In a year that has seen more than 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean, with an unknown number losing their lives in unsuitable small craft, the description of shipping being a “frontier activity” seems particularly apposite. While the work of the national coast guards and rescue authorities in neighbouring countries is recognised, along with acknowledgement of the impossible problems they face, the contribution of commercial shipping in saving lives is perhaps less visible.

But on frequent occasions this year, since the trickle of refugees from North Africa became a flood, prompt and seamanlike efforts by those operating merchant ships have rescued people who were, quite literally, facing a watery death. Tankers, bulkers, container ships and other vessels, none of which is exactly designed for sea rescues, have been employed in this humanitarian effort.

Earlier this month, for instance, the westbound Evelyn Maersk responded to an Italian appeal to help a small craft apparently in trouble in the Sicily Channel. When the big container ship closed the scene, it was discovered that aboard the fishing boat were crammed 352 people, including 43 children. In an operation which lasted into the small hours of the morning, all of these people were taken safely aboard without injury, were being fed and the ship was en route for a port in Sicily, where they were handed over to the authorities.

Such a brief report conceals the achievement of the Master of Evelyn Maersk and the small crew of the giant ship, in handling the ship with such precision over many hours, and in actually getting the people from the leaking boat up the side of a ship with a huge freeboard and to safety. As a feat of seamanship it was considerable, as it was with the crews of so many other merchant ships pressed into service in recent months. They have acted with humanity, but also with great skill in these rescue missions, some of which have been accomplished in marginal weather.

It is also clear that this flood of refugees from war-torn countries is going to remain a serious problem for a long time to come and merchant mariners are likely to be called upon to assist more frequently. The shipping industry, obligated by humanitarian and legal requirements, can only respond to the situations its vessels encounter and it is to their credit that they invariably respond so well.

But it is worth thinking about the realities faced by seafarers in the 21st century, additional to their traditional hazards of “storm and tempest, fire and foe”. They have regularly to sail across pirate infested waters, their enjoyment of many foreign ports will be circumscribed by the security agenda, and now they find themselves on the front line in a world replete with political instability, with desperate people taking to the high seas to escape their dreadful circumstances ashore. The humanitarian role of seafarers and their ships deserves rather more public recognition.