New York Times feature charts travels of merchant sailors and the life they live at sea

One of the many ships that call on the Port of Prince Rupert over the
course of the year, brining merchant sailors to the city

The New York Times ran a fascinating article this weekend on the life at sea for mariners aboard the large volume of cargo ships that travel around the world, something Prince Rupert residents can view every day with a simple glimpse to the harbour anchorages or stop at Fairview.

The focus is on the number of Filipino's who have made work on the seas their life, with the article observing as to how 400,000 of the world's 1.6 million seafarers hail from those South Pacific islands.

It's an expansive piece and done as only the New York Times can do, taking the reader below the decks and into the lives of the principles makes for a good look at how that time at sea, in port and back home consumes their lives.

The Seafarers Mission
across from CityWest

The work of the Times helps to bring some good insight for those of us who often see the merchant sailors in port, but may not quite realize how those lives are lived once the vessels are loaded and back underway for other destinations.

The story also serves to remind us of the work locally by the Seafarer's Mission on Third Avenue West, which serves as an oasis for visiting mariners during their Port call in the city,  They are always in need of donations and volunteers, learn more about their work here.

You can Check the full Times story out here.

You can review the list of vessels that are calling on Prince Rupert at this very moment from the Prince Rupert Port Authority's marine listings page.

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