During the pandemic, we weren't the only souls adrift at sea. As nations closed their doors, the horizon was dotted with the spectral presence of ghost ships - immense cargo carriers, tankers, and cruise liners. They floated aimlessly in international waters or remained anchored at a distance from harbors; some were manned by bare-minimum crews while others echoed a chilling emptiness.
The pandemic-induced lockdowns, shuttered ports, and dwindling demand for goods and fuel forced these vessels into an unforeseen standstill. They became trapped, either by customs and quarantine protocols or by economic constraints.
The plight cruise ships was especially haunting. These massive vessels, once filled with hedonistic entertainment, morphed into somber monoliths reflecting the pandemic's stranglehold. With shores denying them entry, they transformed into desolate islands, their crews often marooned for months on end.
The tales of ghost ships did draw some media attention to the challenges faced by seafarers. Stranded at sea, often without wages, fresh provisions, or a way home, the sheer size of these ghost ships spotlighted the human cost of the stranded in a manner that small vessels like ours could never capture.
'Ghost Ship' was taken flying my drone from our boat while out to sea in the very early stages of the initial outbreak.
