Livelihoods, careers and their progressions are more of inheritance (the Class system), coincidences, accidents and being at the right place, time and under right mentors. So too are sea careers, shore leaves and shore jobs. Many choose sea jobs because of what they hear with no inkling on what is in store aboard or beyond the horizon. Some have run away against the wishes of parents and tasted success. Many have graduated as excellent taskmasters and few have faltered as wayward sailors.

Fading brilliance of sea horizon to dull aura, loom of lights, flock of birds, seawater color change, shift in cloud patterns, unmistakable smell of land and echoing sounds beckon landfall. Ship and engine sense the change too. Coming ashore? It has become a taboo! What with shore leaves banned/restricted and limited to port-city areas when granted; dangers of mugging and fleecing too. Sailors bear it all with equanimity -being fishes out of water, for, they can return to watery abode after port adventure-ordeal. Shore items aboard ships? Yes, gem/antique dealers, duty free catalogues/vendors, pay-use mobile phones and ladies in waiting -servicing at work place, all of which ISPS will eliminate.

Amidst all the bad news that has been buffeting seafaring (ISM paper work, post 911 security....), the only good news is tax-free status (not on Indians ships yet though) and absence of racial and nationality discriminations for jobs, pay-scales and promotions. Certainly, they might be prevalent in odd cases. If indeed, nationality based wages are introduced, despite ITF’s efforts for standard wages, pool of sailors from developing countries will shrink.

In the good old days, not only the Masters, but the entire crew were welcomed anywhere they went in recognition for the successful adventure they had undertaken, the goods, information, ideas, technology etc they had brought in and the local produce that could be exported. Wining, dining, entertainment and pleasure was a part of such goodwill gesture. These favours were returned to certain extent and by giving priorities to cargo space for the more friendlier/selected few.

Masters were considered as visiting dignitaries and special courtesies were extended by the local populace, leaders, government and the consulates. They were welcome in their full regalia to the social functions of the evening in Town halls. In the absence of local surveyors, Masters could survey their own and other ships in port and notarise protests of other skippers by authenticating their recorded concern of damage/possible claim. Master derived his legal powers on board as Justice of Peace -considered equivalent to second-class magistrates.

Well, now seafarers are treated as unwelcome guests, not allowed to disembark on to industrial berths –for fear of injury/claim, causing damage- even for reading the draught marks/inspecting the ship side –having to take launches to nearby piers for liberty, restrained on board and arrested/sent to gaol as security. Masters, Chief Engineers and the superintendents top the hit list these days. The alternative? Quit and seek jobs ashore, terminating planned career paths and earning streams.

What of swallowing the anchor and relocating? It has become a challenge with age, health and liquor restrictions on board. The traditional operational support jobs ashore have disappeared along with the general cargo ships of yester-decades. What little remains in the box trades are not enough and the bulk trades require few, if at all.
Superintending, surveying, auditing and quality control are the new generic-specific ones, but suited only for those with the right temperament, inclination and commitment.

What of expertise? Hardly suits jobs ashore. What managements look for are inter-personal and social skills. Confined living under regimented conditions, does not let these be evolved whilst at sea. True, team player and leadership qualities are plus points. However, these are from different environs not akin to that ashore. Hence inadaptability and maladjustment. Politics, work pressure, pass the buck et al are alien to straight thinking proactive sailors. Character, dependability, consistency, traveling at short notice for crisis management, socializing at the cost of family time, entertainment without turning alcoholic and sleeping with cell phones are traits and expectations. Few do make the grade ashore and climb ladders.

The challenge lies in attitudinal shift from narrow vision to broader focus, from the field of shipping at sea to the art of generalized management. Join the rat race, enjoy traffic jams, meditate to remove stress, repeat the daily grind and be part of the system! Or stay afloat, suffer the loneliness, earn money for which there is no time spend, eat, sleep work and postpone the dilemma.

Like fitting square pegs into round holes, the hardware itself will need to be modified and the software of networking, socializing, marketing –read manipulating, diplomacy and soft skills will have to be installed after deleting old baggage. People management skill too must be altered from the one with touch of dictatorship to the other with a dose of persuasive coercion. Autocracy must give way to authoritarianism. Good communication skills are a must: listening, attentiveness, written, verbal and empathy. Getting a point across and holding one’s position on an issue are not conducive to health and growth.

Headhunters cite that as compared to landlubbers twice the number of seafarers have to be filtered to fill positions and there is qualitative difference between those who had good schooling and others who treaded roughneck paths. Engineers have a better choice of technical jobs ashore ranging from classing, repairing, power-generation, hotels and industrial plants. But the salt in them has necessarily to be crystallized out.

Additional qualifications, training as stepping-stone, general sensitizing and preparing families for income based living standards are prescriptive. Career counseling, personality transformation during the transition stage and learning the ropes of manoeuvring the know-how of dry swimming to survive the bureaucratic hierarchy and still be an achiever, winner and being retained and not disposed of, are highly recommended.

Be careful with your savings, friends and relatives. There are more sharks ashore than in the oceans. Quite a few mariners have had to set sail again, after being misguided, standing guarantor/paying for other’s misadventures and falling prey to auditor/accountants, friends/relatives, seeing their ideas, efforts and equity hijacked and having to borrow to revalidate CoCs.

Choices? Take what you get: where, when and how much. Drop anchor and keep a good lookout. Heave up and steam if the holding ground is poor. The fortunate find/fit into the right job; average is three changes to land the ideal one. Yours is to adopt and adapt and time won’t be on your side. One is not wanted back at sea anymore. Most of all, learn from those who have walked the talk.