Hello. Last few days at the office forced me to think about families of those who work at sea.We had several calls not from seafarers themselves, but their mothers, wives,brothers.These people although might have never seen the sea, but seem to be so weel-informed about it, so familiar with the joys and problems that it might give brave humans who are trying to tame it!

Often sea professionals are extremely corageous and compitent while on board of their vessel, but once they step on dry land their strength leaves them. Taken out of their familiar world they become somewhat lost and need assistance of their loved ones to get on with their daily routine.Their families gladly provide seafarers with such help. Perhaps they understand that after months at sea filled with physical strain and risk,their children, husbands, brothers need and want to be taken care of.Sadly often seafarer's families have to deal with something less ordinary then daily errans. They might need to fight for the rights of their seafaring member, protect them from the unfair treatment, assist them with finding a new employer,or persuade a previous one to finally pay their hard earned wages. This list could be continued into infinity.

Such reflected experience apart from obvious negative impacts on seafarer's family also makes them stronger, bonds people together and I guess increases true understanding between it's members.It is difficult not to admire young or aged women who persistantly fight for the interests of their husband, or father, keep calling inpenitrable biurocrats, searching for organisations that might be able to help, are never tired to ask for justice again and again. After conversations with women like that I start to realise how important is the second part of the sentance,-" Seafarer Help is assisting seafarers and their families". These families do need our support, both practical and moral. I do understand now that often they have no-one to share their concern with, no-one who is ready to truly listen.

Recently Film four showed a new film about somebody who was born on board of the ship and spent all his life there. Their problems started when one day they had to step off it and live on a dry land...The hero of this story is not exactly a seafarer, but it still is relevant to what we do here at Seafarer Help. The title is "Legend of 1900", highly reccomended!