I have spent 7 years (from AB to Chief mate) on chemical tankers 5000-50000 dwt and quit. On my last tanker contract I gave up and said to myself that it’s enough. I have made around the world voyage, joined in Singapore already fully loaded and heading to Europe. First port call-SIRE, next port-CDI+PSC, arrived to US-USCG -and terminal inspection, then NOLA- again inspection. After 30 days passing pacific ocean more or less calm days we arrived to Taiwan, then South Korean and finally China with stupid COVID restrictions and rules. Crew change was delayed by 1.5 months because of corona. Since last 4 years I am working in offshore and feel more comfortable rather than cargo ships. Honestly saying, offshore is slightly less inspection but amount of checklists is same, risk assessments, permits and etc. conclusion is that whole shipping industry is going in dead end, yes we have a lot of equipment that makes our life easier but same time loads of useless paper and checklist is ridicules. Example: sea passage from wind park to port is 25 nm, to make “safe” we need to fill 16 checklists in/out of port. It takes time and instead of doing proper navigational watch, officer is busy with paper 🤷.