FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Joel Morais
It was the last evening ashore and once on board after the shore leave on March 16, 2020, further shore leave for the entire crew of Greatship Manisha operating in South African Waters for the one and only South Africa’s Oil and Gas company, PetroSA was stopped till further notice as South Africa declared total lock-down. As PetroSA comes under the essential services Greatship Manisha was continuously working non-stop but handling the local crew on board was not as easy task as they were not allowed to go ashore in their home town while the vessel was at port. Thanks to the almighty for blessing me with such a convincing power to manage the circumstances in the worst conditions. The word “love” was my tool.
We the 6 Indian officers were due for vacation in between March and April 2020 but the entire world was locked down and we were just hoping that the tide would change in our favour. Life was difficult but definitely not impossible. Faced three hurricanes, the worst weather of my sea career but never lost the faith and that kept us all going. Felt abandoned a lot of times but the “star of the ocean” was always there to guard and guide us. The 7th Indian, the cook took good care of us and served the best of the food. Back at home now, am really missing his food though nothing like Goan fish, curry and rice.
Months were just passing by but no positive news of going home could be heard from any corners of the world. Some ugly people back home were busy making videos and playing politics with seafarers as a topic. Many termed us as Corona carriers and some even agitated to ban us from being quarantined at certain hotels in their neighbourhood.
Our local government took the maximum advantage of the situation and forced quarantine on us though we were the only species in the world who seriously isolated ourselves. Thank you all for making the maximum out of the situation and God bless you all. We sailors are the warriors at sea and the world knows us well but few heartless considered us a Corona carriers.
Just imaging life in a confined space, called ship and for seven odd months. Finally South Africa opened up totally including the Air Traffic and by the grace of the Almighty am back in the arms of my sweet Goa.The journey back home was smooth but had to face rough shores soon after land in “Amchi Mumbai”. Everybody tried to suck the maximum out of me. Great Team work with love as its foundation and faith in our creator was the reason behind our success while in lock-down with normal operations of the ship and the creator as I strongly believe created a safe passage to back home.
If we all change our attitude towards nature and respect her as our mother, things are not very far away from normalcy. It’s all in our hands. So let us use our hands in right way without harming anyone. Last but not the least, our hands are incapacitated to change the tide levels.
