1940年,英国船只SS格伦凯恩号上的一众船员,正在为这艘船从西印度群岛到巴尔的摩再到英国的危险航行做准备。Aboard the freighter Glencairn, the lives of the crew are lived out in fear, loneliness, suspicion and cameraderie. The men smuggle drink and women aboard, fight with each other, spy on each other, comfort each other as death approaches, and rescue each other from danger.