SAILING ON A GRAIN SHIP |HOUSTON to DJIBOUTI LIFE OF A SAILOR

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 #merchantmarine

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[Mekinhumbel]

I don't know if you have any background/training in making documentaries, but you're a natural at this. Professional-grade stuff.

[antonleimbach]

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.

[qwertas]

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!

[cjtannerza]

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.

[lukestrawwalker]

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 :)

[minerran]

Thank you mariners for supplying the world! We could not live without you, may god bless and watch over all sailors!

[andrewrudd]

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.
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[jeffwiseman]

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.

[TheLoneRider_]

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!

[hawaiiaerialvisionsllc]

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.

[peterfrazer]

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.

[libfab]

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...

[Mr.M_I_T]

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💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

[NullaNulla]

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.

[Overlycomplicatedswede]

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

[steven]

Well done. Your narration is perfect...spare, descriptive and informative. I was a Sailor for 24 years, know exactly where you're coming from.

[tomservo]

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.

[charlesreynolds]

hauled a refer for 17yrs, something about bringing food always made me felt good about my occupation keep up the good work

[Steve-]

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. 👍

[marshallgrads]

Thanks for keeping your vids plain and simple. Letting the experience of the trip tell the story is appreciated. Stay safe and TY.