23March 2020 
....while saluting the Mariners who are keeping the trade going despite their personal testing times due to the COVID-19 Pandemic ...
         .... prevailing times when uncertainty is predominant in the manmade world due to the COVID-19 coming as the spanner in the wheel, even for those on the high seas ..... one part can not change yet and that is to remain afloat, to keep the ship orientated correctly, powered and propelled correctly too... 
...in this light COVID-19 appears to be prolonged but at least that 'control' is not lost  ..yet, imagine, for the ships caught in the Tsunami or superstorms or struck by the icebergs even that control is lost totally - albeit only for those who are caught into it ...but COVID-19 has put almost all the ships' officers and the Masters in the areas of duties where their leadership skills would be tested that was unseen in the post-ISM era... 
... the emotional stress on those seafarers and their loved ones due to the COVID-19 is enormous both ways and prayers are with them for their individual safety ... these are the times when leading life one day at a time yet not neglecting the seafaring jobs.... jobs in the risks-filled marine environment for personal and others' safety and this can not be overstressed ... 

    

18Mar2020
( ...on the backdrop of the worldwide Corona Virus Pandemic and the Financial Downfalls in the global  markets...) 

Reflection

And the situation for the Mariners of the Merchant Navies caught up in the current circumstances ..... 

for those delayed in sign off on board, it is going to be earning more ....

...... for those stuck ashore and delayed in joining back - it is going to be loss of earnings and loss of 'sea time' for their next exams or qualifying courses ....

.... for some it's going to be missing the important events in their lives with their loved ones ... 

.... it's all about coping with everything that is NOT going as planned ....

.... and in the workplace to show everything is going AS PER 'Management Systems' - crisis management included....

...but it's the time to reckon after all that the 'crisis' can not be planned and the plans often do not accommodate the unpleasant scenarios of 'crises' (this time caused by the global Pandemic and Economic Downturns - with the high seas not being spared too....).....

    .... but Then There is a lot of Positive coming with it too  ... what is it?...

             .......  and COVID-19 decides to change it all...    
      including how we look from the high seas to the 
      shores...

    ... meaning of safe-ports changes in today's context 


     ... the handshakes extended by shore representatives become a dreadful instances...

       ... the shores and ports become sources of stores and supplies but also possibilities of infections more  than before....


 ... Life on ships that changed for better over the decades becomes that of isolation from human societies for uncertain periods ...

... social media no longer becomes a source of good news but words of relatives and friends afraid ...

... rules and regulations become stringent and some impossible to meet unless relaxed ...

...  work styles change ... Chief Officers once again need to think 'bulk head swobbing and work desks cleaning as the daily jobs for the ratings .... shared keyboards and headsets and much more a suspect ...

..Navigation remains the same but so far, Machinery space operations remain the same but so far ... changing economies awaits changing that too ...

.. whether the seafarers are ready or not - for change is a change without being selective ... whether on land or on ships, whether on land or in port or at sea...