Compassionate Case

Our noon position today is 45 miles South-West of Ouessant, France. The first landmark and lighthouse for the entrance to the Western Approaches and English Channel. Also within helicopter reach from the French Coast. On the Hermod they planned to evacuate a Malaysian crew member due to family circumstances, a so called 'Compassionate Case' This means that it is no emergency, but everybody will do his utmost best to get this man home in Malaysia as soon as possible. It is a kind of a 'Gentleman's Agreement', there are no contracts, you simply know that the company will try very hard to get you home. This was not always so; in earlier days - some forty years ago or more - with terms on board lasting often more than one and a half year, a lot of seamen got home with his son or daughter already half a year old, or a family member already buried for months! By the way; this picture was taken by Sikke, Mate of the Hermod, on the helicopterdeck of the Hermod.