents aboard as mental health suffers. It is extremely hard to be so far away from those you love when they could be in danger.
So next Thursday, and every other Thursday, when you out clapping for the NHS and other key workers please spare a thought for those at sea who wont be able to hear you, but deserve to be remembered for the work they do to benefit us all.
There was another occasion when the Merchant Navy was largely ignored, and we are going to celebrate that on Friday. Britain was kept afloat by the men of the Merchant Navy of many nations who had no chance to fight back, and many, once back on dry land, were vilified for not been in uniform. 30,248 British merchant seamen lost their lives, proportionally greater than any of the other three services. Try to make sure they are not OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.
I always have an ironic smile when I listen to TV or radio where people are bemoaning the fact that they are separated from their loved ones for Bank Holiday, Easter or Christmas periods of a few days. I think I spent around half of every Christmas when I was working on ships away from home. I'm not complaining as I knew that it was likely to happen, and luckily a found a girl who could cope extremely well with out me been present all the time and bring up our family and manage the house with out me there. At this time of COVID19, and lock down, and mass praise for the NHS, shop workers, refuse collectors, delivery drivers and all the others that do a sterling job of keeping the wheels of the country turning, I would like you all to think for a moment about the seamen, of all countries, that are away from home at this time.
Since 9/11 life at sea has been very different as it has been extremely difficult for folk at sea to get ashore. A lock down started where every ship and crew were suspected as a source of terrorism and not allowed to go ashore. My longest period alongside was in Guatemala for about 8 weeks, brilliant! My son is lucky if in a three month trip he steps off his ship just once. This is not only due to terrorism but also due to the size of the ships these days requiring deep water ports that are many miles away from anywhere you would want to go ashore, and containerisation means turn round times are hours rather than days. To make for some sort of compensation periods away at sea have reduced from 6 months to three, but for many other nations they are still on contracts of 12 months. There are also compensations in the form of being able to contact home via the internet most days. It was a letter every now and then and with luck a phone call once a trip in my early days. This has meant that basically once aboard crew members are isolated from the world other than their fellow crew members, none of which may be of the same nationality either.
Currently there are around 65000 ships transporting the very fabric of life around the world. These vessels are manned by around 1.2 men and women. Internationally 90% of all trade is carried by sea. In the UK it is over 95%. If ever there was a job that warranted being designated key worker status it is crews of these ships. It is shipping that has allowed world trade to prosper and to mean that you can buy a TV made in the Far East at so low a price. Containerisation has been the driver of trade and cheaper consumerism. It costs approximately £1000 to ship a 40' container from UK to Hong Kong. The container has around 65 sq. mts and that can hold an awful lot of television meaning the cost of bringing them to the UK adds very little to the cost to the consumer. Obviously this is also true for shiploads of raw materials too.
Shipping companies are adept in normal times at finding ways to move crews about but currently it is not possible. It needs a concerted effort from all involved to realise the importance of shipping and seafarers to make it happen. It will need boarders to be opened to allow flights in and out. Maybe a few designated ports in each area where it would be easier. This will add time and money as vessel have to divert etc. But to keep crews at sea beyond their contracts could well mean more accidents and incidents aboard as mental health suffers. It is extremely hard to be so far away from those you love when they could be in danger.
So next Thursday, and every other Thursday, when you out clapping for the NHS and other key workers please spare a thought for those at sea who wont be able to hear you, but deserve to be remembered for the work they do to benefit us all.
There was another occasion when the Merchant Navy was largely ignored, and we are going to celebrate that on Friday. Britain was kept afloat by the men of the Merchant Navy of many nations who had no chance to fight back, and many, once back on dry land, were vilified for not been in uniform. 30,248 British merchant seamen lost their lives, proportionally greater than any of the other three services. Try to make sure they are not OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.
4 comments:
Very moving, Tony, and it's good to be reminded of ALL of the people who are keeping all of us fed and supplied and cared for during this time.
I trust you and Helen are keeping well and safe?
Big virtual hugs from afar - and likely to remain so for this and next boating season, dammit!
M&Dxxoo
Hi Both, All is well here. I have no problems with this lock down business as it is just the same as being at sea, only the food is better. Well, at least some of the time!! We are lucky in that the weather has been extraordinarily fair which keeps folk cheerful, and allows them outdoors to enjoy the escape from their confinement. To be honest it is a bit like the tow paths, bikers everywhere!!!
Helen is doing shopping for a few folk and we are post leaflets for the local hub. She is crocheting and baking and I am research stuff and writing on my computer, plus the rounds of gardening and DIY that crops up. It is strange having to queue outside of a shop these days, rather than inside. Just normal now though. Keep safe.
Thank you so much for this post Tony. It has certainly highlighted an area that I had never given much thought to which is all the more shameful as we are both ex RAF. The 'being apart' for important occasions is something I am familiar with, but I had not considered merchant seamen being able to get home during this pandemic. I was also unaware that you had all faced such difficulties since 9/11. So again, I say thank you and I will certainly include them in my thoughts when I clap next Thursday. Jennie nb Tentatrice.
Hi Jennie and thanks for reading. Out of sight, out of mind has always applied to the life at sea, and I suppose that was one of the attractions in a way. Change though always seems to come from disasters that impact on the public somehow, rather than what impacts on the crews. Examples would be Titanic and oils slicks on beaches. Otherwise things just happen very slowly as seamen can not really band together as they are isolated in crews and obviously can't go on strike or anything like that. However they are one of those jobs that we can not do without as our island has to have 95% of everything brought to it by shipping. Worth bearing in mind I think.
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