Come aboard the Algoma Equinox, one of the newest Great Lakes freighters, as we tour the ship and chat with the captain & crew about what it's like to work and live on the water.
I miss the water so much! I had a long career in the industry from inland tugs to harbor tugs, from utility boats to anchor handling boats doing oilfield work in The Gulf of Mexico, working for the US Navy on a research vessel overseas in the Mediterranean to construct work on a lift boat in the Gulf of Mexico. I wouldn’t change my work life for any other career. Thank you God for letting me do this type of work for 20 plus years what a blessing it has been. The sea will always be in my blood. Be safe to my brothers and sisters on the water working hard to provide a living for themselves and their families. God Bless You All!
I sailed on the great lakes in the seventies and early eighties. it was a very good experience. I work my way up to a wheelsman. is really neat how such a big ship handles so nice
I have watched and filmed the Algoma Intrepid and Algoma Niagara unload at the Calumet River Bridge at the Chicago/Indiana border. Both boast the name "Equinox". I love watching them. More surprising are the tugs that push and pull these monsters effectively and smoothly. Good presentation.
Well worth watching. Would love to see an updated video, changes in the last 7 years; requirements, rules, jobs, living and pay updates. Even better would be an update on these crew members. Nice job!
Spent a couple of months on the Canadian Olympic now called Algoma Olympic as a relief oilier. Great job & wish I could have made a career working on ships
I'm sure it can be stressful and has its BS like any job, but it sure looks like a career that could get in your blood. Work hard, enjoy the scenery a little, handle expensive, sophisticated equipment--- sign me up!
..right Peter? Wonder what the b.s. is...you know it's there..prolly the Captain thinks his s@#$ doesn't stink or whatever..the pay discrepancy between the deck hands and the pilothouse is pretty wide...
Coming from Alberta, I would love to sail on a freighter if I was single. Being a heavy equipment mechanic, marine engineering has always fascinated me. But my wife would kill me if I took a job that would keep me away that long :p
Noticed that you had sent your query a few years back; you having training and experience as a heavy mechanic would be 'credited' as sea time toward a marine engineers certificate. You would probably be able to 'fast track' in some marine engineering cadet programs in Canada. The shortest one is at the NSCC (Nova Scotia Community College), where you can complete, probably in your case with prior learning & experience, in about two years. Or you can do the other route and sail as an MA (mechanical assistant), again you'd receive credit for your past training & experience towards an initial 'ticket - the 4th Engineer's Certificate. Another option is to obtain a 'restricted engineer certificate', which would enable you to work as a chief engineer or 2nd Engineer on smaller vessels, as: tugs, small tour vessels, ferries, research,, fishing, etc. In closing, it depends on your age (not a really big factor) and family situation... Good luck in any & all your endeavours!
I sailed with Algoma from 64 to 75 beginning on ss Algocen, EB Barber, Roy A Jodrey, Brought the Mv Algorail out of Collingwood 1968 as second mate. career ended due to Health as first Mate. as I watch this I see how technowlege has changed.
It's hard PHYSICAL work to work on these ships. It's not just age, it's about what shape you are in. It's also a long arduous process to start this career. It's like me going to medical school at age 70. Pointless.
So these ships are built in China? Not USA or Canada or Europe? Is it that much more cheaper to import a ship from another country and pay tariffs on it and still be cheaper than building it here in North America?
Algoma hauls a lot of grain products which are well suited to non self-unloaders (i.e bulk carriers). Grain isn't particularly dense so maximizing hold volume is key to hauling the largest grain cargo possible at the allowable draft. Self-unloaders have sloped holds and conveyor belt systems that take up space that could otherwise be used for cargo. Most the grain handled by Algoma is transported to ports along the St. Lawrence river. These ports have systems to unload grain without the need for self unloading equipment. After unloading grain, Algoma bulk carriers travel further down the St. Lawrence to load iron ore pellets which they back haul to the Dofasco steel mill in Hamilton, Ontario. Dofasco has two high capacity ore bridge cranes that can unload a bulk carrier in as little as 16 hours, again precluding the necessity of a self-unloader. Algoma handles nearly all of Dofasco's ore requirements so their new fleet of 4 bulk carriers will have stable cargo demand for years to come by following this grain/ore pattern.
Wow. I had no idea. I saw this video and immediately was confused about the lack of unloading gear. But this is great news. I always thought unloading equipment looks ugly on these beautiful boats! Thanks for this explanation. :)
Can l sign up for a Job(Career)? I am 69yrs. of age and would like to be on Board any of the Great Lakes Ships. I like Adventure and Uncertainty Ahead. Please do Respond. JohnBurns.
Many lakers have been scraped because it is too expensive to install self unloader. This ship makes no sense in that respect. It sure must limit where it can be unloaded at, and one would think, not for long. Glad you upload vid though, quite interesting.
I doubt that Algoma would purposely build a ship w/o self unloader, w/o looking at the logistics first. I too struggle to see a reason, but there must be one.
