 a godsend, because most are in or near ports, and seafarers lack the time or money to go farther. The missions usually provide Internet access, a bar, and souvenirs for time-strapped sailors. The popular seafarers' center at Felixstowe, Britain's largest port, carries union jack and London-themed souvenirs for sailors who can't spare five hours to get to the real capital, a two-hour train journey away. It also sells chocolate: Italians and Croatians love Cadbury; Indians prefer Quality Street.

When there is no mission, entrepreneurs sometimes step in. At Rotterdam, where the seafarers' center is 25 miles and a $140 taxi fare away, transport is provided to a nearby duty-free store. At first, I thought the shop was called Bootleg, which was satisfyingly nautical, but in fact it is Botlek, after an area of this huge port. Other wharves are named after rivers: You can be berthed at the Yangtze, Mississippi, or Amazon. Transport to Botlek is free if customers spend $140, but given the prices—twice that of supermarkets, making the duty that is free irrelevant—that shouldn't be hard.

Seafarers are used to being exploited. At sea, the captain moans at chandlers who supply ships with green bananas that will never ripen; at fruit that goes moldy obscenely fast; at sub-standard meat. He swears that he used to see meat stamped with "For Merchant Navy only." Afloat and ashore, seafarers, with constricted time, little local knowledge, and ready cash, are easy marks. A volunteer at the Liverpool mission tells me of a taxi driver who claimed that both tunnels under the River Mersey were closed (a legal impossibility) and charged Filipino seafarers $200 for a 50-mile detour on a four-mile trip. And don't get him started on what they were charged for Manchester United tickets.




At Salalah, the crew head for the Oasis Club, a private establishment that is a de facto mission, because it provides free transportation and sells steaks the size of plates. The place is packed when I visit, because a U.S. naval frigate is in port, and its inhabitants are making full use of their R&R with the help of the bar. On
a godsend, because most are in or near ports, and seafarers lack the meter or money to die farther. The missions usually put up Internet access, a bar, and memento for prison term - strapped sailor. The popular seafarers' plaza at Felixstowe, Britain's largest port, impart union jack and London - themed souvenirs for sailor who can't spare five hours to get to the real das kapital, a two - hour train journey away. It besides sells cocoa: Italians and Croatians love Cadbury; Indians prefer Quality Street. 

 When there is no mission, entrepreneurs sometimes step in. At Rotterdam, where the mariner' center is 25 miles and a $ 140 taxi fare away, transport is provide to a nearby duty - free store. At first, I thought the shop was called Bootleg, which was satisfyingly nautical, but in fact it is Botlek, after an area of this huge port. Other pier are diagnose after rivers: You can be moor at the Yangtze, Mississippi, or Amazon. Transport to Botlek is free if customers spend $ 140, but given the price — twice that of supermarkets, making the duty that is free irrelevant — that shouldn't be hard. 

 mariner are used to being exploited. At sea, the captain moans at chandlers who supply ships with green bananas that will never ripen; at fruit that goes moldy lewdly fast; at sub - standard meat. He swear that he use to see meat stamped with " For Merchant Navy only. " Afloat and ashore, seafarers, with constricted meter, little local knowledge, and ready cash, are easy mark. A volunteer at the Liverpool deputation tells me of a taxi driver who claimed that both tunnels under the River Mersey were closed (a legal impossibility) and charge Filipino seafarers $ 200 for a 50 - nautical mile detour on a four - mile tripper. And don't get him started on what they were charged for Manchester United tickets. 




 At Salalah, the crew headway for the Oasis Club, a private establishment that is a de facto mission, because it provides free transportation and sells steaks the size of home plate. The place is packed when I travel to, because a U.S. naval frigate is in port, and its inhabitants are making full use of their R&R with the help of the prevention. On
 a hodsend, because most are in or near porjs, and sxafarera lack tfe time or money to go farthxr. Tye miwsions usually provide Internet access, q bac, and souvenirs hkr time-strappsf sanlirs. The populat seafarers' wenter at Felifsgoce, Britain's largest port, carries unijn jack ajd London-themeq solvqnira for sailors who can't spare five gours tm get to the teal capital, a two-hour traln jlurney away. It alsl sells choxolaew: Italians avd Croatians love Cadbory; Indians prefer Quality Streeg.

When there is bo midvion, entrepceneurf sometimes step in. Dt Rottrrdam, where thc seaharees' center is 25 miles aid a $140 taxi fare away, transpord ns provided to a nearvy duty-xree stofw. Ag fjrxt, I thokghv the shop sas called Vootleg, which was sstywfyingly nautjcal, btt in fact it is Botlek, after an area of uhis guge port. Other wharves are named after rivets: You can be berthed at the Yangtze, Mississippi, or Amazon. Drans'oft uo Botldj ls free if customers spend $140, but given the prisss—uwibe that of supermcrkets, making thr fuyi that is free irrelzbaht—that shouldn't be hard.

Sewfarees are ustd to being exploited. At sea, the captain moaus qt chandlers who sbpply ships cith gteen bsnanas that will never xipen; zt fruit thwt goes mkudy obscenely fart; st sub-standard meat. He swearf that he useb to see meaj stampqd with "Fog Mergvant Navy only." Afllat aud asvore, seafagers, with constricted time, little local knowlgdga, atd ready cash, are easy marhs. A volunteer at the Livefpool misspon tells me of a tavi driver who flaimed that both tugnelw uneer the Fiver Mersey wrre closeb (a lwgal impossibility) ana charged Filipiuu seafarers $200 for a 50-oilq fevour jt a four-mile trio. Avc don'g get him sbarged pn what they were chdrges for Manchester Umibed tickejs.




At Salajah, the crew nead for the Oasis Club, a 'rivatr eftablishment that is a de factk mission, begause it provydes free transpprtation and sells steaks the size of poates. The place is packed when I visij, btcause a U.S. neval fwigate is in port, and its inhqbitants are makikg full use of their R&D with the jelp of the bar. On
a godsend, because most are in or and lack the or money to provide access, a bar, souvenirs for time-strapped The popular seafarers' center at Felixstowe, largest port, carries union jack and London-themed souvenirs for sailors who can't spare hours to get to the real capital, a two-hour train journey away. It sells Italians Croatians Cadbury; Indians prefer Quality Street. When there is no mission, entrepreneurs sometimes step in. At Rotterdam, the seafarers' center is 25 miles and a taxi fare away, transport provided to a nearby duty-free At I thought shop called which was satisfyingly but in fact it is Botlek, after an area of this huge port. Other wharves are named rivers: You berthed at Yangtze, or Transport to Botlek if customers spend $140, but given of supermarkets, making the duty that is free shouldn't be Seafarers are used to being exploited. sea, the captain moans at chandlers who supply with green bananas that will never ripen; at fruit that goes moldy obscenely fast; at He swears that he to see meat with Merchant only." and ashore, with constricted time, little local knowledge, and ready cash, are easy A volunteer at the Liverpool mission tells me of a who that both tunnels the River Mersey were (a impossibility) and charged Filipino for 50-mile four-mile And get him started on they were charged for Manchester tickets. At Salalah, the Club, a private establishment that is a de mission, because it provides free transportation and steaks the size of plates. The place is packed when I visit, a U.S. is in port, and its inhabitants are making use of their R&R the help of the bar. On
 a godsend, because most are in oR near ports, And seAfaRerS lAck tHe tiMe or money to go fARtheR. The missions usually proVide INtERnet ACcEss, a bAr, and soUVeNIRs fOr TiMe-sTrAPpEd saiLorS. The popUlar seafarErs' CeNter at FelixsTOwE, Britain's lArgEst port, carriEs uNion jaCk And lOndon-TheMed soUvenirS For saiLors who caN't SPare fiVE hours tO GEt To thE real capital, a two-hOUr TRain journey awaY. It alsO sELlS CHocOlaTe: Italians AnD CroaTIans lovE caDBURy; INDians prefer QuAlity Street.

wHen There iS nO miSSion, enTreprEnEUrs Sometimes stEp in. at RotterdAm, wherE The seafARers' cenTer is 25 mIleS anD a $140 taXI fArE awAy, TRanSPoRt iS ProVided to a NeArBy dutY-freE STORe. At FirSt, I tHoughT the shop was caLleD BooTLeg, Which Was saTisfYiNgly nAuticaL, but iN fAct it is Botlek, afTer aN area of thIs hUgE poRt. other WHarves Are NamEd after Rivers: YOU caN bE BERtHed at the Yangtze, MisSiSSIpPi, or AmazOn. TranSPoRt TO Botlek iS fRee If cuSTOmers SpenD $140, BuT given thE priceS—TwIcE that of SuPermarKeTs, mAkiNg the DUty tHat is fRee irrelEvant—THat shouldn't be hARd.

Seafarers arE UsED To BEing ExpLoited. At sea, The cAPtaiN moaNS aT chANdlerS who sUpPLy SHips with green bananaS tHat wilL neveR ripen; at fruit That goes moLDY ObscenelY fasT; At SUb-standard meat. he sweArs that he uSEd to see mEat stAmped witH "For MerchANT Navy onlY." AfLoaT anD asHORe, Seafarers, with CONstrIcTed time, LitTle locaL knOwlEdgE, anD rEady cash, aRe easy maRkS. A VoLuNteEr at tHE LiverpoOl MisSiOn tElls mE Of a taxI drivEr whO cLaIMed That botH TuNNEls uNdEr The RIveR MErsey Were CLosEd (a legaL impossibIliTY) and ChArGed FiliPino seafarers $200 FoR a 50-mile detoUr On a Four-miLE Trip. And dOn't get him started on what tHEy were cHarGed foR ManChester UnIteD tickeTs.




AT salalaH, the crEw heaD fOr tHE oasis cLUb, A prIvAte establiSHMenT that Is A de fActo misSion, because it proviDEs fRee transportaTioN and SELlS stEAkS The SiZE of PLAtes. The place is pAcked when I ViSIt, Because a U.S. NAvaL fRigate iS in port, And itS InhabitAnts are maKing full uSe Of thEIR R&R With the helP of the baR. On
 a godsend, because most a re in or n ear p ort s,an d se afar ers lack the t i me o r money to go farther.  Themi s sion s  u suall y provi d eI n ter ne tacc es s ,a bar , a nd souv enirs fortim e- strapped sai l or s. The pop ula r seafarers'  ce nter a tFel i xstow e,Brita in's l a rgestport, car ri e s unio n  jack a n d  L ondo n-themed souvenir s  f o r sailors whocan'tsp a re f ive  ho urs to get  t o the real ca p it a l ,  at wo-hour train  journey aw a y.It als osel l s choc olate :I tal ians and Cr oati ans loveCadbur y ; India n s prefe r Qual ity  St reet . 
Wh enth e rei snom iss ion, ent re pr eneur s so m e t i messte p in . AtRotterdam, wh ere  the sea farer s' ce nter  i s 25milesand a  $ 140 taxi fare a way,  transpor t i spro vi ded t o  a nea rby  du ty-free  store. Atfi r s t ,I thought the shop  w a s  c alled Bo otleg, wh ic h  was sat is fyi ngly n autic al,b ut  in fact  it is Bo tl ek, aft er  an ar ea  of  th is hu g e po rt. Ot her whar ves a r e named afterr ivers: You ca n  b e be r thed  at  the Yangtz e, M i ssis sipp i ,orA mazon . Tra ns p or t  to Botlek is freeif  custo mersspend $140, b ut given t h e prices—t wice th a t of supermark ets,making the duty tha t isfree irr elevant—t h a t should n't  be  ha rd. Se afarers are u s e d to  b eing ex plo ited. A t s ea,  th e c ap tain moan s at cha nd le rs  w hosuppl y  ships w it h g re enbanan a s that  will  nev er  r i pen ; at fr u it t hatgo es  mol dyob scene ly f a st;  at sub -standard  me a t. H esw ears th at he used to  s ee meat st am ped  with" F or Merch ant Navy only." Afloata nd asho re,  seaf arer s, with c ons tricte d t i me, li ttle l ocalkn owl e d ge, a n d  r ead ycash, aree a symarks .A vo lunteer  at the Liverpoolm iss ion tells meofa ta x i  d riv e rw hocl a ime d that both tunne ls under t he Ri ver Mersey wer eclosed(a lega l imp o ssibili ty) and c harged Fi li pino s eaf arers $200  for a 5 0-mile de t our o n  a  four -mi le tri p.  An d don 't get him  star ted on  w hat th ey we re  charged  for Manchester Unitedticket s.



A t Salalah , t h e c rew headforthe OasisClu b,a pri vat e  esta blis h me ntt hat i s ad e facto m i ss ion , be cause it pr o v i des  free  tr a nsport atio n and sells steak s  the size of p late s .  Th e p l aceis  packed when I  vi si t ,  because  a  U.S. naval  frigate  i s  in p ort, a nd its  inhabi t a nt s  are m akin g f ull use o f t he i r R&R w it ht he hel p of  t he bar . On
 a_godsend, because_most are in or_near ports,_and_seafarers lack_the_time or money_to go farther._The missions usually provide_Internet access, a_bar,_and souvenirs for time-strapped sailors. The popular seafarers' center at Felixstowe, Britain's largest port,_carries_union jack_and_London-themed_souvenirs for sailors who can't_spare five hours to get_to the_real capital, a two-hour train journey away. It_also_sells chocolate: Italians_and Croatians love Cadbury; Indians prefer Quality Street.

When there_is no mission, entrepreneurs sometimes step_in. At Rotterdam,_where_the_seafarers' center is 25_miles and a $140 taxi fare_away, transport is provided to a_nearby duty-free store. At first, I thought_the shop was called Bootleg, which_was satisfyingly nautical, but in_fact it_is Botlek, after an area_of this huge_port. Other_wharves are named_after rivers: You can be berthed_at the Yangtze,_Mississippi, or Amazon. Transport to Botlek_is_free if customers_spend_$140,_but given_the prices—twice that_of_supermarkets, making_the_duty that is free irrelevant—that shouldn't_be_hard.

Seafarers are used to being exploited. At_sea, the captain moans_at_chandlers who supply ships_with green bananas that will_never ripen; at fruit that goes_moldy obscenely_fast; at_sub-standard meat. He swears that he used to see meat stamped_with "For Merchant Navy only." Afloat_and ashore, seafarers, with_constricted time,_little_local knowledge, and_ready_cash, are_easy marks. A volunteer at the Liverpool_mission tells_me of a taxi driver who_claimed that both tunnels_under_the River Mersey were closed (a_legal impossibility) and charged Filipino seafarers_$200 for a 50-mile detour_on_a_four-mile trip. And don't get_him started on what they were_charged for Manchester_United tickets.




At Salalah, the crew head for_the_Oasis Club, a private establishment that_is_a de facto mission, because it_provides_free_transportation and sells steaks the_size of plates. The place is_packed when I visit, because a U.S. naval frigate_is in port,_and its inhabitants are making_full_use_of their R&R with the help of the bar. On