The Secret Captain: I have woken up crying because it’s all hopeless

IPhoto: © Denys Yelmanov | Dreamstime.com

First-hand anonymous account of what it is like to be a cargo ship captain during the coronavirus pandemic. In summary – it’s not much fun. As the number of seafarers stranded on vessels around the world continues to rise, as a result of the widespread cancellation of passenger flights limiting crew changes, this article in TradeWinds highlights the huge psychological pressure many working at sea now find themselves subject to. “I have lost count of the number of times I have sat in my cabin consoling desperate men, who are in tears. As the master, I need to remain strong and supportive for all of them, but there have been times I have woken up crying because it all seems so hopeless.”