A birthday on the high seas: insights into the world of seafarers

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Seefahrt and Community: A look at the reality of life of the seafarers

A unique everyday work

Maritime industry is an indispensable part of the global economy. Around 1.8 million seafarers are at sea worldwide and work on merchant ships. These men and women often spend many months separately from their families and experience a variety of challenges. The Seemanns mission Cuxhaven, which carries around 1,700 visits on board each year, offers an insight and thus beats a bridge between the country and the sea.

Special encounters and support

Inga Thom, a committed employee of the sailor mission, is often on the go to help seafarers in their seclusion. One of her latest meetings was with 19-year-old cadets Igor Svitkin, who works on board the cargo ship Corelli. Thom estimated her third visit when she presented him with a subsequent birthday present. These small gestures often mean a lot for seafarers, especially in a profession that is shaped by isolation.

Thom's interaction with Igor shows how important it is to understand both the professional and the emotional needs of seafarers. "We can do something with friends after work or visit the family at the weekend, so seafarers cannot," she explains, and thus conveys the feeling of deprivation that many relatives of seafaring feel.

international community on board

The encounters are not only limited to formal visits. Talks on everyday topics such as the memories of a Christmas tree that the Seemannsmission employees brought on board at Christmas show how important culture and tradition are in such an international environment. Ivan Koval, a second officer on board the BBC Coral, described how the fragrance of the real fir tree filled the entire ship and what emotional importance was for the crew.

Responsibility and commitment

The activity of Inga Thom is of great importance for the seafarers, since it not only offers them material support, but also social contact and emotional support. In an environment in which 74,000 merchant ships are on the move worldwide, visits like Thoms represent a bright spot. "This is the most international job in Cuxhaven," she says, with the knowledge that the variety of human experiences on board enriches the reality of seafarers.

Conclusion

The professional support of sailor's disions and those people who are committed to the maritime community is becoming increasingly important. Inga Thom and her colleagues help to bring a piece of home and community to the life of seafarers. For the seafarers it is a valuable memory that despite the vastness of the ocean and the challenges of everyday work, they are not isolated, but part of a global community.