5 REASONS TO BECOME A SEAFARER | WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THE MERCHANT MARINERS

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[curtisking]

I spent 45 years as a Merchant Mariner. Worked my way up from Ordinary Seaman to obtaining an Unlimited Master, All Oceans license. I’m retired now and when I start missing the ocean, my wife and I book a cruise to get off of the land for a week!

[JeffLevine-obno]

Joe, you don't have to convince me, brother. It was a great career, and now I'm having a great retirement. I started as an AB. I ended with an unlimited. I even got to play King Neptune. Enjoy every second brother and take lots of pictures. I know cargo operations are a pain, but they're worth it. You're probably coming up on enough time that I think you should start studying for your Captain's license. Go for it, brother. By the way, Joe, reason number 6. US flagged vessels have really decent food. The only people that can out stage us in culinary are Italian flagged vessels. I love Ascension Island, and I assumed that when you went south, you went to Ross. There is nothing cooler than being paid to stand a watch, and you're watching whales and penguins. My first commercial ship with a tanker, and as I winded down in years, my last boat I drove was a pilot boat. I would show up in my off days so I could board The Vessel with the pilot. Your videos make me miss the boat. I want to go back!

[deanolson]

Damn where were you when I was 21. If you're 21 and able take Joe's advice and take the chance.
As a land locked person in Colorado what an opportunity to work get paid and see the world.
At 62 time has passed me by.
Thanks Joe.
Cheers, keep the faith.
Dean

[Nerdsickelz]

Hi Joe, I just wanted to drop a message to say thank you!
I only found you a couple months ago but, have been inspired to follow in your footsteps.
I’m 26 and have been in an office job for the last five and a half years - it’s been slowly destroying me mentally and physically. Having also had a keen interest in the sea and sailing, finding you gave me the kick to quit my job and apply for the cadet course at bp where I was just recently accepted! I start in a couple weeks so it’s all a bit nerve wracking but seeing your passion and love for it, I’m sure with the right dedication and attitude, it will be plain sailing ☺️ again, thank you for changing my life for the better (big words I know but, you really have!) and I will absolutely buy you a (many) beers when I see you at port 😊

[rs]

Nicely done Joe.
A few thoughts from a retired Hawespiper who went from Ordinary Seaman to Unlimited Master over 16 years:

- The Able Seaman - Unlimited rating means the ability to quickly land a job, for the rest of your life. With very little effort / cost, one can keep their AB 'ticket' valid even if they go ashore for 5 or 10 years, you ALWAYS have the ability to earn good money when you need it.

- Think about an Able Seaman - Unlimited as equivalent to being a Plumber or an Electrician. Highly Skilled positions, with professional (for AB's, Federal) qualification.

- Last, but not least, there are a VAST number of opportunities for qualified Mariners.
Jobs where you can go home at night and sleep in your own bed (think Harbor Tugs and Ferries), those where you work two weeks on / two weeks off, and Deepsea where you may sail for 4 - 6 months, then have that much time (or more) off.

FYI, The Washington State Ferry System is now PAYING for all the schooling and training time to start as an Ordinary Seaman and move up to Mate (that is, working in the Wheelhouse).

[briancasey]

Caught onto your videos about year ago. I'm retired now, but was a truck owner operator 35 years, so I got to be both skipper and seaman of my own ship. I've always love the sea. If I was younger, I think I would like sea life. Outside of delivering and loading in various seaports, it never occurred to me to choose sea life, but trucking has a lot of similarities.

[joeroscillo]

Hey Joe, your having a great time, enjoying the seaman's life and taking us along with you!! If I wasn't almost 79, I'd be joining up now!!

[maxnex]

I'm liking the way Joe is tweaking his video channel to cover not just the job but also everything it entails to be a seafarer.

[joeenglish]

Was a blue water Marine Engineer in my younger years. Truly a world class experience and financially rewarding. Joe is right.

[HauntedByHeroesX]

Hey Joe, Jimi Hendrix says hi. Just good hearted humor.
I really appreciated your mental health video, I don't think this gets spoken openly about enough.
I just drove 90 miles this week to sign up for my TWIC. Working on my MMC.
Being near the water, especially salt water, heals me, calms me down, makes me at peace. Nothing else like it. I love lakes and rivers, but nothing like the ocean.
I've been following your videos the last 2 months or so. I've literally been talking with my wife the last year about going offshore, she thinks I'm nuts, that I should get a life insurance policy before I ship out. I told her she watches to many horror movies. It's one of the oldest professions on earth.




10 years of factory work and IT desk jobs, I'm doing this for my health, my sanity, and my family.

[sgtdrinkho]

Try using a sock to pant hand rails. It is very efficient and comes out great!!

[jolo]

I always look forward to an new upload from you. I grew up on the water and while its been many years since, i still have a love of life on the sea. Thank you for all you do and sharing it with us. 😊

[natelammers]

Nailed it. Many of the reasons I left a factory job and attended maritime academy and climbed up the ranks. It can be tough but I can’t imagine doing anything else.

[doylebunton]

Hay Joe..!
Some people don't realize how much car insurance.. gas.. and wear and tear on a vehicle .. mileage.. on a regular job is.. it's a lot of your check a week or month.. that's a good amount saved.. and food.. that jumps your pay up a lot...!
Good videos.!
Rock on Joe..!!

[alanbierhoff]

Joe, last night I watched the movie “Action in the North Atlantic” with the great Humphrey Bogart. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s all about Merchant Mariners during WWll.
As I watched it I couldn’t wait for you to post something on here so I could tell you about the movie incase you didn’t know about it and boom! here you are lol

[NAUTYICARS]

Thank you Joe for showing the insider information you do. As a tugboat guy, I can appreciate the different perspective. Fun fact, I was across the Dock from you at Anacortes, WA in one of your Videos loading cargo. Keep up the great work..

[greenparrotrice]

As someone currently in the US Navy with hopes to go merchent marines after the biggest reason I can see is that in all those clips of ship food the rice never looked burnt like ours is

[HabitualButtonPusher]

I hope you do an Antartica vid. I’ve always wanted to go there even McMurdo

[Well_I_am_just_saying]

Now do 5 reasons why not to become a seafarer.

[sprungingforvoltage]

a couple years ago i spent months seriously researching this because of your channel, then I had a kid 😊 but this line of work is still absolutely fascinating, Joe. be safe out there!