In 2021 I spent 65 days sailing on a bulk carrier. The ship brought US Food Aid from Houston Texas to Djibouti Africa. One crazy voyage. #bulkcarrier #foodaid #sailor
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 :)
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!
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💯❣💥👍🥀💐
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....
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. .
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.
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. 👍
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.
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.
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.
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.
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! 🤙🏼
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).
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!
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.
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💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
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.
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.
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!!! ??? :):):)
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.
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!!
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. 👍🇺🇸
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
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.
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 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.
Very interesting, thanks for taking us along for the ride. And you certainly were "part of the greater good" helping feed people, one of the most important & gratifying jobs one can do, much appreciated : )
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.
Joe, I always smile when you post a new video. Your commentary, enthusiasm for your profession and the sheer quality of your videos are amazing. I particularly love your choice of music! 😊
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.
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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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 RU-vid. 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.....
Bro, I know getting underway is taxing on a person, but I’m awaiting your next one! I’m binge watching your videos over and over and over. Your vids sailing the seas is relaxing for this old 🦑 squid. Please keep them coming!
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.
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 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.
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
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.
It felt American because it is American even though the enemy from within says American is bad. God bless the USA and the people that love and appreciate this country.
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.
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
Franta...excellent video. Having spent a couple days in Astoria, Oregon and seeing the huge cargo ships, I had many questions. You're vids have answered many...wonderful stuff! Thanks!
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.
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...
Been checking the channel everyday, waiting for a video and this is exactly what I was waiting for. Great content of my dream job i hope to begin working towards after finishing school. 🍺 Wish you a nice beer with family and friends.
Thank you for this video. Subscribing! As a former merchant mariner this brings back a lot of memories. We were regulars in Houston and New Orleans back 97-98. Grains, trigo, and corn to south central America. I didnt save any money for 15 months LoL. I invested em all on US lap dance and Latina's in the south. 😄
Fell into your documentaries of your time at sea while on a deep RU-vid dive. Thanks for sharing. I also never expected to hear “black gold” anywhere outside of Newfoundland and Labrador - great choice
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 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.
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!
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!
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.
What a great RU-vid 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!
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.
Just found your channel this week. Really like them so far. I spent 4 years in the USCG then did about 3 years in the NMU out of the Boston Union Hall. The last 6 years my wife & I were RVers off & on.
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?)
