When I was a cadet, I earned $260 a month

When I was a cadet, I earned $260 a month. Every dollar was already spoken for before it hit my account. Some went to my mother back home because she had nobody else. Some kept me fed. The rest I saved because I had made a promise to myself as a kid that I would build something with my life and take care of her.

I stood watches in waters that are in the news right now, and I can tell you something about the seafarer on that ship today. He is not thinking about geopolitics. He is not thinking about freight rates or P&I premiums or what the newspapers are writing.

He is thinking about his family. Whether they know he is safe. Whether the phone network will let him make a call tonight. Whether the person who cooks for him at home had enough to eat today.

Nearly 2 million seafarers keep the world moving right now. Most of them will never post on LinkedIn. Most of them will never attend a maritime conference or sit on a panel. But every single one of them has someone at home waiting for a phone call.

I was that seafarer once. I know what it feels like. And I think that is worth remembering this week.