WORKING ON A CONTAINER SHIP | LIFE AS A MERCHANT MARINER

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  • Опубликовано: 25 май 2021
  • From the end of 2019 to the beginning of 2020 I spent 77 days working on a container ship as a watch standing AB.
    #Containership #merchantmariner #siu
    Desert City by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
    Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
    Artist: incompetech.com/
    Jalandhar by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
    Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
    Artist: incompetech.com/
    Sailors Lament by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
    Artist: audionautix.com/
    INSTAGRAM:
    / franta.joe

Комментарии • 2,8 тыс.

  • @b-man1232
    @b-man1232 Год назад +2377

    This is why I love RUclips!!! I have never been on a cargo ship, probably never will...but, I can still live vicariously through you! So damn cool

    • @scottgibson6735
      @scottgibson6735 Год назад +33

      I went on a cargo ship from Jacksonville.to Guatemala I was listed as super cargo.
      Super cargo,is basically the cargo owners representative.
      The cargo included 52 British sports cars that my father,and another investor had boughtThere was a representative for the other buyer to.we had the run of the ship,and bridge.The crew was mostly Filipino.The captain,and officers were
      German,but they all spoke good English.The Captains wife was onboard.She was hot,and knew itShe liked sunbathing in a little bikini, that really wasn't worth the effort,since it didn't really.cover anything.she was easy to talk to on most subjects.She worshipped her husband,and wouldn't . Thank you for the vhear anything bad about him

    • @Randallsixx13
      @Randallsixx13 Год назад +8

      I agree!

    • @JOovshak82
      @JOovshak82 Год назад +21

      Right!!!! I like watching people riding trains across the U.S. Can't afford it so I'll just travel through someone else 🍺🤘🧀

    • @supahfly_uk
      @supahfly_uk Год назад +6

      Well said, It's why I watch people in wing suits or flying jets lol.

    • @jasmith1867
      @jasmith1867 Год назад +11

      Living vicariously sums up most of my youtube experiences.

  • @twimine
    @twimine Год назад +3364

    I like how he said “something about a virus - I am sure it is nothing - lol”

    • @jiggscasey1874
      @jiggscasey1874 Год назад +432

      It was nothing

    • @Spyke-lz2hl
      @Spyke-lz2hl Год назад +140

      I remember thinking the same thing back then. Man oh man…

    • @Spyke-lz2hl
      @Spyke-lz2hl Год назад +3

      @@lilbigmoney9148 Except over a million people have died, but whatever, I guess none of them were close to you so you don’t care. Cool.

    • @stephanromeo684
      @stephanromeo684 Год назад +155

      I lost a couple friends to it 😪

    • @stateradio115
      @stateradio115 Год назад +1

      @@jiggscasey1874 Whether or not you believe the virus was a hoax, it is retarded to say it was "nothing" when all the world's economies slowed down, entire countries were locked down, and million of people (some with preconditions albeit) died.

  • @Art930
    @Art930 Месяц назад +18

    Female senior citizen here. Wish when I was a young woman that I would have had the opportunity to do a job like this. The most adventure offered was being a teacher or secretary. Thanks for posting these videos - I get to live vicariously.

  • @xcheyx
    @xcheyx 11 месяцев назад +124

    As a person who moves the containers in and out of ports/ramps, your hard work does not go unnoticed! We appreciate y’all ❤ without you we can’t do what we do

  • @mikestone9129
    @mikestone9129 Год назад +455

    Interesting video. Before I went in the army I was in the Navy. Something about be at sea, miles from land, especially at night that makes you feel small and insignificant. It can be so peaceful one minute, and horrifying the next. Loved it.

    • @EinundzwanzigPanzer
      @EinundzwanzigPanzer Год назад +3

      What did you do in the navy and what did/do you do in the army, and why did you switch?

    • @jasonmoyer9492
      @jasonmoyer9492 Год назад +15

      Lol, I was a Cav Scout for 8 years in the army then went merchant marine. I come from a navy family to. I was born on a navy base in rota Spain. But I enjoyed being out on the ocean. I've never seen so many beautiful sunrises or sunsets or the red moon. Don't see that on land

    • @cvgodd1432
      @cvgodd1432 Год назад +13

      So true, the ocean is like a big monster than can be beautiful and scary af at the same time. I just think how many people lost their lives in these oceans and what mystical creatures are at the bottom.

    • @762gunr
      @762gunr Год назад +1

      *Army *navy.........prick.

    • @lilacscentedfushias1852
      @lilacscentedfushias1852 Год назад

      Mike I have a friend who did that

  • @MidtownSun
    @MidtownSun 9 месяцев назад +24

    Dude. Not just the production-value, but the individual shots .. the editing and how you pieced your story together with the visuals…. SOMEONE needs to convince you to do this full-time!

    • @MidtownSun
      @MidtownSun 9 месяцев назад

      I have a direct link to the merchant marine life (Mass Maritime,Maine Maritime, Kings Point, etc) and the pride you guys have in what you do; how the general public has no clue what it takes to keep an engine room running across the Atlantic. But your skills in visual storytelling need to be utilized off the boat, my friend. As much as I enjoyed seeing this and all of the work you put into it (it shows), I want to see you use these talents outside the bridge. You’ve got the talent - use it!

    • @JoeFranta
      @JoeFranta  9 месяцев назад +2

      I appreciate that!

  • @nicevideomancanada
    @nicevideomancanada Год назад +128

    I often imagine being shipwrecked on a deserted island with 24,000 Containers full of stuff. One could write an on going t.v. series where the castaways open up some more containers every episode and find interesting stuff they can use on their island paradise

    • @MahiTanMazy
      @MahiTanMazy Год назад +7

      That's a good idea tbh

    • @davesynth3860
      @davesynth3860 8 месяцев назад +5

      Play the game Stranded Deep-you’ll make that a reality.

    • @nelliesfarm8473
      @nelliesfarm8473 6 месяцев назад +3

      Sounds good to me ..except I'd like my dogs with me too 😂

    • @nicevideomancanada
      @nicevideomancanada 6 месяцев назад

      Ok, you can come with your dogs too. ;-) there will probably be lots of dog food on board. @@nelliesfarm8473

    • @user-vf6oq4tu4p
      @user-vf6oq4tu4p 2 месяца назад

      How much can you make a month on that job?

  • @NorthPaddle
    @NorthPaddle 10 месяцев назад +27

    I live in Alaska, where virtually everything gets here on container ships. I see them every day at the port but it was great to see a little insight from a guy doing the job. Thanks for posting. 👍🏻

  • @michaelorfanos7416
    @michaelorfanos7416 Год назад +136

    My father was doing the same job, from Greece and jumped ship in New Orleans. He met my mother in Mass, also Greek and joined the army and served. Elvis was in his platoon. My father didn't know who he was. They were in Germany together. I asked him if he ever spoke to Elvis and he said yea but didn't like his music because he only listened to Greek music. He also said he was better looking than him, LOL!!!

    • @KerryOConnor1
      @KerryOConnor1 Год назад +11

      underrated comment here folks

    • @chemoboy-dannypheleps9234
      @chemoboy-dannypheleps9234 Год назад +2

      gosh dang

    • @michaelorfanos7416
      @michaelorfanos7416 Год назад +13

      @@chemoboy-dannypheleps9234 It's all true, They also went to Korea for a short time but no fighting.
      I was born when he came home.
      He also told me about when he was 10 years old and in Greece during WW2 living on the island of Skopelos. It is not far from Athens. He said he sat on the rocks by the sea and watched the German ships trying to sink Greek subs. When he saw oil the people got ready to save the Greek sailors and they saved many. He also said that the normal Germans under occupation were very nice and all were alerted if a Nazi was coming.
      My dad said that he hated the Nazi but the normal Germans or later Italians were all very friendly.
      My Grandfather was part of the underground but mostly stole wepons to blow up in the water to stun fish so they could all survive.
      My Dad still has a scare on his face from being slapped be an SS officer for not leading his horse on a path to the upper village. We say MONO PATHY in Greek. History is wonderful and we should all be wise to not allow our freedoms to be taken away again.

    • @JS-hp1ow
      @JS-hp1ow Год назад +3

      How did he smell? Apparently he was a really smelly guy.

    • @straycat1081
      @straycat1081 Год назад +1

      While stationed in Germany in the '90s, I had a haircut by a barber who claimed to have cut Elvis' hair. I believe Elvis was stationed at Ray Barracks in Friedberg, GE.

  • @torbenlarsen331
    @torbenlarsen331 Год назад +356

    I guess I was lucky to work as engineer on a bulk carrier in the seventies. I worked for the Danish company Torm Lines. I remember how we always spent at least 4 to five days in the same place. In the South of Italy close to Pompey we stayed for two weeks, so I rented a car and drove to Pompey and also Naples. We sailed for orders allover, not like a container ship which sails constantly on the same destinations.
    I have sailed from Constanza in the Black Sea to Salvador in Brazil and of course la Plata River too, not to mention all ports on the US east from coast Corpus Christi to Duluth.
    In Europe from Narvik, Norway to Italy.
    As officer I had signed a contract which meant 12 months on board and then 10 weeks vacation with salary and pocket money. It was such a great experience.

    • @joeskis
      @joeskis Год назад +7

      you've been to the great lake they call Gitche Gumee?

    • @torbenlarsen331
      @torbenlarsen331 Год назад +8

      @@joeskis I have been to Thunder Bay, in December. I think we were the last ship to leave Thunder Bay, because they had already begun to remove the seamarks. It was very cold when we came to Chicago with lots of snow.
      But some years before I hitched hiked across Canada from Montreal to Vancouver. On the way back I jumped a CP train and a RCMP saw it but he couldn't catch-up with my spinning legs. I did 800 miles with that train.

    • @torbenlarsen331
      @torbenlarsen331 Год назад +2

      @Endofstory you're right, we were very lucky. I later worked for the Ministry for Environmental Protection here in Denmark 🇩🇰, where I had a fleet of smaller vessels to taken care of.

    • @torbenlarsen331
      @torbenlarsen331 Год назад +9

      @@KISSHOOTERS6969 you can contact Maersk Lines they have their own education system.

    • @paleamigo8575
      @paleamigo8575 Год назад +2

      That sounds awesome! Congratulations on a rewarding career.💯

  • @Dandarez073
    @Dandarez073 Год назад +108

    One of my biggest regrets in life is not going to the maritime academy after high school, I went to the open day, but ended up choosing not to go because I didn't feel like moving to Vlissingen at that time.
    This just makes me feel the itch again... I'm 36 and work on a farm now, but I guess it's never too late to switch it up.

    • @JoeFranta
      @JoeFranta  Год назад +48

      For sure Dan, I switched careers at 31. Never too old brother

    • @xmzru
      @xmzru Год назад +5

      don't give up on your dreams! I believe in you sir!

    • @OmmerSyssel
      @OmmerSyssel 11 месяцев назад

      Unless you have specific technical qualifications, it's pretty much upwards career change. Majority of basic jobs are long taken by cheap Asian and Eastern European sailors.
      Even on Officer level occupations are becoming scarce...
      Ask around among Ship agencies with a good reputation. If you can afford the break, hope for the best and try it

    • @xmzru
      @xmzru 11 месяцев назад +2

      @@OmmerSyssel Should I still pursue this career? I just graduated high school (I'm in the us) and was planning to go to a maritime academy to be a deck officer. what you said is giving me second thoughts...

    • @charleneparis6695
      @charleneparis6695 10 месяцев назад +11

      It's never too late!! 2 weeks before my 38th birthday, I started work on an inland chemical tanker (and I'm a female, Scottish Expat, mother of 2 nearly adult teens. I've been living in NL for 13 years) I'm doing BBL opleiding to become Helmsman. Currently enroute from Antwerp to Frankfurt ⚓️ I've worked in Radio, been self employed, worked in communications and did HBO social work opleiding before I stepped into this world. I sometimes still can't believe I'm doing this 😂 we work 1 week on 1 week off and it's a great way of life...Follow your dreams 👌🙏⚓️

  • @TheBatugan77
    @TheBatugan77 Год назад +2

    I worked as a Navy bean on two USNS ships. Those civilian mariners were a trip. Enjoyed the hell out of them. Many were veterans or even retired military. Good eggs.

  • @SWExplore
    @SWExplore Год назад +209

    Yep, Joe, I know that I'll never likely be on a container ship, but you brought us along, and for that I am grateful!

  • @BruceMilpitas
    @BruceMilpitas Год назад +88

    I worked on a container ship in 1985-1986 for 12 months. Loved the experience. I got to passed the Suez Canal 12 times. Unfortunately we didn’t have RUclips or digital cameras at the time. Your video brought back lots of memories. Thx.

  • @armorhide406
    @armorhide406 Год назад +107

    Everyone always thanks navy sailors. What we do is not nearly as important as what a container ship does. Thank you for your service

  • @peterdixon7975
    @peterdixon7975 2 месяца назад +4

    I was 3/Off on SeaLand Charger. Great Ships.
    Am Captain now. These videos really give an insight into life at sea. Good job Joe.

  • @Phoenixesper1
    @Phoenixesper1 Год назад +10

    "Happy 2020 everyone"
    If only he had known....he'd never have gotten off that ship! LOL

  • @carolinehoward180
    @carolinehoward180 Год назад +45

    My dad was a Master Mariner and Captain in the Merchant Navy for many many years. He did this trip down the Suez lots of times. He later went on to be a World renowned Ship Surveyor and I spent a lot of my early childhood on board cargo ships just like that. I loved the smell! There is nothing like it! I’m sad he’s not here anymore to ask about all his travels. Great upload. Thanks 🙏

  • @jarrettvalentine6777
    @jarrettvalentine6777 Месяц назад +10

    The Baltimore bridge collision brought me here.

  • @MrBillagordon
    @MrBillagordon Год назад +3

    Thanks for posting! I was a Merchant Marine from '91 to '96. Deck Dept. O.S. first run bulk carrier Operation desert Storm. Did almost the same run as you across the Atlantic to Saudi Arabia.
    After that went to the west coast did the oil tanker runs to Alaska up and down that coast.
    Best run though was a Sea-land Container ship I worked in the Caribbean. They call it the Crescent run. New York, Jacksonville, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, New Orleans.
    If you ever have a chance to do the Crescent Run do it!!

  • @ronniechilds2002
    @ronniechilds2002 Год назад +106

    Thank you for that, sir. I envy your sense of curiosity and adventure, and your courage to satisfy them. Seeing life on a ship from your unique perspective was damned interesting. Nice editing, too, good pace.

  • @Hawaii96720
    @Hawaii96720 Год назад +59

    incredible stuff! Living in Hawaii I do appreciate the immense effort it takes to ship anything and everything overseas via container ships.

  • @tryingtolearnthis
    @tryingtolearnthis Год назад +16

    Made that trip a couple of times but it was mostly under the water. The Suez Canal we had to transit surfaced but was one of the best experiences of my life.

  • @laurenfrancis-talley215
    @laurenfrancis-talley215 7 месяцев назад

    This was so fascinating! Looking back on this, I know you were probably grateful for those short port stays and that you didn't go into the Pacific!

  • @dereksuddreth8672
    @dereksuddreth8672 Год назад +34

    Great Video! A lot of the work you do I did myself as a Seaman/Petty Officer on two US Navy Knox class Frigates during my 4 year enlistment from 1977 - 1981. Standing watch (3 sections at sea), chipping, painting and cleaning were the order of the day. Seems like I never got enough sleep! We were stationed off the coast of Iran in the Gulf of Oman during the Hostage Crisis. We briefly visited (with no Liberty Call) Mogadishu, Somalia to deliver documents (years before the downing of the US Army Blackhawk). Soviet warships tailed us into and around the Black Sea (and we sailed alone). Now things are heating up again between the Russians and the USA. It seems like the Cold War never ended... I did see 20 different Ports of Call, some great Liberty (Subic Bay, Philippines and Pattaya Beach, Thailand were my favorites), and some not so great (Istanbul, Turkey and Columbo, Sri Lanka). It was a great experience for a young American. Things were much cheaper in the Far East and people were friendlier to Americans in the Pacific nations, probably due to the Japanese occupation during WWII. They did not forget their Liberators. I did a lot of 'growing up' back then. I recommend every young person try it, either in the Military or as a Civilian Seaman.

  • @debbiesims138
    @debbiesims138 Год назад +7

    this is why I love RUclips. you get to see things you never thought you wanted to.

  • @jamesraymond1158
    @jamesraymond1158 Год назад +7

    Interesting. Reminds me of working on a Norwegian freighter from Brooklyn to Naples via Tenerife in July 1963 when I was 16. They didn't have container ships back them, everything was loaded and unloaded in small loads from the hold. I worked on chipping paint and polishing in the engine room. One of the high points was breakfast, where the chef would cook anything I asked for. I even had my own cabin.

  • @Aviator27J
    @Aviator27J Год назад +14

    Some of us just have the inner nomad on the outside. The innate human need to explore and move. I've never served on a seafaring vessel like this but the idea has definitely occurred to me. I'm an aviation guy and always have been. I travel the world by air, but getting around the globe in numerous means interests me! Spaceflight like in Star Trek would be fantastic, riding the rails all over the world, taking ships and boats, etc. I'm still waiting for my opportunity to work in Antarctica too! I'd enjoy something like this if I didn't have a family (and a career I love), but enjoy it for those of us who think it looks like fun!

  • @nemo227
    @nemo227 Год назад +38

    What a great experience, an experience that relatively few people have and that most of us can't fully understand. I met a merchant marine back around 1956 but I was too young to ask him questions the way I would today.

  • @johnkane1898
    @johnkane1898 Год назад +23

    Loved watching this video. Never went to sea due to defective color vision. My Dad that passed away last year went to sea at 16, went from an AB to becoming master. Then his last 25 years was as a Harbour pilot in Belfast Northern Ireland. I have a real passion for anything maritime.

  • @mkdy218
    @mkdy218 Год назад

    Every so often you get an absolute gem of a video on YT. This is one of them. Thanks Joe Franta.

  • @josephhabedank7984
    @josephhabedank7984 Год назад +4

    Cool video. I was my units super cargo NCO my first deployment to Iraq in 03. We borded in Beaumont, TX and went around the coast to savannah, GA. Then we went across the Atlantic and through the Suez canal and up to Kuwait. I never that much exotic seafood in my life. Was amazing going through storms with boat rocking and seeing the merchant marines climbing all over our helo.s trying to keep the plastic covering on them from blowing off in the storm.

  • @charlieboutin3341
    @charlieboutin3341 Год назад +4

    Awesome video! Took me back to working on a Mississippi river barge for 2 months in 1984 when I was 22. Alamo Barge Lines, the Molly Anne. Chipping rust with a needle gun then painting, scraping wood and lacquering, and mopping the decks of diesel oil from the exhaust..Lots of that! Absolutely right about tightening ropes and cables to secure being the most dangerous part. The weight involved would pop them like a string sometimes and sound like shotguns going off..stay out of the way! Started in Baton Rouge and went upriver to Chicago, then back down to Texas. I was ready to get off in Corpus Christi (my home state), but am really glad I did it. Something I’ll never forget. Hope life finds my shipmates Spanky and Cowboy safe and well. Thank you very much for posting this video. God bless mate! 👍👍👌✌️🇺🇸

  • @frankaxiak1959
    @frankaxiak1959 Год назад +5

    Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed my time in the Merchant Marine in the late 90s.

  • @jayfloramusic
    @jayfloramusic 16 дней назад +1

    One of my school friends I grew up with got bad grades in high school and ended up getting into Mechanical Engineering, I got into Electronics. I got a nice office job. He got Merchant shipping spending months away from gf. Used to feel bad for them. But finally he got promoted so now he also sits in an office and others are doing the merchant trips. Very happy for them! They just bought a home and had a kid. Great to have father home at all the time.

  • @loricharpentier1654
    @loricharpentier1654 Год назад +2

    You hit a lot of interesting ports and got to go through the Suez Canal. I'm glad the weather was good for you and that hopefully you enjoyed your time off. Stay safe!

  • @_Angelo569
    @_Angelo569 Год назад +37

    Joe, I know its a year too late but thank you so much for this video! It was awesome to see what it was like on a container ship! Take care!

  • @C00LWhip
    @C00LWhip Год назад +13

    What a great life experience. I admire what you had accomplished. Ive always had the attraction to the Sea.

  • @chemicle
    @chemicle 9 месяцев назад +1

    Loved it - wondered what it would be like on container ship. Now I know - thank you for sharing your journey.

  • @JLBREMER
    @JLBREMER Год назад +2

    I’ve worked at a call center for 10 years (unfortunately) this type of job after that would feel like such a relief. Cool video man thanks for sharing !

  • @tomskid27
    @tomskid27 Год назад +5

    Bro, Joey. I’m still binge watching all your videos. They’re calming man and gives me a sense of peace. I just retired from 26yrs in the Navy. I guess that the reason. Watch out for the sea. She’s always callin’ ya back.

  • @robertwalton7307
    @robertwalton7307 Год назад +15

    Great story! Never have been to sea.Forty years ago worked unloading frozen Icelandic fish in Everett Ma. Really enjoy your ocean travels.

  • @santabarbaratribe
    @santabarbaratribe Год назад +8

    It would’ve been nice to have gotten more of a tour of the ship and the rooms you guys stay in

  • @BradPaulus
    @BradPaulus 11 месяцев назад

    My son has made that voyage numerous times as the Chief Mate and Captain of the Maersk Chicago, thanks for sharing.

  • @svanablak
    @svanablak Год назад +5

    i remember aquiring my MMD back in '07. but by then procedures and processes were changed due to 911. subsequent requirements were added and it was expensive! i considered it but i was already working and i was getting older and concluded that at the time it wasn't in the cards for me! your post was awesome and it allowed me to reflect on could've been!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

  • @nowherefast9786
    @nowherefast9786 3 года назад +14

    Another great job brother. Keep em coming.

  • @raew5263
    @raew5263 Год назад

    Well done. Great vlog from on deck. It’s interesting to see where those ships go during their routes. 👍

  • @dancers10
    @dancers10 Год назад

    Thanks for taking us along!

  • @stevestarr6395
    @stevestarr6395 Год назад +3

    Ahhhh, brings back great memories of traveling the world in the MM and MSC!!

  • @heruammen8522
    @heruammen8522 Год назад +46

    I had an opportunity to become a merchant marine back in '76. I did the TWIC and MMC qualifications and was a month from starting my apprenticeship. I ended up receiving a small college scholarship and decided to go in that direction. I followed logic instead of my heart and passed on the opportunity to see the world while learning an important craft. This video showed me what I missed out on.

    • @creoleDJ
      @creoleDJ Год назад

      Sounds fishy…the TWIC policy wasn’t enacted until after the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001….🤨

    • @alexmay1217
      @alexmay1217 Год назад +13

      I don't think u missed much... being in the navy
      .. ur port stops are short and restricted... ur better off just making good money and traveling on ur own dime....

    • @joebidet2050
      @joebidet2050 Год назад +7

      The twic wasn't required until 2009

    • @tapiwamudumo3194
      @tapiwamudumo3194 Год назад +1

      I am from Zimbabwe and would love to become a sailor 1 day

    • @joebidet2050
      @joebidet2050 Год назад

      @@tapiwamudumo3194 go to Britain

  • @machiningtom9862
    @machiningtom9862 Год назад +1

    Very cool I used to work at a shipyard and did a lot of ship repair on freighters.

  • @glennvanzuylen3582
    @glennvanzuylen3582 8 месяцев назад

    Great video . What an adventure!!

  • @justthemiller
    @justthemiller Год назад +3

    I work on credentialing mariners and I always find your line of work fascinating. Gives me a great idea of what you do when I am screening applicatIons.

  • @battle_promaster3631
    @battle_promaster3631 Год назад +4

    Nice job on video. Definitely know what you mean about coming home. I did 8 years in the NAVY. Always looked forward to coming home.
    Great job!! 👍🏼

  • @sheronlee152
    @sheronlee152 Год назад

    I'm an old texas Grammy just finding your videos. Very very interesting. You do a good job explaining things. I've enjoy several of your videos now. What a life!

  • @michael4962
    @michael4962 Месяц назад

    Wow! What an experience!! Thanks for sharing.

  • @dbenadon
    @dbenadon Год назад +30

    This was fantastic! Thank you for sharing an experience most of us would never have.

  • @AndyBankside
    @AndyBankside Год назад +22

    This just a perfect RUclips video on so many levels. Simply brilliant!!!

    • @paleamigo8575
      @paleamigo8575 Год назад

      I totally agree!👍

    • @peterhamlinhamlin8908
      @peterhamlinhamlin8908 Год назад

      Containership was automation. Before
      this generation could imagine. We loaded 100 pound bags of coffee,cocoa,cotton individually onto
      the ship itself. Lotta dockeorkers. Replaced by trucks and cranes today.

  • @willm6705
    @willm6705 22 дня назад +1

    sweet !! i sailed out of NY harbor on a WWII C-3 freighter summer of 1965, age 16/17, earning $$ for college. adventured down the E. coast then to S. Africa and E. Africa and back. earned a lot more than summer camp counselors. :)

  • @burtvincent1278
    @burtvincent1278 Год назад

    I enjoyed seeing this different life style. Thank you.

  • @BOBD1052
    @BOBD1052 Год назад +3

    Nice.
    Brings up memories. In the mid 70's I got my Z card & sailed
    with the NMU. OS, Wiper, Steward & lots of Stby AB jobs, mostly on tankers.
    Interesting times.

    • @JoeFranta
      @JoeFranta  Год назад

      Hell yea, nothing like it brother

  • @dedrakuhn6103
    @dedrakuhn6103 Год назад +3

    A wonderful video, it's nice to see some of the jobs from our world's unsung heros

  • @mikejung3908
    @mikejung3908 Год назад

    Such a refreshing video, out at sea, and living life, keep up the good work, these videos are awesome 👍

  • @davidskinner6765
    @davidskinner6765 Год назад

    Thankyou for sharing. Amazing. I admire people who go out and live there lives and experience what life can offer.

  • @imnotavingthat6813
    @imnotavingthat6813 Год назад +6

    Brilliant to watch, i was on container ships for p&o for 5yrs and did many a trip following your footprints. Superb memories evoked. Cheers dude

    • @billsgui
      @billsgui Год назад

      How does someone stumble across such job?
      What requirement are needed for this type of job?

  • @whatsreal7506
    @whatsreal7506 Год назад +3

    Very well presented and interesting! Thank you so much for sharing! 👌👍

  • @ABCfastfacts
    @ABCfastfacts Год назад

    great job...happy new year 2023 all the best for us, especially the merchant marine team and family over the world.

  • @raelexi
    @raelexi Год назад

    I instantly subscribed when I saw him fast forward through his own introduction speech. My kind of channel lol 😂
    Although I appreciate the sentiment and work RUclipsrs put into the long intro’s of their videos, I often loose interest quick or fast forward it myself. So, thank you for being straight to the point and action!!

  • @GodsFavoriteBassPlyr
    @GodsFavoriteBassPlyr Год назад +5

    What a cool as hell adventure. Definitely something to tell someone else's grandchildren about!

  • @stateradio115
    @stateradio115 Год назад +6

    Great video. Has that old school youtube vibe. I hope you document more of your life!

  • @jamesfleenor4161
    @jamesfleenor4161 Год назад

    Great seeing the other side of things as I was in the Navy and always wondered how the guys lived and worked on those ships. I have worked on several MSC Ships as I am now working in a Shipyard in Norfolk Va. repairing US Navy Ships and MSC Ships. I kinda think and may be wrong but looks like MSC would be the way to go. I did work on several Cruise Ships years ago at another Shipyard on the west coast and can tell you I will never set foot on one for a cruise. The topside is nice and all but you get below decks they are a disaster looking for a place to happen.

  • @jlm8699
    @jlm8699 4 месяца назад

    Very cool...
    I was on destroyer 75-79
    Suez, and all the rest you described....
    Watching you work with a needle gun brought back a lot of memories...
    😊

  • @MrMomoitin
    @MrMomoitin Год назад +52

    I've got to do something with my life. I was considering working freight rail transport but this also sounds awesome

    • @CMDR.Gonzo.von.Richthofen
      @CMDR.Gonzo.von.Richthofen Год назад +17

      I've done both, currently a Mate on the Mississippi river. The ten years that I spent as a freight conductor were the worst years of my life. Maritime is BY FAR a better deal than rail.

    • @TheWefikus
      @TheWefikus Год назад

      Try banging your head against the wall

    • @begley09
      @begley09 Год назад

      Can always work intermodal at a rail yard.

    • @stephensmith4480
      @stephensmith4480 Год назад

      I have worked in the Rail Freight industry for 32 years. It`s like most things, there are times when it`s not so good but thankfully, there are far more good times and I have worked with some great guys.

    • @CMDR.Gonzo.von.Richthofen
      @CMDR.Gonzo.von.Richthofen Год назад +3

      @@stephensmith4480 yeah, as an old head with tons of seniority and retirement in the near future, I'm sure it's great. I would almost guarantee that 90% of railroaders would tell a new hire to stay away. Class 1s are CONSISTENTLY listed as the worst companies to work for in the US. Worse than dollar general on most lists. That's BAD. Sure, the potential for good money is there-if you make it through the years of being furloughed all the time, and either starving on an extra board, or having so little time at home that your family falls apart. I have seen these things countless times, and after 32 years, I KNOW you have too.
      The work/life balance is ATROCIOUS on the railroad. Gone for 2-3 days, home for 12 hours to sleep, grab clean socks, answer the caller, then on a train again. The really sinister thing is that the railroads could easily implement policies that would greatly increase quality of life, but they never will because of the adversarial nature of rail officers vs union members. Eight hour calls would not be that difficult to implement in 2022. That would be a life changer! Nope. You get an hour and a half, and you'd better answer or you're fired! Not to mention having to fight for all the things you're supposed to be paid for.
      With all of the options available in n 2022, freight rail would be my LAST recommendation for anyone looking for a career. Not to mention all of the automation in the industry. Engineers will be gone soon, conductors will be replaced by roving utility jobs, switch engines have been remote controlled for fifteen years.
      On the other hand, I work 28 days on my vessel, then I get 28 days off. I get paid on the 1st and 15th the same paycheck whether I'm at work or at home. My employer values my hard work, and I am rewarded for it. I move up based on hard work and initiative, rather than the date that I was hired on. This rewards good employees, instead of moving up lazy people because 'seniority' dictates, while hard workers carry their weight. Oh yeah, and they will NEVER be able to automate my job😁
      Nope. rail was hands down the worst job I've ever had, and maritime is the best move I've ever made.

  • @DCJNewsMedia
    @DCJNewsMedia Год назад +7

    Just awesome, fun educational, and your a most excellent host brother.
    God-bless you and your family 👪 ❤️

  • @gwenyngruffydd
    @gwenyngruffydd 10 месяцев назад +3

    Don’t know how this video came on my homepage but glad it did. Really interesting!!
    We import a lot so it was so good to see the journey these containers take.
    Keep up the good work 💪🏻💪🏻

  • @dangus6934
    @dangus6934 Год назад

    What an interesting job! You could really see parts of the world I'd never imagine seeing.

  • @ileanapaniagua5161
    @ileanapaniagua5161 Год назад +14

    Very interesting. Just went to the port of Long Beach and was wondering about the shipping containers and how they were transported.

  • @19irving
    @19irving Год назад +9

    This brings back great memories! I lived in Jersey City for 19 wonderful years. I loved to ride my bike to a park in Bayonne where I'd see these amazing ships going through with the tug boats. I found one of my favorite cats ever living in that park, a HUGE blue furred British Shorthair. May he rest in peace.

  • @kam3410
    @kam3410 Год назад

    thank you for sharing this, I remember hearing about Merchant Marines in elementary school from my friend Thomas.

  • @charlie9901
    @charlie9901 11 месяцев назад

    Completely fascinating. Very enjoyable.

  • @UraniumBandit
    @UraniumBandit Год назад +25

    I've always wanted to see how work on one of these ships goes. Making me wanna be a merchant mariner more and more with every video of yours I watch!

    • @jasonmoyer9492
      @jasonmoyer9492 Год назад +8

      It's actually a cool job. I enjoyed it. I was a engineer though and not a AB or Bosun. I did good amount of welding and keeping engines running. Check gages and messing around with mills and lathes in the machine shop. I learned a lot of different skills and honestly it's not hard work. A few hours on a few hours off. The only time I've had any issues was if the captain or first officer was a jerk. But that was rare. At least for me.

    • @Nikkk6969
      @Nikkk6969 Год назад +2

      @@jasonmoyer9492 what’s the pay?

    • @aralmarpuc6886
      @aralmarpuc6886 Год назад

      ​@@Nikkk6969 Pay does not worth it unless you're an officer or engineer.

    • @crishnaholmes7730
      @crishnaholmes7730 6 месяцев назад

      @@aralmarpuc6886do they get to save up though

  • @grizzlysteele3199
    @grizzlysteele3199 Год назад +5

    Brings back memories of when I was a kid.
    My dad was a chief purser on container ships for ellerman line from the 60's to the 80's
    Used to spend my holidays on board the ships with my dad

    • @bluefamily3937
      @bluefamily3937 Год назад

      My dad bought and sold those freight containers and I've spent many hours cleaning them, painting, them and playing on the roofs! Many hours on the road tracking chassis and containers in all the ports on the east coast. Stacking the boxes with the cranes on the boat was real skill!

  • @allyboy8
    @allyboy8 Год назад +1

    Awesome, now I can say I’ve been on a container ship, thanks to you. 👍

  • @IceWarrior101
    @IceWarrior101 10 месяцев назад

    great video! Thanks for the journey. I never get out even out of the city but I feel like RUclips takes me all over the world!

  • @aaronwon6056
    @aaronwon6056 Год назад +14

    Man this brings back memories.. i left shipping as second mate 6 years ago. Suez canal shots really bring back memories. Cheers mate.

  • @Brangustx
    @Brangustx Год назад +3

    Fascinating! This could be the next reality show!

  • @edwinrodeo
    @edwinrodeo 7 месяцев назад

    That was a cool video. Had me hooked from start to finish. Good luck in life 👍🙏

  • @anthonygratton422
    @anthonygratton422 5 месяцев назад

    Thanks for this video bro. This is actually the job I always wanted. I just never took the time to apply. You just got me looking it up now. Thanks . Keep up what your doing too. I'm sure it inspires a lot of people. Me being one of them .

  • @paulshepherd1348
    @paulshepherd1348 Год назад +3

    That was very interesting! Always wanted to do something like that.... just seems a great experience.

  • @robertirvin927
    @robertirvin927 2 года назад +6

    Ahoy sailor! Thanks for the amazing videos!
    Safe travels fellow mariner

    • @JoeFranta
      @JoeFranta  2 года назад

      thanks for watching!

  • @lc1138
    @lc1138 Год назад

    Thank you very much for sharing your experience !

  • @danf7362
    @danf7362 Год назад

    Bless you Sir and all you do. Respect.

  • @eastwindfl
    @eastwindfl Год назад +13

    nice content Joe. I ran pleasure yachts, mostly east coast and Caribbean then morphed into yacht sales. I enjoy your positive delivery mate!

  • @LordEradicus
    @LordEradicus Год назад +11

    I admit to knowing almost nothing about merchant mariners except that I've heard the term merchant marines a lot during my childhood (one my grandpa's friends was a merchant mariner during WW2). So this video was definitely an eye-opener. Thank you.

    • @buckodonnghaile4309
      @buckodonnghaile4309 Год назад +3

      My wife's granddaf was on a Corvette boat in the Canadian Navy in WW2 searching for U-boats in the North Atlantic. Interesting/terrifying time to be a merchant marine. They were a tough generation of kids.

    • @leonkarsten
      @leonkarsten Год назад +2

      @@buckodonnghaile4309 Ah, that's nothing compared to the bad bully words that kids must suffer on social media these days.... 😆

    • @gabrielrousseau_NM
      @gabrielrousseau_NM Год назад

      I only read about them in novels where you could get enslaved on them. No one gonna ever know anything out there. Especially in foreign ports.

    • @wetmemedaddy5065
      @wetmemedaddy5065 Год назад

      @@leonkarsten soft boomer moment

  • @kevinsmith4923
    @kevinsmith4923 Год назад

    Thanks for this. Love learning something new, even at my age.

  • @larrygoodspeed133
    @larrygoodspeed133 Год назад

    Definitely an experience of a lifetime glad you shared it with us

  • @jarodlee9474
    @jarodlee9474 Год назад +38

    you are living my dream. as paraplegic i could never do such an awesome job. please post more videos.

    • @jasmith1867
      @jasmith1867 Год назад +5

      I'm an old man and will never be able to do these things either. But we get a glimpse of what it might be like in real life.

    • @COA319
      @COA319 Год назад

      👊🇰🇪🙏

  • @CoIoneIPanic
    @CoIoneIPanic Год назад +4

    It's cool how these guys get different ships, different assignments different crews different ports. They can't get bored. But it's definitely a young man's game. I couldn't hack it for long. I'm 55 or 56.

    • @Diogenes-ty9yy
      @Diogenes-ty9yy Год назад

      There was an old commercial for the Army once, "It's not a job, it's an adventure." I never was in the Army, but being a commercial seaman certainly does look like an adventure. I'm almost 73 and I look at this and envy you, Joe, for the places you've seen and been. Great video.

    • @CoIoneIPanic
      @CoIoneIPanic Год назад

      @@Diogenes-ty9yy the best commercial for being a sailor is the Village People- In the Navy ruclips.net/video/nmGuy0jievs/видео.html

  • @MrBickle1
    @MrBickle1 Год назад

    Thanks for the video. I spent a lot of my childhood on Maersk Line container ships doing this exact route, so it was very nostalgic for me. Christian Maersk, Trein Maersk, Thomas Maersk, Cornelius Maersk (I think).

  • @STV-H4H
    @STV-H4H Месяц назад

    Cool flashback to my time at sea.
    I went from Seattle to (nearly in view, or not) Alaska, through the Aleutian Chain (once into port to drop off a dead body. A deceased inspector who was suspiciously found floating in a brine tank absurd a factory fishing boat owned by a Russian company that had partnerships with an American seafood company)
    Your 4 on and 4 off schedule is like mine, except I was 1 of a 9 man crew.
    Seeing the vibrator you were doing rust removal was the part that prompted my comment. Oh the hours spent with Earl and a couple of the other AB guys and occasionally the chief engineer would come to give us a pep talk saying how easy we had it in his time as an able bodied seaman he had a hand powered air compressor that burned coal and he was tasked with hauling coal himself and stoking the fires! I am making that up. He was a good friend of mine, that got me both the job in the first place as an electrician, and helped grandfather me in, writing those hours as sea time so I could start as an Oiler. Which made me slightly higher on a very short totem pole of seniority. I was ultimately still on the bottom.
    But the 6 voyages to Russia were really exciting. Back then, 1994 I believe, only a few American sailors had ever been there. They loved us Americans and I dug them.
    I tried to learn to swear in Russian, but since I was only ever with the Russian workers for a couple shifts weeks apart, I didn’t really memorize anything worthwhile. Besides, telling my friends at home to fukc
    off in Russian never had any impact. They didn’t know what I said. 😂