One of the most egalitarian forms of public transport must be the ferry. These vessels cross untold numbers of rivers and coastal straits and link unbridgeable islands. Without them tens (hundreds?) of thousands (millions?) of people would have their travel freedoms tightly constrained. Regrettably, not all ferries are equal, especially in regards to safety.
Ferry passengers in some parts of the world willingly venture onto overcrowded vessels with woefully inadequate life safety measures just because this is the only way to reach their destination. In consequence, lives are lost when the vessel capsizes, hits rocks or otherwise comes to grief. Other parts of the world, however, strictly govern and manage both passenger and ship safety. Of course, the cost of a ferry journey reflects these different levels of safety, amongst other factors.
Once on board a ferry, though, life continues. Upper and lower decks become the centre of this life for passengers. Here they eat, sleep, converse and look at the scenery according to their tastes and needs. Some ferries cater to these life needs by providing extensive on board facilities like restaurants, wifi, private cabins, games rooms for children (adults have to make do with cabins) and charging points for mobile phones and computers. Other ferries provide transport alone, with everything else provided by the passengers.
But being on a ferry is not part of ‘normal’ life for many passengers; it’s an occasional experience. So to remember the experience these infrequent ferry travellers take photos just as they take photos wherever they go. (Who doesn’t have a camera these days, if only it’s the one in their mobile phone?) Selfies are common, demonstrating for others that the passenger actually was there. (So no, it’s not a postcard I bought at some expense from the gift shop on board the ferry.) Group selfies (grelpies?) bond friends by providing memories of shared moments. Such moments of sharing remove the group members from the hustle and bustle of life on board the ferry and provide brief moments of shared solidarity. And when selfies and grelpies are published on social media it again demonstrates to the world that I was here. See what you are missing. Envy generated large across the internet.
But, why did I say that ferries are egalitarian? Simply because going on a ferry trip is generally open to every man, woman and their dog. And if a ferry gets into trouble everyone aboard is equally affected. Storms can’t be paid to weaken, shoals can’t be bought off, poor internet connections affect all passengers. While some passengers may suffer these events in the comfort of an expensive state room, when the ferry goes down, it’s everyone to the life rafts. And then the real nature of each passenger is displayed for all other passengers, and often, the world to see. Thanks goodness for the internet.
Words and images 