CROSSING THE SUEZ CANAL | CANAL DAY | LIFE AT SEA

Canal Day! Follow a Bulk Carrier as it crosses the Suez Canal. This video is not a time-lapse, well explore a typical day in the Suez Canal. From pilot turn overs and helmamns to the line boat gift shop well try and cover it all.

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#suezcanal #lifeatsea #bulkcarrier #merchantmarine

[robertyoung]

Was my first career, ten years BP tankers as an AB, first trip through the suez I bought 3 sphinx heads from the line boat, the exact same ones these guys are selling, still got them 40 odd years later! Thanks for the upload, all good memories.

[TheByard]

You have taken me back to 1979/80, when I worked on the construction of a road tunnel under the canal. The tunnel was halfway between the Bitter Lakes and Suez, lived in a camp and the work cycle was 24/6 with Fridays off. There was an hourly coach service into Suez and it called into the married camp where we had a pool, and we ran a bar. Beer was supplied by the Egyptian Constuction partner who also owned Stella Brewery and a tipper truck would arrive each week with our supply's. We'd also hit a few bars in town that sold Heineken and whatever beer the line boats and pilots would bring in. Some nights we could drink our ways around the world, Thursday's end of shift we'd head for Cairo and the Hilton Hotel for a change of food and of course some more beer.

To keep fit there was a pair of sail boats on the lakes, and we'd sail around the wrecks of one of the wars. We could visit the pilots club for a meal and soft drinks. We'd often walk from camp to the canal and watch the convoys pass by couple of times I swam across between convoys, though swarms of stinging jelly fish would come down from the med, when you felt the first one, we'd speed up and break Olympic records.

In total I spent 7 years in Egypt working on tunnels and even as a transport on the Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me. I've heard it's really changed from the country I knew, so have retired to Vietnam where it's a lot wetter.

Thanks for posting and stirring my brain, be safe.

[richhunter]

Joe, You have been enjoying life. The fact that you quit a really good job which would have had a secure future delivering Coca-Cola in N.J. to go for something you felt was more enjoyable is admirable. Hats off to you for your choices.

[jimmybx]

Ive done that transit 3 times on a US flagged floating airport. It sure is wild. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[laughingram]

One thing I remember about going through the Suez back in the 90’s was the riding gang would wander around and steal brass deck plugs, fire hose nozzles and one time even stole all the utensils off the ship. They wore these big overcoats with inside pockets. You had to keep an eye on them.

Unfortunately, we had to let them ride or we would not be able to go through the canal.

Cigarettes and booze was the commodity then.

When we took bunkers in Alexandria, the Chief Engineer hid all his cigarettes except for one pack. When the shoreside guy asked him for cigarettes the Chief looked around and acted like he didn’t have any except the one pack. The guy took his last pack.

Suez is pretty cool other than that.

Ram

[rfcgong]

I was in Cairo, Egypt 10 years ago. On tours we go shopping. While at one of the stores selling Pyramids, jewelry camels, etc. I took a wrong turn, ended up in the warehouse. Most of the items were in boxes with "Made in China" on them.

[arreslee]

Hello Mr Joe Franta,

Found your channel while searching for footage about servicing my DAF 575 marine engine. This came about as I am a dutchman with a 13 meter (that would be 45 feet) coastal water capable pleasure craft with said engine. Stumbling onto one of your earlier videos, both your narration of shipboard life as a merchant mariner, as well as your style of filming your endeavors, grabbed my attention.

My wife stems from 5 generations of skippers on inland cargo vessels. Her grandfather was born on a sailing inland cargo carrier, one of the last of its kind.He went on to own his own ship and had his family on board as is custom. When I met my wife and later on him, I was a great target (a very willing and susceptible target mind you) for all his stories pertaining to ship life on "de binnenvaart." This is the Dutch term used for all cargo carrying vessels on inland waters. This included stories on WW2 all the way through the late 80's.

My father made his bones from 78 onwards when i was born as his eldest in a company named Paktank, in later years Vopak and Odfjell, one of the largest in what we call "op en overslag." Trading, storing and shipping oil, chemical products and such from all over the world based in Rotterdam, still one of the biggest harbour complexes in Europe. Working as a shore captain he both steered a shore crew of 100 to 150 people per shift as well as doing paperwork and going on board tankers to conduct relations with captains and skippers from all over the world. His stories I grew up on.

To make a very roundabout and long story short, I love the water and the sea but work in teaching. No ships involved except my own cruiser I bought last fall with my father. Following your down to earth, or sea really, stories on ship life as a sailor somehow ticks a box for me and is very enjoyable. Somehow it connects me to an in-law grandfather that's no longer here and helps me relate to my father that worked hard but hardly speaks, only now in my 40 s he opens up. Your video's help me relate, it really does make a difference. It gives me questions to ask of him that he can answer.

Thank you. Please keep it up, will keep following.

Jonathan.

[localboy]

I dig your style, so calm and relaxed unlike those who yell and animate like cartoons. My two older brothers were Merchant Marines and traveled the world like you. Subscribed and looking forward to more of your journeys.

[waden]

Been through it 4x. Each 'down and back' was aboard the USS Eisenhower. August 8th was 32 years to the day that i had gone through it as a 19yr old on my first cruise.

[matdamon]

You’re the Foresty Forrest of Merchant Ship life. Thanks for keeping it calm and simple.

[jamesburke]

Great Job, Joe.
Some might even say "FRANTAstic!!.
Loved that you bought the "Genuine Egyptian Souvenir"
You should have shown the 'Made in China" sticker!!!

[b-man]

It's why I LOVE YouTube!! I just got to experience something that I'll probably never get to experience!!! Thx for sharing!

[melissalambert]

Found one I hadn't seen yet. Thanks again for the maps. I had no idea the path of the canal. Assumed it was just one straight path. Funny about the Line Boat and the nick-nacks.

[georgegregg]

I still love it, the Suez Canal… I was in the Navy long time ago, USS Forrestal aircraft carrier . One go away north to south….. south to north
It’s the memory that I cherish

[SpencerToddBrown]

My son is a second year cadet at Cal Martime. I’m learning so much from watching your videos. Thanks a ton for making these and they are excellent!

[SuZling]

Awesome video.Brought back my memories of crossing Suez Canal, as a passenger onboard a bulk carrier.Years ago, we get to buy those sphinx head and some other souvenirs without using cash.The Egyptian peddlers love doing butter trade with cigarettes.Thanks for sharing your experience in Suez Canal.Reckon those peddlers are not allowed to board the ship during anchorage or while crossing the canal anymore.

[Praterphil]

I think I live as far from an ocean as almost anyone in the world, southeast Nebraska. I absolutely love your videos. I sure hope you keep making them, you're very talented and a natural narrator.

[kennethgrindrod]

Another good one done about 5 trips through the canal back in the 70/80;s. most of the time had to hoist the canals own light a big box one of there electricians had to jump inside to line up the beam very hot in the middle of summer paint melting on the deck

[terryansell]

Very interesting video thank you from New Zealand

[NativeSkater]

I just discovered your channel last night. Badass film work. I watch Chief Makoi all the time also.