Time on a ship
Life on a ship is governed by time. From the moment a seaman joins his ship, he starts to mark the days on the calendar to the time that he should return home.
Time for keeping watch on deck or in the engine room.
Time for meals and sleep.
Time to sail on the ebb or high tide,
Time to berth in a new port.
We are often told by the seamen, that just knowing we were there on the ship is such an encouragement and means so much for them, even if they do not have much time to speak to us.
The time we spend with seamen, however brief, is never wasted or unappreciated.