A Salute to the Merchant Marine
Dinesh K Kapila
Today let us salute the seafarers. It is our National Maritime Day too. This non glamorous profession is our lifeline. In fact the world’s lifeline as they move cargo around. Consistently. As of now when flights are cancelled the ships move on and the ports function. Round the clock. We need to reach out to the 4 lakh odd officers and 8 lakh odd sailors across the merchant marine sailing on tankers, bulk carriers and container ships etc.
in this tough time they would not be even relieved as their tenure ends and they look forward to reuniting with their families. And think of a Master of a ship in case the relieving crew is available. What if if even one of them turn’ s out to be a Covid 19 positive, while at sea. Many companies and Masters would logically like to sail with the fit crew all through this stressful period. But at a cost of mental stress for the entire crew. At ports while docking the crew are getting paranoid about catching infection, many may not prefer to sail to certain regions which are highly impacted. Some allow Port Officials only up to the first boarding point. Their fears are genuine. Yet they sail on with discipline and with professional pride. The word of the Captain remains the law. We need to recognise this. By the way fresh food remains a luxury for many on long voyages. So we need to convey our appreciation and thanks. We must.
Just by the way why am I, a non shippie writing this. I do have a connection though past it’s use by date. My chacha (father’s younger brother) was a pre 1947 pass out of the TS Dufferin and sailed across the world. Plus a very close relation works in the industry. So a sort of interest. But above all, reading about old sea dogs and their lifestyle and life at sea when the world first discovered commercial shipping always generated an interest.
It’s a fact that the airline industry gets the glamour and recognition. Pilots, cabin crew and ground staff. As we see them closely while travelling. The airports also build a sense of glamour. Shipping, though vital, is off the radar. At the most we envy the salary and financial independence. That is not enough. Do we even realise the tough circumstances in which they sail and the nerve wracking days in bad sea conditions. It can be daunting. Yet it is this which keeps the wheel of commerce moving consistently. The profession is rated as dangerous as mining and just about lesser than deep sea fishing.
With turn around being swift and efficient, most sailors barely get to see the cities they dock at. Plus life is lonely as crew strength has been rationalised and crew turnover is a reality. A seaman’s passport only runs I am told for two days. Maybe a deeper outreach to more states will attract more youngsters to this profession. And keep up a steady supply of manpower.
There are also the unethical and greedy shipping company owners who deprive their crew of salaries and proper care, specially medical. Yet the industry moves on and keeps the concept of globalisation and growth alive. Consistently.
I am puzzled that considering the size of our economy and ambition, we may have 1200 (data varies). Vessels but come in a poor 17th as a nation on the size of our merchant marine. If 24000 odd sail on Indian ships, around 75000 sail on foreign ships. Surely this ought to be scaled up, that is the strength of the fleet and with more sailors sailing on Indian ships. One interesting data I came across, 70 % of the world’s merchant marine is with five companies / nations. We have to break in. A nation such as ours has to have it’s economy bolstered with a strong merchant marine.
In any case, we need to acknowledge the role, sacrifice and commitment of our merchant marine. May the Seafarers as such remain safe and keep the supply chain of the world going. And special greetings to our own countrymen at sea.
Keep it up.
Dinesh K Kapila
Today let us salute the seafarers. It is our National Maritime Day too. This non glamorous profession is our lifeline. In fact the world’s lifeline as they move cargo around. Consistently. As of now when flights are cancelled the ships move on and the ports function. Round the clock. We need to reach out to the 4 lakh odd officers and 8 lakh odd sailors across the merchant marine sailing on tankers, bulk carriers and container ships etc.
in this tough time they would not be even relieved as their tenure ends and they look forward to reuniting with their families. And think of a Master of a ship in case the relieving crew is available. What if if even one of them turn’ s out to be a Covid 19 positive, while at sea. Many companies and Masters would logically like to sail with the fit crew all through this stressful period. But at a cost of mental stress for the entire crew. At ports while docking the crew are getting paranoid about catching infection, many may not prefer to sail to certain regions which are highly impacted. Some allow Port Officials only up to the first boarding point. Their fears are genuine. Yet they sail on with discipline and with professional pride. The word of the Captain remains the law. We need to recognise this. By the way fresh food remains a luxury for many on long voyages. So we need to convey our appreciation and thanks. We must.
Just by the way why am I, a non shippie writing this. I do have a connection though past it’s use by date. My chacha (father’s younger brother) was a pre 1947 pass out of the TS Dufferin and sailed across the world. Plus a very close relation works in the industry. So a sort of interest. But above all, reading about old sea dogs and their lifestyle and life at sea when the world first discovered commercial shipping always generated an interest.
It’s a fact that the airline industry gets the glamour and recognition. Pilots, cabin crew and ground staff. As we see them closely while travelling. The airports also build a sense of glamour. Shipping, though vital, is off the radar. At the most we envy the salary and financial independence. That is not enough. Do we even realise the tough circumstances in which they sail and the nerve wracking days in bad sea conditions. It can be daunting. Yet it is this which keeps the wheel of commerce moving consistently. The profession is rated as dangerous as mining and just about lesser than deep sea fishing.
With turn around being swift and efficient, most sailors barely get to see the cities they dock at. Plus life is lonely as crew strength has been rationalised and crew turnover is a reality. A seaman’s passport only runs I am told for two days. Maybe a deeper outreach to more states will attract more youngsters to this profession. And keep up a steady supply of manpower.
There are also the unethical and greedy shipping company owners who deprive their crew of salaries and proper care, specially medical. Yet the industry moves on and keeps the concept of globalisation and growth alive. Consistently.
I am puzzled that considering the size of our economy and ambition, we may have 1200 (data varies). Vessels but come in a poor 17th as a nation on the size of our merchant marine. If 24000 odd sail on Indian ships, around 75000 sail on foreign ships. Surely this ought to be scaled up, that is the strength of the fleet and with more sailors sailing on Indian ships. One interesting data I came across, 70 % of the world’s merchant marine is with five companies / nations. We have to break in. A nation such as ours has to have it’s economy bolstered with a strong merchant marine.
In any case, we need to acknowledge the role, sacrifice and commitment of our merchant marine. May the Seafarers as such remain safe and keep the supply chain of the world going. And special greetings to our own countrymen at sea.
Keep it up.
PS Perspective and History - The Association of the Merchant Marine and the Corporates must develop a presence on the social media, sailing on the seas, sailing through spectacular vistas, challenging conditions etc. Add the historical context on the ship building industry and our sailing to ports all over the centuries, map it, build a story around it, that catches eyeballs and recruits. It connects with the citizens and builds a base to be a back up when you lobby for incentives or encouragement. This is vital gap, we think only the West has a connect with the merchant marine, this must change.
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