# A Sailor's Rant **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [May 11, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359 "2020-05-11T11:41:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/1 "2020-05-11T11:41:50Z")
A sailor’s rant that many here may agree with: > **[A sailor’s rant -](https://splash247.com/a-sailors-rant/)** > > Over the weekend a thread by an Indian seafarer who goes by the handle @deven\_sailor went viral on Twitter, arguing why it was crazy seafarers had not yet been termed essential workers. Here is the ‘rant’ in full. We seafarers are working in a... ---
**Author:** ![DeckApe](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/deckape/32/1271_2.png) [@DeckApe](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DeckApe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 11:58am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/2 "2020-05-11T11:58:43Z")
Sailors have always been treated this way no matter the century. 😞 ---
**Author:** ![DamnYankee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/damnyankee/32/514_2.png) [@DamnYankee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DamnYankee)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/3 "2020-05-11T12:41:48Z")
My understanding is that, at least in the US, they currently are listed as “critical infrastructure workers” by the Department of Homeland Security. This may only apply to US citizens though ---
**Author:** ![lemurian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/48db29/32.png) [@lemurian](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/lemurian)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/4 "2020-05-11T13:39:02Z")
For the US, the USCG published a list of Marine Transportation System workers considered essential. Merchant Mariners top that list. See MSIB 11-20, [https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Featured-Content/Mariners/Marine-Safety-Information-Bulletins-MSIB/](https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Featured-Content/Mariners/Marine-Safety-Information-Bulletins-MSIB/) ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 12:32pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/5 "2020-05-12T12:32:45Z")
Another “rant” from a seafarer that just spent 5 months at seas (or at least on board ship): > [@](#): > > Dear Maastricht Maersk By: Camilla Westergaard - Chief Mate Unlimited (via Linkedin ) > The MAASTRICHT MAERSK > > ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/a/a7d1195404c3c1c911483d805d7fd887b83ce8bc.jpeg) > The last 5 months you have been my home, my work, my life. We have been through a lot during this contract; a never-ending yard stay in China, the outbreak of coronavirus in China and its development into a global crisis, a worldwide lockdown and it’s effect on our daily life at sea. It is with mixed feelings that I have left you. I am so excited to finally be home with my family - after more than 5 months at sea - but I left 17 amazing guys behind me. 17 guys that I wish all the best for and hope for soon reliefs. I am gonna miss you all and say thank you for getting me through this contract.I will use this to remind everyone about the difficulties we are facing at sea; the prolonged contracts and the uncertainty, that is the seafarers daily companion. I know you - the seafarers - dont feel appreciated. I know you feel forgotten. I hope this will soon change and the World will realize HOW important you are! Keep your chins up ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ > MAASTRICHT MAERSK: keep my crew safe and let all of them return safely to their loved ones! (Copied from Maasmond News Clippings today) ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/6 "2020-05-12T13:12:12Z")
Many held on cruises ship with no pay are powerless to rant, afraid of retaliation USA Today: Twenty-two cruise ships are moored and another 39 are anchored in U.S. ports, the U.S. Coast Guard reports. They have a combined 39,900 crew aboard. Another 40 cruise ships are underway in U.S. waters with about 30,400 crew members on board. > **[Many Crews Remain Aboard Cruise Ships After Passengers Evacuated](https://www.npr.org/2020/05/03/849732492/many-crews-remain-aboard-cruise-ships-after-passengers-evacuated)** > > Passengers of cruise ships were evacuated weeks ago, but many of the crews remain on board. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks to the Guardian's Patrick Greenfield, who has been investigating why. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/7 "2020-05-12T13:55:53Z")
Some drastic measures are taken to get home: > **[Royal Caribbean crew on hunger strike until company proves it is sending them...](https://www.portandterminal.com/royal-caribbean-crew-on-hunger-strike-until-company-proves-it-is-sending-them-home/)** > > PortandTerminal.com, May 9, 2020 MIAMI, FL - The Miami Herald is reporting that fifteen Romanian cre While some has reached “home” but is not allowed ashore just yet: > **['We feel like guests': More than 5,000 Filipino seafarers from abandoned...](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/5-000-filipino-seafarers-cruise-ships-quarantine-manila-bay-12721942)** > > MANILA: In the past few weeks, Manila Bay in the Philippines has been transformed into the world's biggest parking lot for cruise ships, none of ... So far 20 cruise ships have congregated in Manila Bay and more are expected to arrive with Filipino crews from cruise ships stranded around the world. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/8 "2020-05-12T14:09:43Z")
The cruise lines have the modes of transportation to get these people home. Instead, they insist on butting heads with the CDC so they can dump them in the US. It’s all about not wanting to spend the money to do the right thing. ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/9 "2020-05-12T14:10:44Z")
That sucks how the mariners are treated, no matter what country they are from. Put the owners on the ships and live a few days like their employees. Bailout? Kiss my hiney after wiping with my two ply Amazon toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/10 "2020-05-12T15:24:21Z")
> [@Lee\_Shore](#): > > The cruise lines have the modes of transportation to get these people home. Looks like they HAVE used those modes. How do you think 5000 Pinoys on more than 20 Cruise ship got to Manila Bay?? > [@SeaEagle](#): > > That sucks how the mariners are treated, no matter what country they are from I agree. They should not have to spend weeks on board ships to get home when they could be transported from the ships in port to the airport and than home in 24 hrs. or less. (If that was allowed, that is) > [@SeaEagle](#): > > Put the owners on the ships and live a few days like their employees Sounds like they are not treated too bad on the ships. (But they are still not home with their families) > [@](#): > > “Each person is staying in a suite room. We feel like the guests now,” joked Michael Torralba Martinez, speaking from one of the cabins that he normally cleans. > [@SeaEagle](#): > > Kiss my hiney after wiping with my two ply Amazon toilet paper. Double pink tissue at the minimum? Or this kind maybe?: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/6/68fde04fd16b5717a313d9776682efd30159f2bb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/11 "2020-05-12T15:28:59Z")
Now, my second chuckle of the day. Pink? You guys are awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/12 "2020-05-12T15:34:51Z")
> [@ombugge](#): > > Looks like they HAVE used those modes. How do you think 5000 Pinoys on more than 20 Cruise ship got to Manila Bay?? There are still 80,000 of many nationalities stranded on ships that are not moving. ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/13 "2020-05-12T15:40:03Z")
There are about 500 or so sitting in Portsmouth on the 3 NWL ships. Hope the grub is good and the pay is getting in their mailbox. Berthing money is adding up. ---
**Author:** ![jdcavo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jdcavo/32/108_2.png) [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/14 "2020-05-12T16:20:21Z")
> [@ombugge](#): > > Double pink tissue You got a problem with pink? ![unspecified4](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/8/803acf290a5588e946fb8d8b11122f99fe7c411b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/15 "2020-05-12T16:29:48Z")
No, no problem with pink, or particular liking for that colour. Actually the joke comes from Australia in the very early 1970s, when the Roughnecks on a rig in Bass Strait was said to have gone on strike because there were no “Double Pink Tissue” supplied in the toilets. No guarantee that the story is true, but they went to strikes for everything in Oz at the time. ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/16 "2020-05-12T17:05:01Z")
I like pink dress shirts with a red, blue or white tie. Of course with a grey or black pin striped suit. And shiny black shoes, just for the effect, nobody gives a shit about shoes except my bride. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/a-sailors-rant/55359/17 "2020-05-12T21:38:19Z")
Back to Cruise ships in Manila Bay: [https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:120.8/centery:14.6/zoom:11](https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:120.8/centery:14.6/zoom:11)