As a dock worker in Houston, I see these ships come go and go day by day. Thanks so much for letting me see what goes on between the ports! keep up the great work!
Farmer here... nice to see what happens after it leaves the local elevator we deliver it from the field to. We farmed cotton, grain sorghum, soybeans, and corn about 70 miles west of the Houston Ship Channel, 45 miles SW of downtown Houston. Row crops got too expensive to grow-- rich man's game unless you're farming a few thousand acres, then you just work your brains out for the banker and seed/fertilizer/chemical suppliers and equipment dealers, and you're lucky to have as much in the bank as you would working at Walmart at the end of the year. We switched to all cow/calf, so we could better control marketing and input costs. That was a LOT of wheat! Probably from central and north Texas, the High Plains. We're too far south for wheat, but they grow a lot from around Waco to north Texas and up on the High Plains around Lubbock in the Panhandle. Most of the corn and grain sorghum in our part of the state, goes straight from the combine into semi's and straight to the Port of Houston. Big farmers that own semis or hire semis to haul it for them can get more money hauling it directly to the port. Since we were small farmers, we only had a 1966 Chevy tandem grain truck, so we hauled to the closest elevator-- 23 miles away. Course it all went into semis going to the Port, maybe a little to a couple local Purina feed plants around the area, but probably 95% goes straight to the port. Looks like an interesting job... probably what I should have done 33 years ago when I got out of high school. Would've made a h3ll of a lot more money than farming! OL J R :)
In my younger days, I went through the Suez, down to Aden, then across to Singapore and the Far East. Borneo, Phillipines and the South China Sea. This brilliant video brought a lot of memories back. Love the Sea, loved being at Sea, love everything about it. I finished up working 35years in Ship Repair Yards.Thanks Joe and safe voyages. I will be watching all your vids,wish I could turn the clock back.
Well we actually could live without them. North america has all the resources it needs. We import too much cheap crap and most of the upper mid east is a rust belt of old factorys and trailer parks of welfare trash....
It's neat knowing that some of that grain might very well have come off of my family farm in Missouri. In a sense part of me was traveling along with you Joe.
That was interesting.. I used to run a food aid warehouse. We bagged it and it either went break bulk, which took FOREVER to load, or in 20' containers. I toured a warehouse with a USDA inspector a few months ago and they had thousands of empty bags. I asked why, she said that most of the bagging was done and the port of discharge now days. I've wondered how they did it. Back 20 years ago it was literally a bucket brigade to unload bulk shipments of grain. You answered my question. It's coming straight from the holds to the bagging line. Nice! Also former USN, I do miss the open ocean. The porpoise shots brought back some memories...
Its interesting that not only are they able to provide food with the aid but by shifting the bagging closer to the area of dispersal they/we are also giving jobs(and it cost less).
Takes me back. Was a UK merchant sailor back in the day. Sailed on ship just like this one tramping around for 13 months. Thanks for the memories mate. 👍
On my little 33, it was my wife's job to clean the chain and anchor. When that windlass started I knew it was going to be a couple of difficult hours ahead. My ear grew very tired listening to her. But I loved her and she was always the best. Absolutely great job!
And while you’re at sea she can’t say “I’m too tired” or “I’m not in the mood”. You can say “Swimming gunna make you even more tired…ass or gas, no one rides for free. Baby, you broke, so pick one of the “4 S’s”-‘Suck, Swallow, Spread, or Swim”…..not really, totally kidding. Once you get back to shore, saying ANY of that will get you stabbed by your wife, a divorce, a rape/possible wrongful imprisonment charge, and possibly her castrating you in your sleep. Don’t take any of my previous advice, instead, be thankful you have a wife that wants to go out with you, help you, and spend time with you. Treasure her. Sounds like you gotta good one.
Came across your channel by accident. Really enjoy it! I started as a deck hand on Ocean going tugs & barges when I was 17. Got my mates license at 21 and would have been the youngest Captain in the fleet's history but developed bone cancer from the cargo... So at 24 I was given full retirement by the company. Your videos bring back some great memories. I could watch the ocean go by all day long. .
Absolutely firsts class. Brilliant. I’m 73 now but when I was your age I was traveling the world teaching SCUBA. Your chosen path is equally enticing… and your filmography is spot on. Much respect brah. Aloha.
Just discovered your channel today. Such great content. So interesting. I’d love to hear more about what the crew quarters are like, and tours of other areas of the ships. Thanks for sharing.
@@juansantiago6635 Take a good look through "TimBatSea" here on TH-cam. LOTS of info and guidance on getting in and advancing from a NJ tug Capt that seems like a heck of a good guy. He "came up", not from the academies.....
Sounds like sailor talk to me!! I miss being out on the open ocean but certainly don't miss the long hours and backbreaking labor to maintain a ship (rust prevention, getting underway, pulling into port, working parties, etc.) Be safe out there!!
I'm really enjoying your channel, Joe. I just stumbled across it. Haven't seen them all yet. Looking forward to getting caught up. I was thrown out of Mass. Maritime Academy back in 1967 for being a hell raiser. Sailed with Wood's Hole Oceanographic out of Cape Code for a while. Then served on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga with the Navy. Spent the rest of my career at the helm of a desk. Thanks for bringing me up to date on the modern Merchant Marines. Keep up the good work!
Love me a good hell raiser! Most of the knuckle heads I sailed with our hell raisers, you must've been one hell of a good time hahhaa. thanks for watching brother!
@@pawpawmike7372 I was actually with the airwing (brown shoe Navy). VS28 flying S2 Trackers. We were the first Anti-Submarine squadron assigned to an attack carrier. Don't believe I knew Chief Womack
@@JoeFranta have been working brown waters now since 2003 and was hoping you could point me in the right direction on where to get these jobs. I possess a twic card and understand that a mmc is needed. Was also curious how much entry level deckhands make for a voyage
You do an awesome job. Your photography is absolutely fantastic. I was a merchant marine in the seventies and your videos brings back memories. Thanks for that.
Love your videos. I was raised on a farm way back during the Russian grain embargo and I would ask my grandfather (the patriarch of my family) where our grain was going, and he would recite the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner to me. His recitation of that ancient poem always set my mind alight. Now, I see the work on the other side of the shipping process and my memory still returns to my grandfather reciting that ancient poem.
That was a great video Joe !!! I worked as a M/A /oiler for Shell Canadian Tankers from 1980 to 1987 it was and eye opener for a 17/18 year old. Sadly Shell Canadian is no more... :(:(:( Would have loved a peek into the engine room. I can't believe the company let you run out of food though!!! ??? :):):)
Wow! Nice video. Brings back memories. In 1987 I sailed as a Second Assistant Engineer on my first ship. It was just like this one. It was called MV OMI Sacramento. I believe it was a 50,000 ton bulker. They told me it was a “coastal” ship. They just didn’t tell me which coast! I got on it in Houston, loaded grain, went to Arica, Chile, came back to Tampa for more grain and Houston for fertilizer, then to Mombasa, Kenya, to Norfolk where we loaded coal, then to Alexandria, Egypt and finally back to Mobile where we laid up the ship. I signed on for four months, but got “Shanghaied” for six. The First Assistant got stuck for ten months. We had AB’s that would willingly stay on for longer. Also, we went around the southern tip of Africa. Nice quality video. Thanks for sharing. Ram Chief Engineer Retired!
@@johnbeard3733 I came out of California Maritime with a Third Assistant Engineer license. I worked for seven years on ocean tugs as an engineer. To upgrade to a Second Engineer license, it was only required that I sailed one year as an engineer in charge of a watch. That would be the furthest upgrade on my license I could go on the tugs. To attain a First Assistant Engineer License, it would require me to sail as a Second Assistant Engineer. I left the tugs and started sailing with American Maritime Officers Union and at that time, they were pretty desperate for licensed diesel engineers. Since I had a Second Assistant Diesel Engineer license, they put me on a ship that needed a Second Assistant Engineer. So that is how I started sailing on my first ship as a Second Assistant. Technically, my first ship was the USNS General Patch. I was only one year old on that one and not much of an engineer. 😉 Ram
@@laughingram7287 ahhhh. That explains it. Thanks. I too graduated from c.m.a. and I couldnt get any sea time for upgrade unless it was on a vessel over 1000 g.t. I sailed for a short while on a corps of engineers dredge that was 180 feet and under 1000 g.t. no sea time. Also I worked on ferry's for many years and the coast guard would not give me any time towards pilotage....sheez. Thanks for the reply. JB
@@johnbeard3733 Mates have a harder time getting time. The tugs were just under 200 tons. It didn’t affect my upgrading time, as I mentioned above, it only required me to be an engineer in charge of a watch. I’ve looked at the licenses on the ferries up in Washington and they’re a mess! So many limitations. The only Corps of Engineer dredge I know about is the one based out of the San Francisco Bay. I had a classmate who sailed as a Third Mate on it for a short while. Several of the mates I know are pilots in Long Beach, San Francisco, Seattle and Cook Inlet. What class did you graduate? Ram CMA ‘80
@@laughingram7287 I was class of 76. Maybe you came the year I graduated? I sailed 6 months on the Chester Harding the dredge that worked in s.f. bay. We were dredging richmond harbor when we were t boned by a car carrier. The next month we scheduled to go to Kauai for a month. I wanted to get my pilotage. I think there are only 3 aids to nav. To memorize...lol. When they laid the Harding up for repairs I left the corps. Yeah lot of mates from our era ended up pilots.
I work in the offshore industry as project engineer, contracting to some of the biggest oil companies there are. I cant tell you how how hectic those offshore trips are when there are literally hundreds of millions of dollars on the line when developing a field, having to work 20 hr days sometimes to help get the job done. My first trip ever was 113 days down in trinidad all offshore, what a learning experience LOL You have skills in making these types of videos love seeing other viewpoints from another sailing buddy! Its really nice to see some of the merchant mariner perspective that doesnt seem so hectic, just preventative maintenance on the ship and enjoying the transit. Keep it up and stay safe on the waters!
Yes I too found myself going back in time to the years I worked for Hornbeck Offshore and traveled all around the world including all the places you went on your way to Djibouti. Saw and did a lot of amazing things. We did not stay in Djibouti only long enough to resupply make some repairs and then we were off to Oman UAE for a few months then on to India and South China Sea. From there we eventually returned toward home and made the long trip back to the states and the beautiful GOM. All told we were gone over 3 years working for our government. Flying to and from the vessels every couple months going thru Europe Africa Middle East and Asia was a once in a lifetime experience for me. Age finally caught up to me and some medical issues put an end to my life at sea traveling around the world. I thank God for the experience still to this day. America is truly an awesome place to call home. Mariners are a special breed and I would gladly do it all again if I could. But then again at 64, my wife has stood by me all these years while i was out at sea. Now I enjoy each and every day with her, trying to find new ways to show her just how much I still love her. Sometime in the not to distant future, God will call me back home and I will once again go on a voyage to places unknown. All I can say is if God is capable of making this awesome planet we all call home. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us in the next part of life . The Bible says our spirit will live on for eternity. It is just a matter of where? In heaven with our loving creator, and all the other men and women who have passed across this planet and did it with a love for God, Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit in their heart and a love for all the other peoples we meet along the way thru our life. If I could do it all over again I would try a lot harder to love everyone I meet along the way. God Bless you Joe Franta. I thank you so much for sharing a part of your life. I know exactly how it feels to work as an AB and mate on vessels that go to places most people will never hear of, less get to see. May God smile down upon you all the days of your life! If you have not found your peace with our loving creator, I would like to say it is the most amazing voyage you will ever go one. It has no end to it and the love we find is truly the most powerful force upon this planet. It TRUMPS all other things, peaCe to you ...Steve
Great comment and very true as most Americans have never even been abroad in their lives or own a passport. I’ve been lucky enough myself too do some travelling across too Asia, Australia, India, Africa and Europe all before I got married and had kids, but if I could have my time again like you I wouldn’t change a thing.
Awesome. I did that in the 70,s and 80,s and loved it. Being out on the sea is unexplainable to people who haven't been there for months at a time, and just like everyone else I still wanna go back out and stay
I have done a lot of offshore sailing and I tell people it is the most beautiful and most scariest thing you can do but no matter how tired and wet you are, seeing the sunrise at sea makes it worth it.
Oh this takes me back. Former Marine Engineering Officer here, sailed on the MSC Oilers and Djibouti was a constant stop port, be wary of the spitting camels. Fair winds and following seas. Ran into another from one of the grain ships who sailed AMO, but that was over a decade ago.
Lots of respect for you guys doing the deep blue sailings. I switched to the offshore about 10 yrs ago. Went from the Bridge to the Engine Room and now serving as a Barge Master on self propelled Jack Ups. Keep up the great work💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
Brah, somehow your channel came up. I just watched at first as a curiosity, but have been binge watching all the videos. As an old Navy dude, ya doing some real sailor sh*t…and dealing with sailor BS. Don’t let anyone tell ya different. Keep it up! 🤘🏽 Great music choices with the videos too. 👍🏽 Peace brother. 🤙🏽
@@1957user peace brother. I just retired this week after doing 25.5 years. Watching this makes me reminisce about all the good times u/w. But then all the BS too. Peace brother! Much love. Take care of yourself! 🤙🏼
I truly enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing how the ship is loaded and unloaded, very interesting! I sit at a desk all day reviewing medical records, your job has the best views by far!!!
Talking to a coworker while out at sea one time about how some of us found the view beautiful, inspiring, impressive and just a place when not working to essentially meditate. Others found it infinitely boring. Oh and a moonless night, clear skies the stars are beyond amazing. To actually see the scope of the Milky Way, to see stars in unimagined numbers, the occasional meteor..... Retired now but those are things I miss.
This was a nice break for me - taking a few minutes sailing across the pond and back with you and back. I enjoyed hearing your commentary on how much you like it and all the little parts of the job. Good job on this video and the entire production!
You answered a lot of questions for me regarding bulk carriers. I cart iron ore to Port Hedland. I always wondered how the holds were clean and how it was unloaded. I get to see them loading. Just like you did in Texas. Thanks for the bow and rudder footage. Newest subscriber here. Look forward to more of your adventures. Cheers Dave.
As a part time land rat, I've seen those huge ore piles around P.H and Broome while travelling through WA/ Kimberly area. I used to love and respect OZ as a second home.
I remember my first ship through the NMU ( National Maritime Union ) hall in Seattle. The ship was at Tacoma Boat in the Port of Tacoma, a U S Lines ship, Pioneer Contractor. We sailed for Portland, Oregon then on the Archer Midland Daniels dock in Vancouver, Washington. Ultimate destination; Chittagong, Bangladesh. Now I am working on my manuscript: One Prolonged Blast: The Voyage of a Tramp Freighter.
Really enjoy your content, I'm English and was an AB on oil tankers in the early 80's, I also worked as a deckhand on the RFA refuelling Royal navy vessels. Good memories. And oh so much painting...
Possibly my new favorite channel. Absolutely loved it. Very well done. I look forward to following you on your travels. Fair wind and following seas. 👍🇺🇸
This is awesome! I've been a ship agent in Portland for decades (mostly grain ships) and enjoyed seeing what it's like on board (and especially after the grain is off-loaded) when a ship like this leaves my care.
I have a brother in law that needs to "straighten up" What's the process/contacts for getting on one of these?? Grain, cargo, oil, no matter, I'll put him on anything.
Fell into your documentaries of your time at sea while on a deep TH-cam dive. Thanks for sharing. I also never expected to hear “black gold” anywhere outside of Newfoundland and Labrador - great choice
Great insight. Thank you. I worked as a lasher at tilbury and dp London gateway dock in England. We worked solely on quayside. So to see the journey of the vessels that dock is amazing.
This video was very calming. Seemed like you had a blast all said and done! Great narration, stunning photography, perfect music! Keep these videos coming!
Without people working on these behemoths of ships, the world wouldn’t be where it is today. Beautiful footage and the selection of background music is nice. respect from Sweden
The grain can't get wet because over a certain water content it'll cause liquefaction due to wave action which will unbalance the load and reduce the ship's righting ability greatly increasing the risk of capsizing in rough seas
Thanks for the video, brought back many memories. Spent 15 years in the British Merchant Navy as a marine engineer, mostly general cargo and smaller bulkers. Pre containers, thank heavens, so spent many days alongside discharging and loading cargo, thus enabling us to get ashore and meet up with the locals, where ever that was.
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houstonian here... great video!! really cool to see you come off the dock in houston and travel through the channel. i would have thought Djibouti would have looked totally different. looked like a normal port with cranes and such... interesting too.
In my old age I finally understand the job of a Merchant Marine. No Merchant Marine, no toilet tissue for me---no gas for my car etc, etc. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the job you do💯❣💥👍🥀💐
What a great TH-cam channel! Thank you Joe, you give an amazing insight into what its like to be a merchant mariner. I'd love to know the name of the song 2M Jeff was singing!
I just came across your channel by chance and I love your trip report. Dijibuty is one of the hottest harbour in the world. About the transportation, I wonder why the grain is not transported in hermetic bags to control pests developing during the voyage.
Interesting, having spent my whole working life at sea both as sailor and officer, it's nice to see a youngsters point of view through the lens of a camera, powered water and air hoses have taken over from brooms and hard sweat I see but that is to the good, also, trips reduced from 18 months to 2 months, and in some sectors, 1 month is a good thing, a life at sea is not to everyone's liking, but if it is for you, you know it.
Your comment near the end of your return that you needed a beer reminds me of the time I served on the deck crew of a 19,000 ton Norwegian oil tanker in 1963. There were a few young Norwegian boys working in the engine room.... oilers, I guess, who were 16-years old. All of us, including these young boys, could buy as much beer as we wanted, throughout the trip. It was cheap, too. As a result, almost everyone on the ship was drunk most of the time [not me. I didn't drink]. Thanks for an interesting video.
Great video. I know that it's hard work but man this gig looks like workman's paradise. Away from it all. Just man and machine. 14:24 😲I've watched a ton of videos like this but you're the first to mention stowaways. I can see that being a thing though.
Thank you so much for documenting this I've always wondered how it is to be on a grain machine I could never in a million years do what you do I get mad when I'm not home once every 14 days. Not to mention the water..... I know my 18 wheels are always going to be on land
Brings back so many good memories. 40 years in the Merchant Navy from Deck Boy to Master. My days as an AB were the best. Probably had bigger crews back then and we had a wonderful thing called the "ships bar" unforgettable times. Excellent content Joe. Love your videos....
@@JoeFranta Many of the worlds problems were solved in a ships bar. Seamen are a very special and unique breed of human. Enjoy your journey Joe. Stay on course.
Just happened across your video and really enjoyed it. The food looks delicious with many choices at least for most of the trip. When unloading do you have to worry about the stuff in your rooms will people steal from you given the chance? And how long did it take to unload? Looks like a very interesting job working on different ships with so many different folks. Does it pay well? Will definitely check out more of your videos. Susan
I was on her sister ship, Eagle, earlier this year. Cool to relive the trip, but it reminds me how much work there was. I recognized one of the mates as well. We sailed short (I think short 3 even after paying two extra mates to sail as ABs) and I was struck by how much labor the CM does on these grain ships. Pretty much everyone on board gets their hands dirty, thats for sure. Thanks for sharing.
My brother worked on the oil rigs in the gulf coast. It wasn’t much $12-$13 an hour. You’d work 7 days a week so at least you’d have 84 hours per week. 2 weeks on the rig 2 weeks off. He also go fired for fighting, there’s only so much time to cramped up with other guys
Another great video. I'm addicted to your series. So many questions. You can't drink on board or for the duration of the trip? How often do you seal those hatches with the tar paper? Just after loading cargo or after cleaning as well on the return? Do you ever find a stow away? What's the pay like? Is there often overtime? (I assume that every time I see you sanding and painting then it's on overtime?)
I spent 8 years of my life doing these kinds of trip with "Hands across the Sea" grain and other charity food cargoes to help the starving populace of the Third World. You would be surprised (and probably not believe) the number of cargoes that stayed on the dockside and rotted.
I remember doing a run US to Calcutta, Calcutta used local labour to discharge in bags. When we did a second run the bags from the first run were rotting on the quayside. (the captain had records of the bag markings). When he enquired about why they hadn't been used, he was told that the right peoples palms hadn't been greased
Hey, I've not watched your videos in order but I'm enjoying them each as separate entities. My brother was in the Navy for 27 years, retired as a Master Chief, your videos are helping to flesh out many of his stories. Thanks.
Seems like a sweet hitch. 65 days is great. 7 months is brutal with a family back home. Just got my TWIC. I'm on the fast track towards th Sea Good sir. 🌊 ⚓️
This is a true Video Log! If we're exporting grain to frickin DJIBOUTI for free we shouldn't have much problem with domestic sourcing. This is exactly the kind of first hand, primary information that's so much better than the 3rd and 4th and 5th hand reports we see all over youtube. Thanks!
I love this channel man! I always wanted to be a sailor but i dont even know how to start so i love watching your videos. Im in the Marine Corps at the moment and i get out soon so i always have dreams about becoming a sailor in the Merchant Marines
Dude, thanks for the kind words, I love that you're enjoying the content, thank you! As far as your becoming a sailor, you need to get Passport MMC (Merchant Mariner Credential) TWIC (Transportation Workings Identify Card(It may not be card lol)) and your STCW endorsement on the MMC. It's a lot of logistics, but you can do it man
I went to sea after I got out of the Corps in 1974 .Personally speaking being a Merchant Seaman is a helluva better than being in the Marine Corps.But I regret nothing.
I’ve always wondered what your lifestyle would be like! I moved to the coast because I felt drawn here. Sadly I’m too old to pursue a change in careers! Thank you for the great video.😊
Hey Joe, I deeply admire you, young man... you are articulate, compassionate, literate, just, deeply intelligent, humble, strong and KIND... just the kind of young man we NEED representing this nation of ours! I salute you, Joe and thank you for sharing time with us, sailor! Heave to, sailor... hard to starboard! Bon Voyage! And thank you... arthur b (Ngai) who also loves the sea! GREAT VIDEO AND PODCAST!!!!
Djibouti has a huge US military presence as it's one of the few friendly countries in that area. My guess it's more of a deal they made with us to allow us to have so many installations there. I wonder how genuine the need is for these USAID shipments, since as far as I'm aware, they aren't suffering any drought/famine, etc. They also make a killing on "rent" for these bases - to the tune of $65mill a from the US alone.
Hearts and minds, Dan. If kids in these countries grow up seeing our flag on their food aid, we're less likely to have to fight them as terrorists in the future. I remember the comment by a General a few years ago saying that if U.S. aid is curtailed, then Congress will end up having to buy him a lot more bullets instead....
The content. The music. The pure American feel of this video reminds me of what it was like to be proud to be an American. I’m not saying that I’m not proud any longer. It’s just different. It’s not very American to be the laughing stock of the world. America was built on this type of work. Keep on keeping on joe. Your doing good ol buddy. You’d be a welcome hand on my ship any day.
I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. We used to build things, we were leading the world in industry. Now we just put our hand in the next guys pocket. It’s been my thinking that if you could bring back industry and encourage development of factories, drilling and refining our own oil. You would see a resurgence of a strong middle class which this country needs in order to survive.
@@xenostim you are a man of culture! I was waiting to see if anyone would notice. I always did love that quote though, I grew up in a city slowly dying after all the industry left so it hits home.
When you talked about losing 2 crew members in Malta, you meant they died or they just didn't wanna continue being onbaord? Is the food free for the crew or does it come out of their paychecks?
I'm glad I found this. I worked on the Great Lakes for a while and really miss it, but I'm too old now, and my back couldn't handle it anymore. I look forward to watching more.
Is it ever hazardous having all that grain dust around? I know silos do blow up sometimes. But I’m guessing that maybe the humidity helps? Great video! Loved watching
For an old sailor who is now a paraplegic your videos bring me back to a better part of my life. Thank you and anchors aweigh.
I don't know if you have any background/training in making documentaries, but you're a natural at this. Professional-grade stuff.
100% percent agree.
It’s just brilliant stuff,period!
I agree to the fullest extent.
He just makes it look like anybody can do it. That's the key. Once you start "doing a documentary" it's over.
I thought the same thing.....and he gets alot of views compared to subscribers.....awesome channel!!
As a dock worker in Houston, I see these ships come go and go day by day. Thanks so much for letting me see what goes on between the ports! keep up the great work!
Enjoyed your video ( could have done without the 3 minute song). As much as you love the open sea, the site of land is even more beautiful.
Farmer here... nice to see what happens after it leaves the local elevator we deliver it from the field to. We farmed cotton, grain sorghum, soybeans, and corn about 70 miles west of the Houston Ship Channel, 45 miles SW of downtown Houston. Row crops got too expensive to grow-- rich man's game unless you're farming a few thousand acres, then you just work your brains out for the banker and seed/fertilizer/chemical suppliers and equipment dealers, and you're lucky to have as much in the bank as you would working at Walmart at the end of the year. We switched to all cow/calf, so we could better control marketing and input costs.
That was a LOT of wheat! Probably from central and north Texas, the High Plains. We're too far south for wheat, but they grow a lot from around Waco to north Texas and up on the High Plains around Lubbock in the Panhandle. Most of the corn and grain sorghum in our part of the state, goes straight from the combine into semi's and straight to the Port of Houston. Big farmers that own semis or hire semis to haul it for them can get more money hauling it directly to the port. Since we were small farmers, we only had a 1966 Chevy tandem grain truck, so we hauled to the closest elevator-- 23 miles away. Course it all went into semis going to the Port, maybe a little to a couple local Purina feed plants around the area, but probably 95% goes straight to the port.
Looks like an interesting job... probably what I should have done 33 years ago when I got out of high school. Would've made a h3ll of a lot more money than farming! OL J R :)
Living the life
No one is reading this unnecessarily long comment
@@jeff7764 yet you felt the need to post this drivel... Screw off
@@jeff7764 Really? So far, 33 people have. No need to be so snarky replying to a heartfelt, interesting reply like Luke's.
@@jeff7764 I just read it
I started working at sea when I was 19 in 1990. Engineering cadet and now a Chief Engineer for the last 15 years. Nice videos.
I love the pacing of your videos. Lots of time given over to each scene, allowing the visuals to do the work, only as many words as are needed.
In my younger days, I went through the Suez, down to Aden, then across to Singapore and the Far East. Borneo, Phillipines and the South China Sea. This brilliant video brought a lot of memories back. Love the Sea, loved being at Sea, love everything about it. I finished up working 35years in Ship Repair Yards.Thanks Joe and safe voyages. I will be watching all your vids,wish I could turn the clock back.
I've always wondered what 'american' feels like.. from a white immigrant, now I know...?
Nations ❤
@@katrinebohr3119lol do you nasty lesbian militants have to bring race and politics into everything?
Thank you mariners for supplying the world! We could not live without you, may god bless and watch over all sailors!
I hope you don't mind me adding truck and train personnel
Well we actually could live without them. North america has all the resources it needs. We import too much cheap crap and most of the upper mid east is a rust belt of old factorys and trailer parks of welfare trash....
It's neat knowing that some of that grain might very well have come off of my family farm in Missouri. In a sense part of me was traveling along with you Joe.
Same I’m from Missouri my family has a big farm here , and I want to get into this carrear feild and get out and explore the world away from Missouri
@@velezdragon3574there ain’t much in Missouri lol
@@justincortez5050
There is St. Louis of course.
Enjoyed that. Don't merchant ships carry beer? And how many in the crew?
That was interesting.. I used to run a food aid warehouse. We bagged it and it either went break bulk, which took FOREVER to load, or in 20' containers. I toured a warehouse with a USDA inspector a few months ago and they had thousands of empty bags. I asked why, she said that most of the bagging was done and the port of discharge now days. I've wondered how they did it. Back 20 years ago it was literally a bucket brigade to unload bulk shipments of grain. You answered my question. It's coming straight from the holds to the bagging line. Nice! Also former USN, I do miss the open ocean. The porpoise shots brought back some memories...
Its interesting that not only are they able to provide food with the aid but by shifting the bagging closer to the area of dispersal they/we are also giving jobs(and it cost less).
Takes me back. Was a UK merchant sailor back in the day. Sailed on ship just like this one tramping around for 13 months. Thanks for the memories mate. 👍
On my little 33, it was my wife's job to clean the chain and anchor. When that windlass started I knew it was going to be a couple of difficult hours ahead. My ear grew very tired listening to her. But I loved her and she was always the best. Absolutely great job!
And while you’re at sea she can’t say “I’m too tired” or “I’m not in the mood”. You can say “Swimming gunna make you even more tired…ass or gas, no one rides for free. Baby, you broke, so pick one of the “4 S’s”-‘Suck, Swallow, Spread, or Swim”…..not really, totally kidding. Once you get back to shore, saying ANY of that will get you stabbed by your wife, a divorce, a rape/possible wrongful imprisonment charge, and possibly her castrating you in your sleep. Don’t take any of my previous advice, instead, be thankful you have a wife that wants to go out with you, help you, and spend time with you. Treasure her. Sounds like you gotta good one.
what the fuck are you talking about sir
Came across your channel by accident. Really enjoy it! I started as a deck hand on Ocean going tugs & barges when I was 17. Got my mates license at 21 and would have been the youngest Captain in the fleet's history but developed bone cancer from the cargo... So at 24 I was given full retirement by the company. Your videos bring back some great memories. I could watch the ocean go by all day long.
.
how did you get bone cnacer from the cargo?
Bone cancer in a few years? What were u hauling? Nuclear waste?
Seven minute mark, Henry tar strip used. I work at the Henry plant in Fernley, Nevada. Great video. Awesome camera shots. Perfect narration.
Absolutely firsts class. Brilliant. I’m 73 now but when I was your age I was traveling the world teaching SCUBA. Your chosen path is equally enticing… and your filmography is spot on. Much respect brah. Aloha.
The grain silo’s where your ship topped off at, my mother worked there for 30 years. Nice to see operations still going.
Yeah, Cargill. Spent a couple weeks there doing some work.
Just discovered your channel today. Such great content. So interesting.
I’d love to hear more about what the crew quarters are like, and tours of other areas of the ships.
Thanks for sharing.
Check out my tour videos!
@Joe Franta.ship hey man I'm from jersey to...I want to do this for a living...what's the best route
@@juansantiago6635
Take a good look through "TimBatSea" here on TH-cam. LOTS of info and guidance on getting in and advancing from a NJ tug Capt that seems like a heck of a good guy. He "came up", not from the academies.....
Thanks for keeping your vids plain and simple. Letting the experience of the trip tell the story is appreciated. Stay safe and TY.
Old mate singer has an awesome voice and where you recorded it added so much for that type of song. Was REALLY well done all-round.
Sounds like sailor talk to me!! I miss being out on the open ocean but certainly don't miss the long hours and backbreaking labor to maintain a ship (rust prevention, getting underway, pulling into port, working parties, etc.)
Be safe out there!!
same i love to go to sea, but when i finally get home after a voyage im in zombie mode for a few days hahaha
Wow! What an amazing video! Informative yet entertaining with perfect editing. Thanks for taking us with you !!
Haha, thats smart. yea it sure was an experience, we still had to keep an eye on the brass
Nice
I'm really enjoying your channel, Joe. I just stumbled across it. Haven't seen them all yet. Looking forward to getting caught up. I was thrown out of Mass. Maritime Academy back in 1967 for being a hell raiser. Sailed with Wood's Hole Oceanographic out of Cape Code for a while. Then served on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga with the Navy. Spent the rest of my career at the helm of a desk. Thanks for bringing me up to date on the modern Merchant Marines. Keep up the good work!
Love me a good hell raiser! Most of the knuckle heads I sailed with our hell raisers, you must've been one hell of a good time hahhaa. thanks for watching brother!
Did you by chance happen to serve with a man named Chief Don Womack on the Saratoga ?
@@pawpawmike7372 I was actually with the airwing (brown shoe Navy). VS28 flying S2 Trackers. We were the first Anti-Submarine squadron assigned to an attack carrier. Don't believe I knew Chief Womack
@@JoeFranta have been working brown waters now since 2003 and was hoping you could point me in the right direction on where to get these jobs. I possess a twic card and understand that a mmc is needed. Was also curious how much entry level deckhands make for a voyage
Hell raisers make the perfect sailors.
Awesome video! I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into what it is like to work on a grain ship! Thank you for sharing!
You do an awesome job. Your photography is absolutely fantastic. I was a merchant marine in the seventies and your videos brings back memories. Thanks for that.
Love your videos. I was raised on a farm way back during the Russian grain embargo and I would ask my grandfather (the patriarch of my family) where our grain was going, and he would recite the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner to me. His recitation of that ancient poem always set my mind alight.
Now, I see the work on the other side of the shipping process and my memory still returns to my grandfather reciting that ancient poem.
That was a great video Joe !!! I worked as a M/A /oiler for Shell Canadian Tankers from 1980 to 1987 it was and eye opener for a 17/18 year old. Sadly Shell Canadian is no more... :(:(:(
Would have loved a peek into the engine room.
I can't believe the company let you run out of food though!!! ??? :):):)
Wow! Nice video. Brings back memories.
In 1987 I sailed as a Second Assistant Engineer on my first ship. It was just like this one. It was called MV OMI Sacramento. I believe it was a 50,000 ton bulker.
They told me it was a “coastal” ship. They just didn’t tell me which coast! I got on it in Houston, loaded grain, went to Arica, Chile, came back to Tampa for more grain and Houston for fertilizer, then to Mombasa, Kenya, to Norfolk where we loaded coal, then to Alexandria, Egypt and finally back to Mobile where we laid up the ship.
I signed on for four months, but got “Shanghaied” for six.
The First Assistant got stuck for ten months. We had AB’s that would willingly stay on for longer.
Also, we went around the southern tip of Africa.
Nice quality video.
Thanks for sharing.
Ram
Chief Engineer
Retired!
How can you be a second assistant on your first ship? Did you upgrade from a shore job? No sea time?
@@johnbeard3733 I came out of California Maritime with a Third Assistant Engineer license. I worked for seven years on ocean tugs as an engineer. To upgrade to a Second Engineer license, it was only required that I sailed one year as an engineer in charge of a watch. That would be the furthest upgrade on my license I could go on the tugs. To attain a First Assistant Engineer License, it would require me to sail as a Second Assistant Engineer.
I left the tugs and started sailing with American Maritime Officers Union and at that time, they were pretty desperate for licensed diesel engineers. Since I had a Second Assistant Diesel Engineer license, they put me on a ship that needed a Second Assistant Engineer.
So that is how I started sailing on my first ship as a Second Assistant.
Technically, my first ship was the USNS General Patch. I was only one year old on that one and not much of an engineer.
😉
Ram
@@laughingram7287 ahhhh. That explains it. Thanks. I too graduated from c.m.a. and I couldnt get any sea time for upgrade unless it was on a vessel over 1000 g.t. I sailed for a short while on a corps of engineers dredge that was 180 feet and under 1000 g.t. no sea time.
Also I worked on ferry's for many years and the coast guard would not give me any time towards pilotage....sheez.
Thanks for the reply.
JB
@@johnbeard3733 Mates have a harder time getting time. The tugs were just under 200 tons. It didn’t affect my upgrading time, as I mentioned above, it only required me to be an engineer in charge of a watch.
I’ve looked at the licenses on the ferries up in Washington and they’re a mess! So many limitations.
The only Corps of Engineer dredge I know about is the one based out of the San Francisco Bay. I had a classmate who sailed as a Third Mate on it for a short while.
Several of the mates I know are pilots in Long Beach, San Francisco, Seattle and Cook Inlet.
What class did you graduate?
Ram
CMA ‘80
@@laughingram7287 I was class of 76. Maybe you came the year I graduated? I sailed 6 months on the Chester Harding the dredge that worked in s.f. bay. We were dredging richmond harbor when we were t boned by a car carrier. The next month we scheduled to go to Kauai for a month. I wanted to get my pilotage. I think there are only 3 aids to nav. To memorize...lol.
When they laid the Harding up for repairs I left the corps. Yeah lot of mates from our era ended up pilots.
Well done. Your narration is perfect...spare, descriptive and informative. I was a Sailor for 24 years, know exactly where you're coming from.
I work in the offshore industry as project engineer, contracting to some of the biggest oil companies there are. I cant tell you how how hectic those offshore trips are when there are literally hundreds of millions of dollars on the line when developing a field, having to work 20 hr days sometimes to help get the job done. My first trip ever was 113 days down in trinidad all offshore, what a learning experience LOL
You have skills in making these types of videos love seeing other viewpoints from another sailing buddy! Its really nice to see some of the merchant mariner perspective that doesnt seem so hectic, just preventative maintenance on the ship and enjoying the transit. Keep it up and stay safe on the waters!
That sounds like a hell of a work trip
Yes I too found myself going back in time to the years I worked for Hornbeck Offshore and traveled all around the world including all the places you went on your way to Djibouti. Saw and did a lot of amazing things. We did not stay in Djibouti only long enough to resupply make some repairs and then we were off to Oman UAE for a few months then on to India and South China Sea. From there we eventually returned toward home and made the long trip back to the states and the beautiful GOM. All told we were gone over 3 years working for our government. Flying to and from the vessels every couple months going thru Europe Africa Middle East and Asia was a once in a lifetime experience for me. Age finally caught up to me and some medical issues put an end to my life at sea traveling around the world. I thank God for the experience still to this day. America is truly an awesome place to call home. Mariners are a special breed and I would gladly do it all again if I could. But then again at 64, my wife has stood by me all these years while i was out at sea. Now I enjoy each and every day with her, trying to find new ways to show her just how much I still love her. Sometime in the not to distant future, God will call me back home and I will once again go on a voyage to places unknown. All I can say is if God is capable of making this awesome planet we all call home. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us in the next part of life
.
The Bible says our spirit will live on for eternity. It is just a matter of where? In heaven with our loving creator, and all the other men and women who have passed across this planet and did it with a love for God, Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit in their heart and a love for all the other peoples we meet along the way thru our life.
If I could do it all over again I would try a lot harder to love everyone I meet along the way. God Bless you Joe Franta.
I thank you so much for sharing a part of your life. I know exactly how it feels to work as an AB and mate on vessels that go to places most people will never hear of, less get to see.
May God smile down upon you all the days of your life! If you have not found your peace with our loving creator, I would like to say it is the most amazing voyage you will ever go one.
It has no end to it and the love we find is truly the most powerful force upon this planet. It TRUMPS all other things, peaCe to you ...Steve
Planet?
Great comment and very true as most Americans have never even been abroad in their lives or own a passport. I’ve been lucky enough myself too do some travelling across too Asia, Australia, India, Africa and Europe all before I got married and had kids, but if I could have my time again like you I wouldn’t change a thing.
I had to read your story a few times to see the 🌈 your wife is actually a dude. Good on ya matey.
You should write down your lifetime adventures! God bless!
May the wind be at your back and the sun warm your face on your journey. God bless you..
Awesome. I did that in the 70,s and 80,s and loved it. Being out on the sea is unexplainable to people who haven't been there for months at a time, and just like everyone else I still wanna go back out and stay
I have done a lot of offshore sailing and I tell people it is the most beautiful and most scariest thing you can do but no matter how tired and wet you are, seeing the sunrise at sea makes it worth it.
I agree . I was a able bodied seaman for 20 years loved it
Oh this takes me back. Former Marine Engineering Officer here, sailed on the MSC Oilers and Djibouti was a constant stop port, be wary of the spitting camels. Fair winds and following seas. Ran into another from one of the grain ships who sailed AMO, but that was over a decade ago.
Lots of respect for you guys doing the deep blue sailings. I switched to the offshore about 10 yrs ago. Went from the Bridge to the Engine Room and now serving as a Barge Master on self propelled Jack Ups. Keep up the great work💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
What were the qualifications did u have to acquire over the years ?
Good stuff, any time on Gorillas?
It's guys like you Joe that make me excited to get my MMC. This line of work has such an appeal to me, thanks so much for sharing your experiences!
best of luck. very competitive out there with american shipping companies dissapearing and asian workers flooding the market.
Brah, somehow your channel came up. I just watched at first as a curiosity, but have been binge watching all the videos. As an old Navy dude, ya doing some real sailor sh*t…and dealing with sailor BS. Don’t let anyone tell ya different. Keep it up! 🤘🏽 Great music choices with the videos too. 👍🏽 Peace brother. 🤙🏽
@@1957user peace brother. I just retired this week after doing 25.5 years. Watching this makes me reminisce about all the good times u/w. But then all the BS too. Peace brother! Much love. Take care of yourself! 🤙🏼
Same for me, I'm a 65 yr old Marine.Going across the pond & deep into the Med w/ the sixth Fleet,it brought back memories.
I truly enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing how the ship is loaded and unloaded, very interesting! I sit at a desk all day reviewing medical records, your job has the best views by far!!!
Every job as it's pros and cons, I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thank you so much for watching and reaching out. Enjoy the weekend!
Talking to a coworker while out at sea one time about how some of us found the view beautiful, inspiring, impressive and just a place when not working to essentially meditate. Others found it infinitely boring. Oh and a moonless night, clear skies the stars are beyond amazing. To actually see the scope of the Milky Way, to see stars in unimagined numbers, the occasional meteor..... Retired now but those are things I miss.
This was a nice break for me - taking a few minutes sailing across the pond and back with you and back. I enjoyed hearing your commentary on how much you like it and all the little parts of the job. Good job on this video and the entire production!
Aw man, thanks for the kind words Steve glad you're like the content
You answered a lot of questions for me regarding bulk carriers. I cart iron ore to Port Hedland. I always wondered how the holds were clean and how it was unloaded. I get to see them loading. Just like you did in Texas. Thanks for the bow and rudder footage. Newest subscriber here. Look forward to more of your adventures. Cheers Dave.
As a part time land rat, I've seen those huge ore piles around P.H and Broome while travelling through WA/ Kimberly area. I used to love and respect OZ as a second home.
Great video Joe - on a map it doesn't even look like you could get to Djibouti unless you know about the canal. Amazing.
I remember my first ship through the NMU ( National Maritime Union ) hall in Seattle. The ship was at Tacoma Boat in the Port of Tacoma, a U S Lines ship, Pioneer Contractor. We sailed for Portland, Oregon then on the Archer Midland Daniels dock in Vancouver, Washington. Ultimate destination; Chittagong, Bangladesh. Now I am working on my manuscript: One Prolonged Blast: The Voyage of a Tramp Freighter.
That "Piss of ya c#$t"farewell was priceless.
Thanks for taking us along your voyage. Great video and content, stay safe, and smooth sailing.
Really enjoy your content, I'm English and was an AB on oil tankers in the early 80's, I also worked as a deckhand on the RFA refuelling Royal navy vessels. Good memories. And oh so much painting...
Welcome brother, happy you're enjoying the content.
Did you work during the falklands
What a life, take the bull by the horns, live life to its fullest, your a lucky bloke, thanks for sharing you amazing life/job with us.👍👍👍
Possibly my new favorite channel. Absolutely loved it. Very well done. I look forward to following you on your travels. Fair wind and following seas. 👍🇺🇸
Joe, these videos are really first class. The camera work and editing is interesting, smooth, and very well timed.
This is awesome! I've been a ship agent in Portland for decades (mostly grain ships) and enjoyed seeing what it's like on board (and especially after the grain is off-loaded) when a ship like this leaves my care.
I have a brother in law that needs to "straighten up"
What's the process/contacts for getting on one of these??
Grain, cargo, oil, no matter,
I'll put him on anything.
@@SDPBALLCOACH Lol
Fell into your documentaries of your time at sea while on a deep TH-cam dive. Thanks for sharing. I also never expected to hear “black gold” anywhere outside of Newfoundland and Labrador - great choice
This was really interesting to see life on a ship,excellent filming,and well presented please do more features like this most enjoyable film
Thank you. I have harvested grain that was hauled to the port in Houston so this was neat to see.
My father in law would haul grain to the port of Houston during harvest season so was good to see where it went too
Great insight.
Thank you.
I worked as a lasher at tilbury and dp London gateway dock in England.
We worked solely on quayside. So to see the journey of the vessels that dock is amazing.
hauled a refer for 17yrs , something about bringing food always made me felt good about my occupation keep up the good work
This video was very calming. Seemed like you had a blast all said and done! Great narration, stunning photography, perfect music! Keep these videos coming!
These videos are so cool man, thanks for taking the time to film and upload them!
Glad you like them!
How about a tour of the ship, like the mess hall,sleep quarters and recreational activities etc.
Man your videos are dope. Best Ive seen so far on TH-cam. You really capture how it feels to be a Mariner. Hope you keep em coming.
Thanks brother, means a lot. I'm glad you're enjoying the content. should have a vlog series coming out in acouple months.
@@JoeFranta You voted for Biden.
Thank you for taking me on your travel adventures on these huge amazing cargo vessels!…who knew!😍
Without people working on these behemoths of ships, the world wouldn’t be where it is today.
Beautiful footage and the selection of background music is nice.
respect from Sweden
Thank you for showing the survival suit drill, always glad to see it done. They saved a friend of mine up in Alaska.
The grain can't get wet because over a certain water content it'll cause liquefaction due to wave action which will unbalance the load and reduce the ship's righting ability greatly increasing the risk of capsizing in rough seas
I just thought it'll turn into porridge
Always amazes me just how "low" the "land" is around Houston.
Good video
- Your editing is better with each.
Keep - em coming.
Thanks for the video, brought back many memories. Spent 15 years in the British Merchant Navy as a marine engineer, mostly general cargo and smaller bulkers. Pre containers, thank heavens, so spent many days alongside discharging and loading cargo, thus enabling us to get ashore and meet up with the locals, where ever that was.
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I love stumbling upon things on TH-cam I'd never think of searching for! Great work showing the everyday life of the sea!
houstonian here... great video!! really cool to see you come off the dock in houston and travel through the channel. i would have thought Djibouti would have looked totally different. looked like a normal port with cranes and such... interesting too.
Brings back memories from my eight years at sea, on bulk carriers, way back in the 1970's.
In my old age I finally understand the job of a Merchant Marine. No Merchant Marine, no toilet tissue for me---no gas for my car etc, etc. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the job you do💯❣💥👍🥀💐
Haha - same here! It looks like something I should have done in my 20s before settling down way too early.
As always another great video! Enjoyed it and really liked the shot of the rudder at water level. Take care Joe we will meet one of these days 👍
Cheers Brian!
Wow, what an interesting and well done video. A look at a part of life I’d never seen before. Amazing. Thank you!
What a great TH-cam channel! Thank you Joe, you give an amazing insight into what its like to be a merchant mariner. I'd love to know the name of the song 2M Jeff was singing!
I just came across your channel by chance and I love your trip report. Dijibuty is one of the hottest harbour in the world. About the transportation, I wonder why the grain is not transported in hermetic bags to control pests developing during the voyage.
Interesting, having spent my whole working life at sea both as sailor and officer, it's nice to see a youngsters point of view through the lens of a camera, powered water and air hoses have taken over from brooms and hard sweat I see but that is to the good, also, trips reduced from 18 months to 2 months, and in some sectors, 1 month is a good thing, a life at sea is not to everyone's liking, but if it is for you, you know it.
So reminds me of my time on a bulk carrier, spent 10 months going around the world and loved every minute
Hell yea Chris
Your comment near the end of your return that you needed a beer reminds me of the time I served on the deck crew of a 19,000 ton Norwegian oil tanker in 1963. There were a few young Norwegian boys working in the engine room.... oilers, I guess, who were 16-years old. All of us, including these young boys, could buy as much beer as we wanted, throughout the trip. It was cheap, too. As a result, almost everyone on the ship was drunk most of the time [not me. I didn't drink]. Thanks for an interesting video.
The love of traveling the seas. Fricking disease. Thank you. More, please.
Great video. I know that it's hard work but man this gig looks like workman's paradise. Away from it all. Just man and machine. 14:24 😲I've watched a ton of videos like this but you're the first to mention stowaways. I can see that being a thing though.
Thank you so much for documenting this I've always wondered how it is to be on a grain machine I could never in a million years do what you do I get mad when I'm not home once every 14 days. Not to mention the water..... I know my 18 wheels are always going to be on land
Got some real Hobestobe travelling vibes from this!! Great video!!
So glad TH-cam droped this in my feed. It was fun to see a little of the life of a modern sailor.
Brings back so many good memories. 40 years in the Merchant Navy from Deck Boy to Master. My days as an AB were the best. Probably had bigger crews back then and we had a wonderful thing called the "ships bar" unforgettable times. Excellent content Joe. Love your videos....
Thank you so much sir, glad you're enjoying the content. A ship bar sounds lovely haha.
@@JoeFranta Many of the worlds problems were solved in a ships bar. Seamen are a very special and unique breed of human. Enjoy your journey Joe. Stay on course.
Just happened across your video and really enjoyed it. The food looks delicious with many choices at least for most of the trip. When unloading do you have to worry about the stuff in your rooms will people steal from you given the chance? And how long did it take to unload? Looks like a very interesting job working on different ships with so many different folks. Does it pay well? Will definitely check out more of your videos. Susan
I’ve never been to sea, but love the videos. Well done!
Thanks for watching
I was on her sister ship, Eagle, earlier this year. Cool to relive the trip, but it reminds me how much work there was. I recognized one of the mates as well. We sailed short (I think short 3 even after paying two extra mates to sail as ABs) and I was struck by how much labor the CM does on these grain ships. Pretty much everyone on board gets their hands dirty, thats for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Great Video! Great Editing and narration! I stumbled upon this and I am happy I did.
Keep 'em coming.
I always wondered what something like this pays? How to look for different ships that are hiring? Definitely looks very interesting
not enough
It completely varies on what your job is and what the individual contract is paying.
My brother worked on the oil rigs in the gulf coast. It wasn’t much $12-$13 an hour. You’d work 7 days a week so at least you’d have 84 hours per week. 2 weeks on the rig 2 weeks off. He also go fired for fighting, there’s only so much time to cramped up with other guys
Another great video. I'm addicted to your series. So many questions. You can't drink on board or for the duration of the trip? How often do you seal those hatches with the tar paper? Just after loading cargo or after cleaning as well on the return? Do you ever find a stow away? What's the pay like? Is there often overtime? (I assume that every time I see you sanding and painting then it's on overtime?)
I spent 8 years of my life doing these kinds of trip with "Hands across the Sea" grain and other charity food cargoes to help the starving populace of the Third World. You would be surprised (and probably not believe) the number of cargoes that stayed on the dockside and rotted.
It wouldn't be shared with the poor. Businesses would buy it and sell it.
@@Boddav More likely the gangster masquerading as the nation's leader would remove the cargo and sell it.
@@rogerb5615 -Yes, very likely.
I remember doing a run US to Calcutta, Calcutta used local labour to discharge in bags. When we did a second run the bags from the first run were rotting on the quayside. (the captain had records of the bag markings). When he enquired about why they hadn't been used, he was told that the right peoples palms hadn't been greased
Sorry to say, that doesn't surprise me at all.
Hey, I've not watched your videos in order but I'm enjoying them each as separate entities. My brother was in the Navy for 27 years, retired as a Master Chief, your videos are helping to flesh out many of his stories. Thanks.
Seems like a sweet hitch. 65 days is great. 7 months is brutal with a family back home. Just got my TWIC. I'm on the fast track towards th Sea Good sir. 🌊 ⚓️
This is a true Video Log! If we're exporting grain to frickin DJIBOUTI for free we shouldn't have much problem with domestic sourcing. This is exactly the kind of first hand, primary information that's so much better than the 3rd and 4th and 5th hand reports we see all over youtube. Thanks!
please make more, this is actually amazing like others have said this is like netflix, professional grade stuff
I love this channel man! I always wanted to be a sailor but i dont even know how to start so i love watching your videos. Im in the Marine Corps at the moment and i get out soon so i always have dreams about becoming a sailor in the Merchant Marines
Dude, thanks for the kind words, I love that you're enjoying the content, thank you! As far as your becoming a sailor, you need to get
Passport
MMC (Merchant Mariner Credential)
TWIC (Transportation Workings Identify Card(It may not be card lol))
and your STCW endorsement on the MMC.
It's a lot of logistics, but you can do it man
I went to sea after I got out of the Corps in 1974 .Personally speaking being a Merchant Seaman is a helluva better than being in the Marine Corps.But I regret nothing.
@@rws210 I`m 54, Chief Cook. Clearing a little over $10k per month. From entry level, takes about 14 months to make CC.
I’ve always wondered what your lifestyle would be like! I moved to the coast because I felt drawn here. Sadly I’m too old to pursue a change in careers! Thank you for the great video.😊
I am surpised at how clean the grain bays were in Houston. Tight ship! Another masterpiece video from the great Mr. Franta
Hey Joe, I deeply admire you, young man... you are articulate, compassionate, literate, just, deeply intelligent, humble, strong and KIND... just the kind of young man we NEED representing this nation of ours! I salute you, Joe and thank you for sharing time with us, sailor! Heave to, sailor... hard to starboard! Bon Voyage! And thank you... arthur b (Ngai) who also loves the sea! GREAT VIDEO AND PODCAST!!!!
I wonder how much the AID program has the effect of suppressing grain production in the beneficiary countries ?
Djibouti has a huge US military presence as it's one of the few friendly countries in that area. My guess it's more of a deal they made with us to allow us to have so many installations there. I wonder how genuine the need is for these USAID shipments, since as far as I'm aware, they aren't suffering any drought/famine, etc. They also make a killing on "rent" for these bases - to the tune of $65mill a from the US alone.
Hearts and minds, Dan. If kids in these countries grow up seeing our flag on their food aid, we're less likely to have to fight them as terrorists in the future. I remember the comment by a General a few years ago saying that if U.S. aid is curtailed, then Congress will end up having to buy him a lot more bullets instead....
The content. The music. The pure American feel of this video reminds me of what it was like to be proud to be an American. I’m not saying that I’m not proud any longer. It’s just different. It’s not very American to be the laughing stock of the world. America was built on this type of work. Keep on keeping on joe. Your doing good ol buddy. You’d be a welcome hand on my ship any day.
Thank for so much for the kind words, glad you're enjoying the content
I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. We used to build things, we were leading the world in industry. Now we just put our hand in the next guys pocket. It’s been my thinking that if you could bring back industry and encourage development of factories, drilling and refining our own oil. You would see a resurgence of a strong middle class which this country needs in order to survive.
@@cusefan5510 you quoting Frank Sobotka, the stevedore union boss from the Wire?
@@xenostim you are a man of culture! I was waiting to see if anyone would notice. I always did love that quote though, I grew up in a city slowly dying after all the industry left so it hits home.
@@cusefan5510 lol! thought so. great, relevant quote
When you talked about losing 2 crew members in Malta, you meant they died or they just didn't wanna continue being onbaord?
Is the food free for the crew or does it come out of their paychecks?
I Wonder about the Same Thing
He said they lost their cool. So essentially they quit
Came across this video and had to watch. Thanks for sharing. I always wondered what you did on those long trips.
I'm glad I found this. I worked on the Great Lakes for a while and really miss it, but I'm too old now, and my back couldn't handle it anymore. I look forward to watching more.
Is it ever hazardous having all that grain dust around? I know silos do blow up sometimes. But I’m guessing that maybe the humidity helps? Great video! Loved watching
I was wondering what it does to their lungs!