The sea is a very dangerous place to be in, man is not an aquatic animal, but since about 70% of the earth is occupied by water, we can't avoid getting into the water. Because majority of the world's international trade goes through the sea, most of our offshore installations are at sea, we can't avoid the sea.
But no matter how long we have been sailing, we still haven't mastered the sea, it's like a wild animal that is yet to be tamed no matter our technological advancements.
The sea is a very dangerous place to be in because one slip or loss of concentration can cost you your life and you family a member( you should understand that a hospital is thousands of miles away and at sea only first aid can be provided).
The sea is very complicated, and those who don't respect it pay the ultimate price, for this reason the international maritime organization that is in charge of what's acceptable on the sea, through a lot of consideration has set up a few courses that has to be completed be a seafarer to legally go to sea, these trainings include; basic training( which is a one week training on safety and survival technique), marine pollution, security awareness, and many more.
These courses are designed to help a seafarer have a basic understanding of his/her new environment, to know the possible dangers there, and how to avoid it as best as humanly possible. Some companies even add extra caution to minimize the risks(for example my company makes us wear a full gear when ever we leave our accommodation area to the main deck, working or not).
It's a very dangerous job, so why do people still do it? Every year thousands of students graduate and qualify to go to sea, what drives them is very different; many are driven by money because it's a source of income, others are forced by their parents to go into the profession, then there are some that are in it for the adventure, they are happy to see the world(for free), every new day at sea provide possibilities, something new to learn, new people to see, and most of all a chance to ride a beast to the far ends of the earth. It's the thrill of a lifetime, no matter how dangerous it might seem, it's still part of the charm that attracts us to the sea.
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