I found this very moving - ordinary folks from all over the world shopping for their children, talking over poor internet connections, celebrating a possible "first." And at the same time, the anomie and isolation of these lives so well described by some mariners in the comments below. Thank you for taking me briefly into a world that I would never otherwise see. These op-docs are deepening and broadening my view of the immense variety of human experience, a useful way to get out of our "bubbles."
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Re your comment about Great Britain and Little England not being high on your list of places to visit: am I supposed to be interested in your particular preferences and prejudices? I'm not.
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As a retired Episcopal priest, I had the privilege to serve as a maritime chaplain for 16 years in the Ports of Philadelphia and South Jersey. I was part of a huge worldwide network of clergy and laity serving the needs of these laborers of the sea. They bring 90% of the cargo that makes our economy work. They endure a harsh working environment for many months at a time, far away from their families. Security restrictions make their lives even more difficult. They are grateful for the work of seafarer centers throughout the world that brings human caring to them.
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Thank you for a glimpse of life I would otherwise never have seen. It takes all kinds of people making sacrifices to make this world of ours run. Those are someone's husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers. I wish them safe voyages.
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I have spent over 50 years in the merchant marine, most of it sailing on these large vessels.
On the one hand, many of the observations from several commenters have a degree of truth - it's somewhat sad, because of the remote locations of the port facilities and security documentation it's unrealistic to travel into cities or towns from both a money and time standpoint, lonely, a hard life, etc, but on the other hand it's not bad at all but does require a particular mind set.
For many of us that choose this life and work for responsible shipping companies, the rewards - decent salaries, good working conditions, respect from peers in our chosen industry, flexible working conditions - are very good and usually far better than offered by similar shoreside employment. If I could go back to the beginning, I'd do it all over again for the most part.
The video clip of the seaman's club in this article is pretty special though, but not for obvious reasons. Ships are almost like living things due to the machinery that is always running and the operational activities. People don't realize just how much "ambient" noise and vibration they generate. Also due to reduced crew sizes, large ships can be like ghost vessels outside of working hours. Being able to get off the ship and go to a seaman's club is a very welcome break to get away from the ship and break the routine. The charities and supporters that make these clubs possible are just fabulous, and my thanks to them for it.
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There's something somewhat sad about the film. Yet, in the time they have, what could they realistically do? Traveling from ports into cities or towns costs money and takes time. As the author notes, it is complicated by visa needs (many if the ship calls in a number of nations), which also would take time and cost money before each trip. The truth is, it is a hard life, often lonely and perhaps feeling a bit rootless, even they have a home to go back to.
Thanks for showing something many of us likely never thought about...
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In prior times, no visa was required for mariners. We were required to carry our mariner's document and shore leave permit. The loneliness builds with each passing missed birthday, anniversary, graduation, or holiday spent at sea and away from home. Then, you retire to a life where your closest friends are spread all over the world, and your neighbors are strangers - - - not just unknown, but unknowable.
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Great Britain was never high on my list of places to visit.
And Little England is NOT on my list of places to vist.
Ever.
But Scotland and Ireland still are.
Scotland IS Great Britain
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And so, for better or worse, is Northern Ireland.
While "(Great) Britain" is sometimes used as a shorthand for the UK as a whole, in fact, it refers only to the large island consisting of England, Scotland and Wales. Those three countries, together with the fourth (Northern Ireland), form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island.
I could only view 6.18 minutes before it stopped. That said
"Inside it felt like the waiting room of an airport - a place that is anywhere and nowhere in particular. "
It actually appeared nicer than I expected from the author's description. But I was struck by one seaman's comment that they have no (phone) connection while at sea.
This omission seems like a cruel deprivation by the employer for employees required to work so far from home. Surely they have such service to manage the ship. I wonder if they keep sufficient numbers of life preservers.
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There are no cell phone towers at sea. Most ships do have satellite phones now, and some have limited Internet, but it's far too pricey for the average mariner.
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Communications will be available at sea, however this could be restricted to using very expensive satellite phone links. More enlightened owners have internet access on board, enabling the ship's officers and crew to remain in contact with their families.
Having the requisite number of life jackets and immersion suits is mandated by international regulations and ship's will comply with this. Port State Authorities regularly inspect vessels and will detain any that do not meet requirements.
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They seem like they would be good immigrants. I wonder what it's like working/living on the ship?
In the beginning, it's the greatest adventure on Earth. Every day is a new wonder. Then the responsibilities and isolation start to mount. It's good to be on the 4-8 watch because you get both a sunrise and sunset at sea every day, and overtime for working during the day. I don't think there is a relationship ashore that is quite like that shared with one's shipmates.
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'seaside towns in the United Kingdom tend to be the most inward-looking when it comes to immigration'
first thought - seaside fear of invasions could rightly come from the Viking raids on the British Isles from 793 to 1066 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasions_of_the_British_Isles
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I spent 40 years at sea, almost all of it as a merchant seaman. Over that period, time in port grew shorter, docks moved farther from downtown, and security concerns imposed many more restrictions. The "world travel" aspect of a seaman's life has suffered badly. Comfort and facilities aboard the ships have improved, although in many ships the shrunken crew size creates a much smaller "village". In the seamen's centers, there is the opportunity to share space, if not always interact, with mariners from many nations. It seems odd to be reading about this in the New York Times, as most people I meet have no idea what the merchant marine or a merchant mariner even is, even in the San Francisco Bay Area. http://seamenschurch.org/
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Charles, thank you for your comments here. They are all helping me get a fuller picture of a seaman's life. I knew several merchant seamen when I was young, but never kept in contact as we grew older. And they were officers in the merchant marine, so your input has given me a much broader appreciation of the complexity, sacrifices and benefits of life at sea. I appreciate what you've shared with us.
Thanks so much for this illuminating doc. I wish those
seafarers could see grass and trees and a breath of
fresh air on their day off though. I am glad that
The Sea Farer's organization gives them a place
to go and make phone calls home and has
a piano and books and sometimes free hats!
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These seaman are invisible. I work the ports in San Francisco and foreign seamen are routinely denied shore leave by Customs and Border Protection. In addition they are working within U.S. Boundaries for significantly less than minimum wage - and this is somehow legal.
I find it ironic that San Francisco's first resident was a merchant seaman (Richardson). This is a long way from the virtual imprisonment that seamen are subject to today in the United States.
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Very interesting, thank you.
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