Living on a Great Lakes Freighter | Great Lakes Now 

Now, I ain't from Canada. I am, however, from Wisconsin, so technically, we're from the same area. I hope to work on one of these freighters, and I hope that I don't die on one. If I do, that's technically an honor.

Very cool...hi I worked at heddle marine services in Hamilton Ontario during her complete refit from when it was the voyager independent=it was very blue and white lol we pulled the boiler dropped a locomotive engine in reworked the cargo holds new lighting tons of cable a new instrument cluster in wheelhouse and a slew of other upgrades the cheif engineer was on site the whole refit nice bunch had breakfast in the galley on her departure day from the shipyard

@@neilmaccanbell9813 DILF

I’ve worked on the Ojibway she’s a small Diesel electric propulsion vessel

He was one of the least respected men in the fleet. I remember the time he had drained too much of his flask and threw a shipmate’s dog over the side of our vessel for no reason.

If the captains wrecks the ship, he damn well better go down with it.

@@richardterry3833 F that, if everyone gets of the ship I'm goin too

Wear a life jacket.

Believe me, being a ships master, is very much a hard job to do. He may be a Captain who is well seasoned for the job, however considering that the Lakes turn from serine to violent in a matter of seconds, all the responsibility of both the ship and your crew is at stake, and those responsibilities aren't taken very lightly. It is said that because of the strain these Ships Captains go through, you DON'T want to go near them, you avoid them as they already have enough on their minds just being the Captain, trying to make sure that everything goes smooth sailing from start to finish.

🤣😅😂

because it's not necessary. its a large simple ship. not a complicated one.

The ship i work on only has 3 engineers, 3 officers, 2 wheelsman, 2 day workers, a cook and a captain.

I agree, great video. I searched the channel for the first episode, but had no luck. Is it named something different?

@@mcposcottpugh5138 Thanks for your interest! It may be easier from our main page - and the playlists view has all the episodes grouped - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IVlgQsA4ZEA.html

They are merchant mariners and when you apply for your merchant mariner credentials you have to option to volunteer to be on call if a military emergency happened and they needed Mariners to man the liberty ships and cargo ships to transport military equipment. So they are civilians though could be used in times of war.

@@gwalker173 I believe the officers are often in a similar situation. Many have gotten their credentials through the US Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point, NY and that entails service in case of conflict. It is a pretty sweet deal if you are inclined to sail in the merchant marine. One year when I sailed we had a young 3rd mate out of King's Point. I was in college and he was just a few years older than me. His plan was to work long enough to save enough money to buy a good size sailboat for cash and start a windjammer cruise business in the Caribbean. I believe he was looking at having all the money he needed to start the business before he was 30. At the time (early 70's) there was a shortage of mates and our boat (like others) was working the mates "6 and 6", 6 hours on 6 hours off. As a young guy in his mid 20s he was making around $100K per season while working 6 and 6, which was a shit-pile of money in those days. Those were the days when the rule of thumb was that if you earned your age in thousands you were considered to be doing pretty well. He was making about 4 times his age.

A guy I know is a Canadian naval reservist who was also studying to work in the engineering department of cargo ships civy side which, I believe, he was doing when not sailing for the RCN. Though I'm not sure if he worked on the lakes or crossing the Ocean.

That’s the fun part

"This is where the fun begins!" Or "Now this is pod racing!"

Are you Canadian?

Check out MITAGS in Linthicum Heights. They run 2 year programs for deckie officers and engine/deckie hands. They've got a school east & west coast.

You wouldnt believe the amount of newfies on lakers

@@billyboots3730 I believe you. It makes sense ... proud seafaring tradition and all.

Definitely hearing some Scottish descent in their accents

@@MusingMageofDisney Irish. Don't think there were a whole lot of Scots on the Rock. Irish, English, French and aboriginals.

@@PrenticeBoy1688 ah.

Until you loan them money.😂😂😂

Saw you request about working on a Laker in the Great Lakes. Contact the Seafarers Union International or Maritime Service. Not sure where you live there maybe an employment Hall in your area. Also look on the internet.

Where did you try? I've been entertaining the same idea myself.

I didn't get that at all. They just seemed understated and humble like most Canadians I know. From what I've seen, at least on the US side of things deckhands make upwards of 60,000 in a season, on a 60 days on 30 days off schedule. That sounds pretty damn good to me.

I think they take the ice breakers out to clear some paths but dont quote me on that

Google it, Michelle. The only break the Lakers take is from Jan 15 to March 25 when the Soo Locks are inspected and repaired. Ice doesn't stop them. The US Coast Guard has ice breakers. If you research this topic, there is an enormous amount of info.

Back in the 70's I worked on US Steel's Great Lakes Fleet boats for 4 summers while in college. I would have to agree with your observation to a large degree. I am not sure if the relatively isolated nature of the occupation makes some people more awkward over time or whether the relative isolation of the occupation attracts those who are already somewhat awkward. That said, it is not a blanket statement that applies to everyone and it in no way impugns the character or work ethic of those who do the job. I worked with any number of knowledgeable, hardworking, and genuinely nice people who just didn't fit in well in land jobs and found a niche that worked for them. On one boat I worked with a guy who probably had an IQ of 85-90 and had been sailing for 30 years or so. He could be pretty volatile but he was very nice if he liked you. He had a brother who looked out for his interests on land and apparently he was actually quite wealthy. He made pretty good money, hardly spent anything and his brother had invested his money in a diversified portfolio of stock, bonds, and real estate. No way he could have done anything like that on land.

@@cleanwillie1307 Most of the folks interviewed here seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs on this ship. That's saying a lot considering a lot of land folks are not satisfied with their work and have simply "settled." So long as you are happy I suppose.

I retired in 2012 and averaged $140k American my last 6 years for 6 months work. YOU WILL NOT MAKE THAT IN SALES!!!