I worked as deck hand on the Starlight fishing vessel,
that countinuosly trawls the ocean between Australia & Indonesia,
up to 30 hours’ journey north of Darwin, following the giant schools of fish
and trying to find the best spots to lower our bait-traps.
All around is emptiness, endless ocean in all directions, ravaged hands, a bundles of nerves, the burning sun, tough physical labour and a punishing daily schedule that starts with a 2 am alarm and ends 16 hours later with sleep in a tiny bunk.
In three weeks, we’ ll burn 20,000 litres of fuel, collect 24 tonnes of fish and take half a day’ s break.
D, Grahaiam, Colin, they are so far from Sydney and its common lifestyle,
all they have is the sea, it pays well if you have the skills.
They don’ t know where else to go, they have no education,
nor a driver’ s license.
An incredibly long time in the sea to lay the foundations for a better future,
maybe in Lombok, Indonesia, where Captain Colin dreams to move one day..
For now, the ocean is home.
