Seafarers Life on Board Ships

The life of seafarers can be far from idyllic, with many international
seafarers regularly completing long term voyages which leave them
isolated from friends, family and loved ones for up to nine months
at a time. For others it is a career of choice which enables them to
provide a better life for their families at home and is worth the
sacrifice of time away from them.

Unsurprisingly, communication back home can be problematic for

many seafarers owing to varying degrees of access to Wi-Fi on ships
or in port. Many seafarers choose to only sail on those ships which
provide access to Wi-Fi on board.

However, extended periods away from home can put a strain on

relationships with loved ones as well as on mental health. This has
been particularly so during the pandemic.

Life on board ship is tough and often dangerous for seafarers who
very often have to endure extreme weather conditions, particularly
during the cold winter months. Living conditions have improved
over the years, but still cabins are functional rather than spacious
and vary in quality and comfort. Seafarers face long working hours,
long contracts and whilst they are entitled to their own nationality
food, sometimes this is not catered for.

A Dangerous Occupation
Alongside a tough environment, seafarers will sometimes also face
notable dangers. These can occur for various reasons including
extreme weather conditions and piracy at sea in key places around
the world.

Many people are ill-informed about piracy, believing it to be a long

forgotten life path which has been romanticised by Hollywood.
However, this is far from the truth with piracy at sea being one of
the most extreme dangers that seafarers can encounter. This is a
frightening experience for them and often leaves them suffering
mental breakdowns as a result.
These are just a few of the many situations which can arise as part
and parcel of what is considered to be one of the world’s most
dangerous occupations.

Don’t They Have a Choice?

In the developed world we often think about our vocation as being a
chosen path. However, for many international seafarers of lower
ranks, this is a route out of poverty.

On account of being low skilled, many international seafarers are

happy to take any well-paid work that they can get. Indeed, in less
affluent regions such as the Philippines, a seafarer’s wage is
invariably used to provide fundamental support for up to 15 family
members at home.
Being Away from Home and Family
When you live and work at sea, your life is nomadic. Visiting distant
ports of call is exciting, but missing your friends and family is one
of the universal problems of a seafarer. Many people may eventually
want to settle down on shore and not spend months away from
their loved ones.

2. Physical Risks and Dangerous Injuries

Working onboard a vessel or floating oil rig is inherently more
dangerous than most other professions.1 Maritime workers are
frequently injured as a result of weather, improperly maintained
equipment, and poorly trained crew members. Witnessing a serious
accident or having a close call convinces many seamen to give up
their jobs in favor of safer alternatives.

3. Politics and Conflicts on the Vessel

Life as a seafarer means living in close quarters with a captain and
crew, and conflicts will arise. Personal and professional lines get
blurred when you are with the same group of people 24/7. Despite
being determined to steer clear of onboard politics, inability to do so
is another reason some maritime workers leave their vessel.
4. Maritime Piracy
Seafarer Hanging From the ShipThe modern shipping industry is
still subject to piracy, and ships are hijacked or held for ransom on
a regular basis.2 Cargo ships are essential to the supply chain, and
passenger ships can also fall prey to pirates. While insurance can
replace financial losses, the threat of piracy or an experience with it
can make seafarers reconsider their career choice.

5. Strict Maritime Laws

Maritime laws are stringent and penalties for breaking them can be
severe. A maritime worker might unknowingly break these laws or
be part of a crew where the regulations are ignored. Fishing vessels,
cruise lines, drilling rigs, and cargo ships operate under a vast set
of changing requirements. Being imprisoned, fined, or suspended
for breaking the law can bring a maritime career to a swift end.

6. Restricted Shore Leave

One of the traditional advantages of being a seafarer is the ability to
see the world and visit exotic ports of call. In the past, shore leaves
were longer than they are today. Now ship maintenance, loading,
and unloading take place quickly and efficiently.

Strict health requirements and local regulations often prevent

seafarers from reaching shore at all. Without this key advantage
that made these individuals want to become maritime workers in
the first place, many of them quickly find other work.

7. Personal or Health Issues

Over time, the hardships of life on a working ship or oil platform
can cause health issues. Being chronically short on sleep, lacking
fresh food, having inadequate medical care, and excessive work will
wear down the human body. Many seafarers retire from their vessel
due to these types of repetitive injuries or simple fatigue. Other
times, they may quit their jobs at sea in order to take care of other
family members who may need them at home.
The Seafarer

I can relate the reality, a song about myself—

go on about the going, how I in toilsome times
often endured desperate days. (1-3)

Bitter breast-cares have I abided,

explored in a boat many sorrowful places,
the terrible tossing of waves —
where the narrow night-watch
often seized me at the stem of the ship
when it crashes upon the cliffs. (4-8)

Oppressed by chills were my feet,

bound up by frost, with cold chains,
where these sorrows sighed
hot about the heart — hunger tearing within
the sea-wearied mind. He does not know this fact
who dwells most merrily on dry land—
how I, wretchedly sorrowful, lived a winter
on the ice-cold sea, upon the tracks of exile,
deprived of friendly kinsmen,
hung with rimy icicles. Hail flies in showers. (9-17)

There I heard nothing except the thrumming sea,

the ice-cold waves. Sometimes the swan’s song
I kept to myself as diversion, the cry of the gannet
and the curlew’s voice for the laughter of men—
the seagull’s singing for the drinking of mead.
Storms beat the stony cliffs there, where the tern calls him
with icy feathers. Very often the eagle screeches
with wet feathers. No sheltering kinsfolk
could comfort this impoverished spirit. (18-26)

Therefore he really doesn’t believe it—

he who owns the joys of life
and very little of the perilous paths, living in the cities,
proud and wine-flushed — how I must often
endure on the briny ways wearied. (27-30)
Dusky shadows darken. It snowed from the north,
binding the earth in ice. Hail fell to the ground,
coldest of grains. Therefore they come crashing now,
the thoughts of my heart whether I should test out
the profound streams, the tossing of salty waves.
My mind’s desire reminds me at every moment,
my spirit to outventure, that I should seek
the homes of strange peoples far from here. (31-8)

Therefore there is no man so proud-minded over this earth,

nor so assured in his graces, nor so brave in his youth,
nor so bold in his deeds, nor his lord so gracious to him
that he will never have some anxiety about his sea-voyaging—
about whatever the Lord wishes to do to him. (39-43)

Neither is his thought with the harp, nor to the ring-taking,

nor to the joys in women, nor in the hopeful expectation in the
world,
nor about anything else but the welling of waves—
he ever holds a longing, who strives out upon the streams. (44-7)

The groves take on blossoms, beautifying the cities,

gardens grow more fair, the world hastens —
all these things make the hurrying heart mindful,
the soul to its travels, to him who so imagines
on the flood-ways, to travel far away. (48-52)

Likewise the cuckoo admonishes him with a sorrowful song,

summer’s warden sings, pronouncing pain,
bitter in the breast-hoard. Men do not know this thing,
pleasure-wealthy people, what some experience
who venture widest on the ways of exiles. (53-7)

Therefore now my mind departs outside its thought-locks,

my heart’s insides, with the ocean’s tide,
across the whale’s domain, departing broadly,
the corners of the earth —it comes again to me
gluttonous and greedy—the lone-wing keens,
whetting the heart without warning onto the deadly way,
across surface of the waters. (58-64a)
Therefore they are hotter for me, the joys of the Lord,
than this dead life, loaned on land. How could I ever believe
that earthly weal will stand on its own eternally?
Always one of three things in every case,
will occur to obscure matters before his time is through:
disease or old age or else the blade’s hatred
will usurp the life from the fated, hurrying from here. (64b-71)

Therefore, for every man, praise from the after-speakers

and the living shall be the best of eulogies
that he labors after before he must go his way,
performing it on earth against malice of enemies,
with brave deeds, opposed to the devil,
so that the children of men might acclaim him afterwards,
and his praise shall live ever among the angels,
forever and ever in the fruits of eternal existence,
joys among the majesties. (72-80a)

The days have departed, all the presumption

of earthly rule—there are no longer
the kings or kaisers or the gold-givers such as there were,
when they performed the greatest glories among them
and dwelt in the most sovereign reputation.
Crumbled are all these glories, their joys have departed.
The weaker abide and keep hold of the world,
brooking it by their busyness. The fruits are brought low.
The glory of the earth elders and withers,
as now do all men throughout middle-earth.
Old age overtakes him, blanching his face—
the greyhaired grieve. He knows his olden friend,
the noble child, was given up to the ground. (80b-93)

Nor can the flesh-home, when the life is lost,

swallow down sweetness, nor suffer sorrow,
nor stir its hands, nor think with its mind.
Although one’s brother may wish to strew the grave
with gold for his sibling, to bury beside the dead
many treasures that he would wish him to have—
That gold cannot comfort him, the soul filled with sins,
which he hid before now while he was alive,
from the terror of God — (94-102)
Mighty is the fear of the Measurer, therefore the earth shall be
changed—
he established the unrelenting ground,
the corners of the earth and over-heaven.
Foolish is he who dreads not the Lord, his death comes unexpected.
Blessed is he who lives humbly, his reward comes in heaven.
The Measurer endows the heart in him because he believes in its
power.
Man must steer a strong mind, and hold it firmly,
assured among humanity, clean in his ways. (103-10)

Every man must keep himself with moderation,

to those beloved and those he deadly hates,
even though he may wish them be filled with flames
or burned up upon a pyre,
his own confirmed friend. Outcomes are stronger—
the Measurer mightier still—than the thoughts of any man. (111-6)

Let us consider where we should possess our home,

and then think about how we may come there again—
and then we should strive also
so that we may be allowed to do so,
into those eternal beatitudes— (117-20)

There life pertains to the love of the Lord,

hope in heaven. Thanks be to the Holy One,
so that he may honor us, the Lord of Glory,

If you believe
You can move the highest mountains
Cross the greatest oceans
And walk across the water, the water
You feel defeated, falling on your knees, and
Looking up for some hope tonight
You try to stand up, but you throw your hands up
Like you no longer have the strength to fight
'Cause you've seen too many sunsets
Too many days ending in the darkest night
But, on your own, you'll never know
You'll never know
If you believe
You can move the highest mountains
Cross the greatest oceans
Walk across the water, the water
Believe you can move the highest mountains
Cross the greatest oceans
Walk across the water
If you believe
They say that all you need is faith
But it's almost like you lost your way
Took a few wrong turns, took a few breaks
Falling behind now, looking for grace
'Cause you need someone to lift you up
Yeah, make right all the things you've done
'Cause on your own, you'll never know
You'll never know
If you believe
You can move the highest mountains
Cross the greatest oceans
Walk across the water, the water
Believe you can move the highest mountains
Cross the greatest oceans
Walk across the water
If you believe
If you believe, yeah
You can do anything
You can do anything
You can do anything
If you believe
If you believe
You can move the highest mountains
Cross the greatest oceans
Walk across the water, the water
Believe you can move the highest mountains
Cross the greatest oceans
Walk across the water
If you believe

HOW STRONG SEAFARERS ARE

To say that SEAFARERS are strong is an understatement.
A seafarer is not defined as much by how many seas he has sailed
but by how many storms he has overcome;
Far from the knowledge of many, a seafarer suffers inner storms
and battles.
However, he tries to hold back that pain and longing at the back of
those cheerful façade;

For in the eyes of those aboard travelers this must be kept hidden
from obscure from view;
They must only see the best of what the journey can offer.
Beneath the circles of crowd, yet, that feeling of isolation lingers.
Where these sorrows sighed in the heart — hunger tearing within;
Deprived of friendly kinsmen.

Despite the circumstance, seafarer knew how to adjust his sails as

he journeys the humdrum of life at sea;
He endures extreme weather conditions and rough waves while
working with pace and grace;
In whatever the voyage brings, he wears that best sailor suit who
can steer his way through the hurling winds of challenges;
With the LOVE for his FAMILY that dwells in his heart, he tries to
endure the obstacles along the way.

It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the
prosperous voyage;
It is that inner fire to help and provide for the loved-one’s comfort
that keeps the sail going smooth for seafarers amidst the barren
emptiness;
To which no sheltering kinsfolk could alleviate thy impoverished
spirit.

No matter what, seafarer tries to free himself of the hope that the
sea will ever rest. For he must learn to sail in high winds.
He does not fear the depths of the ocean that drowns him to
unbearable sorrow;
It is living thy shallow impoverish life with no purpose and meaning
in a verdant, lush of shore.

So, he toughens himself to reach a port,

He does not tie the anchor of sorrow;
He tries to let go under the gravity and not to drift;
He keeps calm and sail away.
Until thy ship safely returns in harbor.