MrchntMariner86 t1_iwencxt wrote
Remember, Merchant Mariners still exist today, helping to keep the global economy PHYSICALLY moving. We go out for months at a time, long-hour days, occasional back-breaking work, and MOUNTAINS of now-corporate paperwork. Mariners were among some of the lesser-known victims of the fears of the recent pandemics, thousands and thousands of sailors, trapped aboard their vessels, WELL PAST relief dates because no foreign ports were allowing crew changes.
I was stuck on a ship from Nov 2020 to May 2021.
Hawsepiper83 t1_iwer4ds wrote
Damn man, that’s a long hitch. I was on the flip side stuck at home not making money because of no crew changes. It wiped me out until I was finally able to go back. Then I was stuck for months, but not as long as you.
MrchntMariner86 t1_iwf4od5 wrote
206 days. I have done a longer one--210--on a non-union boat and boy, that last month is a Hell of a story; rather, a story of a Hell.
But yeah, sailors were desperate on both sides of the coastline. A ship I was on JUST WEEKS BEFORE US lockdowns started happening I later learned had 2 crew (Capt and an Engineer) out of 23 (or so) infected. One died.
It was intense to learn that.
zucksucksmyberg t1_iwft74s wrote
My 1st cousin was stuck in a designated "reserve ship" by his company off the coast of Malaysia.
He was there from Jan 2020 upto Jun 2021. The only reason he was able to go home was because Malaysia sent inspectors to ensure the ship was following international standards and they discovered quite a few sailors who became stuck like my cousin.
He lost quite a lot of potential wages since all he got for compensation was his basic pay and a few allowances.
Imagine spending most of the pandemic in a single ship who did not even travelled. People will go insane.
MattyKatty t1_iwg3uro wrote
I still remember watching an old Ninja Warrior (long before it went American) episode starting from the initial tryouts where it’s a bunch of weird dorky Japanese dudes in costumes and then in comes this swole white Merchant Marine who surprised everyone and made it close to the grand finale before literally brute forcing himself across a ravine with a pole in a manner that technically disqualified him (despite finishing).
That was when I realized that Merchant Marines were on a different level
MrchntMariner86 t1_iwiv3ac wrote
Merchant Mariner*
Some mariners ARE former military, an easy way to transition to civilian life while still maintaining a hierarchy.
But yeah, the shit we DO go through kibda steeles ya, a little.
Khelthuzaad t1_iwgh79g wrote
My respects.
My dad is an vessel fitter that works on merchant ships.
When COVID broke out he outstayed his contract by 3 months.He stayed 9 months on ship,with 1 month in isolation when COVID stroke the ship.
Terpnato t1_iwezi9k wrote
What did you do in that time? How did you get food and supplies?
MrchntMariner86 t1_iwf5029 wrote
We still got supplies ("stores") in that time--port vendors usually have a test done (when available) to deliver supplies, but for the most part, you just use your stores crane to lift supplies aboard and just send the paperwork back and further via a bucket on a string--no need to go up and down the gangway and get close.
Terpnato t1_iwf7n43 wrote
What did you do for entertainment?
Matigas_na_Saging t1_iwg2jat wrote
Not that guy but some ships have access to Satellite internet, usually 15$ per Gigabyte of data. Reasonable enough speed and it's guaranteed internet access except for a few "dead zones" that I presume satellites can't reach. So they could still surf the net and be entertained.
Smart ship captains are aware of the importance of keeping the spirits of the crew high, so during resupply they usually order an increased amount of stores so they could throw parties and make the crew feel a lot less isolated. Also karaoke + booze keeps the old sea dogs happy, at least in my observations.
MrchntMariner86 t1_iwiwhgb wrote
Most American ships have crew internet at no extra charge, but I do know a defunct comoany that started to charge their crew (before the company went belly up)
Also, US fleet is dry, thanks to the Exxon Valdez and its relevant legislation, OPA 90.
MrchntMariner86 t1_iwiw979 wrote
"Work and jerk (off)" jk
Pretty much 98% of US fleet has Internet/Wi-Fi. I honestly haven't met a company without Wi-Fi, although a lot of Inland boats or Offshore supply boats are usually in cell range anyway.
Deepsea ships, though, we have some exercise equipment, small book libraries as well as digital media libraries.
But for the most part, provide your own entertainment. For years before the switch, Id bring my GBA/DS and my laptop. Nowadays, PLENTY of guys have their own HardDrives to share movies with if the ship doesn't already have a central server to copy off of. Yarrrr.
Ak47110 t1_iwg5y9u wrote
Sorry you got stuck out there. I was at anchor in San Francisco when the first cruise liner came in with cases and the passengers were hoarded off and put into fema shelters under military guard.
We were panicking on board about getting off. I was sure that best case scenario I would have to somehow drive across country to get home if I was able to get off since they were talking about shutting down the airports.
I was lucky and got off just days before things really went to shit.
jeagerkinght t1_iwg9a6i wrote
As a former Kings Point student, can confirm lots of my friends have the same story
MrchntMariner86 t1_iwivcs7 wrote
You prolly made a smarter decision than the rest of us, honestly.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments