E-PORTS Crew Column丨Sailor Li: Rainbow After Hardships!

Many novels, cartoons and even movies are based on the character of "sailor" as the prototype, such as the protagonist in cartoon Popeye and?the world famous Robinson Crusoe?is a sailor image, as well as there is one popular song Sailor, which can be seen that a sailor is also a very influential position. The crew member invited for this interview is a sailor. At the beginning, he was afraid to participate in the interview because of his poor expression ability, but after the interview began, he slowly relaxed himself and talked about his experience.

Landing in Chengdu three days ago and failing to return to hometown six months after getting off the ship

Li is a sailor who got off the ship in the Netherlands at the beginning of 2022 and was ready to go home. But he just set foot on the land of his motherland until three days ago, and it will take him nearly a month before he can return to his hometown. However, he is relieved to have returned to his motherland. "In fact, under normal circumstances, it would only take about a month for me to return home after my crew change in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, I tested positive for antigen after disembarkation and was infected the coronavirus. Therefore, I have to stay in isolation in the hotel until I comply with the quarantine policy in China. On March 16, I finally tested negative for nucleic acid, which meant that I could start my journey after I got the health code. However, due to a series of factors, I just landed in Chengdu on May 3. I felt bored and upset during the months of isolation abroad." Li said, foreign epidemic prevention measures are not so strict as?those in China, and he was infected when he got off the ship for vacation, and he was tested positive for a longer time, and foreign food is not quite in line with the taste of the Chinese, even worse than that on ships, so he felt a little bit of frustrated in isolation of the time.

Walking in the wind and rain, the pain is nothing!

Sailor Li, who has been working on the ship for 5 years, chose the major of sailor because of the suggestion of his relatives. He was also very enchanted and he thought that he could travel abroad at public expense and make money to support his family while traveling around the world, so he embarked on the ship without hesitation. "In fact, our life on ship was in good cindition when there is no outbreak. Although the life is always boring, we could also get off to have fun after arrival at ports. Not only did we taste the food of different countries, but also we can exercise our oral English. In fact, the crew really need to master some shipping English, because the ship's equipment operation requires English, and sometimes we have friends from different countries on board, so English is the bridge of communication." However, since the outbreak of the epidemic, it has greatly affected the mood of working on the ship, especially the problem of difficult crew change, which I believe is the pain in the hearts of all the crew!

Now young people in the city are in scene of debauchery, and Li also wanted to give up the boring life on the ship. "The ship itself is far away from the mainland, and sometimes the network is in bad condition so that we can't communicate with people on land, which makes the family worried, and always afraid of me in all sorts of dangers. Actually our ship now is very safe, and in case of the typhoon or other dangerous weather, the weather bureau will notice in advance, and our captain will change danger into safety. A year ago, I had been on the land, living a luxury life for a period of time. I have not only rested on your laurels but also felt particularly empty, so I chose to re-board! Work fills me!"

The rainbow comes through the rough day!

Li, since embarkation, has been on the bulk carrier with worse conditions that those of container ship because of mineral, cement, grain and other bulk cargo on bulk cargo carrier. Because of being accustomed to the work process of bulk carrier, he has been dedicated to working on the ship as a sailor. Work of sailors is basic and fundamental but miscellaneous, one of which is to patrol ship at any time, check the cable, bollard and other facilities. If abnormal situation was found, he should take measures to correct handle with it. So, it can be described as a "safeguard" on the ship. Although his position is in the bottom of deck department, he bears the basic security of the whole ship and cargo, which can be said that it is the greatness of the ordinary. "In fact, in addition to the crew change problem, I am very proud of having a job as a crew member, and a few days ago there were friends to know about the situation of the crew! Compared with working on land, the personnel of crew is simple, clean and natural, and the salary level is relatively high, especially for me, a social crew. In fact, I have much freedom, so my friends are very envious and want to join the crew. And I have particularly good mentality, and is also relaxed. No matter Chinese crew or foreign captain, I can make friends with any partner I work with, which is one of my coups to ease the mood!"

Sailor Li, who has been infected with the coronavirus, is still in good physical condition as a whole, but there are still some sequelae, such as feeling fatigue easily and so on. I hope the Li will recover soon! I also hope that every crew member who needs to get off the ship or change crew on board, whether at home or abroad, must do a good job of prevention and protection to avoid being exploited an advantage by the virus.