FOREWORD: IMO Secretary-General

FROM STILL AT SEA

TO OUT OF SIGHT, NOT OUT OF MIND

04 PORTRAITS OF SEAFARERS BY SEAFARERS

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KATIE HIGGINBOTTOM HEAD OF THE ITF SEAFARERS’ TRUST

Seafarers are often described as the lifeblood of the maritime industry, but it can seem that ‘out of sight’ is ‘out of mind’. Last year, under the heading Still at Sea, the ITF Seafarers’ Trust launched a seafarers’ photography competition to engage with the hundreds of thousands of seafarers caught up in the crew change crisis as states closed their borders and airlines ground to a halt.

The thousands of images and captions submitted form a unique archive and in sight into the daily lives of seafarers on all manner of vessels, from passengerless cruise ships to tankers and container ships. They convey the drama, the danger, the boredom, the fun and the camaraderie of seafaring. They express the longing for home, the missed moments of family life, the solace in spiritual reflection and the enormous pride in the profession.

This book is the result of our second photography competition. Launched on 25 March 2021, the Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind competition invited seafarers to submit portrait photos of themselves and their fellow crew members along with short explanatory text. The winner was announced on 25 June 2021, the Day of the Seafarer and is featured on the cover of this book.

The seafarers contributing to this book challenge you to see them as individuals; people who take pride in their work, have aspirations to lead fulfilling lives, and have families that depend on them. The last two years have tested their resilience and made some question their positions as maritime professionals in the global shipping industry. The disregard shown by many states in facilitating crew change and securing seafarers’ protection against the pandemic has raised many questions amongst seafarers as to whether their sacrifices and hard work are adequately recognized and rewarded.

This book is intended as a reminder of the existence of real people behind the global shipping industry. Shipping is not just a mode of transport for goods but the working and living environment of 1.6 million men and women whose right to decent terms and conditions must be championed.

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04 PORTRAITS OF SEAFARERS BY SEAFARERS