Crossing the Atlantic on a container ship

Wilmington, North Carolina to Antwerp, Belgium. July 2015
The Independent Pursuit
It was awesome, good crew, good weather, dolphin spotting a bonus!
Read about it at noflytripping.c...

[@chrismcromeoct]

how i miss working on a container vessel. it brings back memories while watching your video. im a buson on a HAJIN VESSEL RETIRED 2006. THANKS FOR THE VIDEO

[@MrDaddynomates]

Great way to travel around the world. Good video. It's quite sad how most people travel without experiencing the journey. You can sit on a plane for a few hours, eat food, watch a movie, then land on a different continent, cross an entire ocean without experiencing any of it. You travel for the journey. Great video. Thanks.

[@douglasthompson8927]

the sad part is the real reason they fly is to save money..they`ll blow however many $1000s a day on holiday hotels food souvenirs but 200$ per nite on a ship is considered an extravagance..even passenger liners are not really that expensive..it`s how we used to do it and it`s good enough for me

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

​@@douglasthompson8927Dude, most people don't have time to sit on a cargo ship staring at the water 24-7.

[@douglasthompson8927]

@@A_10_PaAng_111 most people are in a big hurry to go nowhere

[@MattJohno2]

I took a ferry from Great Britain to Belfast. 8 hours each way. One of my favourite pass-times was simply just standing on the top deck, or sitting in the lounge at the bow watching the world go by. I actually enjoyed being on-board the ship as one of the activities during my holiday there. It also afforded some absolutely spectacular views of the Isle of Man among other things!

[@rasta77001]

I worked on this ship as a deck cadet. Stayed on board for 6 months and to be honest, you had a bit of luck with the weather. During my contract we had three passengers on three different voyages and they didnt enjoyed as much as you did 😂. Glad you discovered the “zen place” on top of the forecastle, I also used to chill over there after work. Thank you very much for this video , it was nice to see her again.

[@appmagician3240]

Crossing the atlantic with a cargoship in under 20 minutes, wow I'm impressed, future technology right there :)

[@Biswajit_mandol]

Lol🤣🤣

[@ukaszprzechadzki5844]

I have spent 6 months on board this ship in 2014. I even see you have sailed with same polish captain. It was my first trip as 3rd officer and captain was great guy who supported his officers. Memories back :)

[@NitinKumar]

You've left the field?

[@ukaszprzechadzki5844]

​@@NitinKumaryes Im now working with IT

[@EIGYRO]

I was a radio officer on a containership (G.T.V Asiafreighter), 50 years ago, and visited Wilmington, North Carolina, several times. You got better weather than I did. Nice bit of nostalgia for me. Thanks.

[@poutygorilla2698]

I've often thought of doing this. Thank for sharing your adventure 😃

[@robinheil]

Dude, this is friggin epic. You look like the king of the world out there.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Wow! I just found this video. What an amazing film! I loved it! Thank you!

[@fvw88]

You definitely hit an unusually calm stretch of Atlantic Ocean on your crossing. Nice job getting the video of the flying fish and dolphins.

[@mikefm4]

What an awesome way to travel. Thanks for taking us along for this. Really interesting

[@eltfell]

The cranes are for loading and unloading the containers when port facilities are not available. They are common on container ships up to 3400 TEU.

[@01hondascott]

for the most part they just put out the bins that have the spuds in them that allow the containers to lock securely on top of other containers, if you look at the base of the crane at 5:44 you will see the bins of spuds on the grey float with the orange legs, the on board crane will set that on the dock when it arrives and then fork lifts will bring the bins to a spot on the wharf where trucks will bring the containers to and a few workers will place the spuds in the corner holes on the containers and then drive over to the ship where the large container cranes located on the dock will pick the containers up and then set it on top of another container and the spuds will lock them together. also during this time those on board cranes are loading supplies, food and drinks, they lower nets and a shipment of supplies will come and they lift it on the ship with those cranes.

[@egomaniac247]

Amazing as I've seen this ship many times on the James River in docking at Richmond, Va. I've tracked it several times on the martime website going to Antwerp. I was looking at freighter cruises and was shocked to see a passenger video (yours) on a ship I've seen before!! If I had free time I'd definitely do this.

[@NoFlyTripping]

Hope you are able to find the time some day!

[@iTrans888]

Excellent clip, thanks for sharing! I was a passenger from Australia to Philadelphia (5 weeks)two years ago and really enjoyed it and will be doing again next year through the Suez canal. Cheers

[@NoFlyTripping]

Sounds great! Did you get to see much during port stop-overs along the way?

[@iTrans888]

Certainly did as I got on well with the Captain so we made the most the time on land but my heart is definitely on the ocean I must say, looking forward to my next ship experience!

[@smorris6891]

How would I go about getting started to make a trip like this

[@Reckone12]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing, looks like a strangely relaxing voyage!

[@alistairmccausland1580]

Thanks for the trip across the Atlantic

[@DevonDumpling70]

as a railwayman myself who used to be a fisherman (many years ago) I've always loved the sea and would of probably worked if possible in the merchant navy. Never realised they took passenger though. Great video.

[@NickCormierMusic]

The shot of the bow was super good!

[@seqspottingandtravels9346]

I don't think I have seen the Atlantic so calm!! Top video!

[@Billy_Darley]

probably in or near a high barometric pressure zone.

[@pcguysoffgridcabin]

Well they say the night the titanic hit the iceberg, the Atlantic was as smooth as glass

[@guyb6665]

then you don't see the Atlantic much

[@JeffOnboard]

I will try to post some footage when I go back on my Container ship in April. We go to Antwerp, Belgium....Rotterdam, Netherlands...and Bremerhaven, Germany....Seas should be not too bad by then....Good video!!! Safe sailing

[@headlights-go-up]

Matt and Jeff I’m pretty sure this video was recommended because I watched your video touring a similar ship lol. I enjoyed both quite a bit.

[@theangrygoat3076]

Why am I watching something I do for work everyday. Jeeze KZbin!

[@topofdescent]

Let me tell you as someone who actually loves aviation and airtravel: This has been a greatly appreciated and very well done report. Braught back great memories of a great experience we had about 10 years ago: We took a trip on the CMA CGM La Tour from Rotterdam to New York. It was just as awesome as your experience on your journey. The Dolphins, our message in a bottle (that has not yet been found - I suppose - despite it having been cast into the ocean in a rather expensive bottle of Pinot Noir somewhere between the Azores and Iceland, but what the heck, really), the hillarious nights with the (mostly) phillipine crew in their bar with their karaoke-machine, the strict regime of mealtimes in the officers' mass at 07:00, 12:30 and 18:00 SHARP (they were not joking when they told us "five minutes late, no meal!) and the hours and hours of just being outside, being exposed to the forces of our planet as they have been around for hundreds of thousands of years. Or being inside in your bunk and being gently rocked and rolled into slumber. A trip like this really makes you aware of the distances travelled and it resets the mind completely. You can't help but to appreciate so much more (for ever more) our planet, the species that inhabit it, time, space and how blessed one is to be able to have such an experience. And then, to end on a bitter sweet note: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHexdJ2YhtBsf7c

[@stoutyyyy]

topofdescent how did the “sharp” meal times work with the ship’s watch system? Most ships have the mess open for a while when the watch changes, so the officers going on and off watch get a chance to eat.

[@rexr5414]

The first impression I got of the dolphins racing the bow was of dogs out in the country chasing cars. You know that is what it's like for them!

[@thesevenseas]

Great to watch! I can not do more then wonder, how is your journey gone after 6 years. Of no new videos?

[@livetvboys4340]

Am I the only one that finds this video so interesting this video should have 1400 million views I did subdue your channel thank you

[@glenrichards7175]

On my bucket list of things to do, great video, but would like to see more about the food available and meeting with the crew next time, thanks

[@justinkrann7406]

How did you get on this ship? were you an employee? or a passenger? how much did it cost?

[@Old.Man.Of.The.Mountain]

I am taking a college course in History and I just realized that aspects of World War II were fought above, on and below these waters. Thanks for the video! It has definitely added a big dimension to my learning.

[@NoFlyTripping]

Gopi R it can feel very empty. Weird to think of huge convoys and lone U-boats sailing in these waters

[@birchtoptracks954]

I did the same passage on that ship in June 2015... also had the owners cabin. I loved the apron at the bow but only had the nerve to go all the way to the very front once. Every day I would practice recorder in the covered forecastle where the acoustics were amazing!

[@NoFlyTripping]

Haha. Awesome, this was July 2015 so not that far apart! The front could be unnerving. The shot where I peak down at the bow, that makes me flinch just watching it that I might fall in!

[@birchtoptracks954]

If you fell off no one would know it for hours, maybe days! Kind of like being on the dark side of the moon. Then navigating into, and docking in Antwerp were 8 of the most fascinating hours I've ever spent!

[@jhibbitt1]

u remind me of my uncle. he spends all his time in adventuring on boats in the Mediterranean and he looked and sounded a lot like you when he was ur age (he's old now) but ur much more animated and talkative....anyway great video thanks for the upload

[@jimcarnicom9417]

Thank you very much. Excellent job on the video, very realistic view of freighter travel.

[@heha9752]

Really awesome video :). I'm going to be flying practically right over where you were sailing from Chicago to London. I'll be one of those planes that was flying over you 🤣😂. Someday I'd love to take the boat though :)

[@laur-unstagenameactuallyca1587]

nice. I'm a big believer in slow travel and it's benefits so this is really cool to me :)

[@xp_studios7804]

I had no idea that cargo ships allow passengers! I love planes but I like seeing the land/seascape

[@chiad25]

Great video! Amazing ship. Just a note. The MV Independent Pursuit has a cargo capacity of 2.500 TEU. The largest containerships today has a cargo capacity of 23.700 TEU (MSC Gülsün). Imagine that.

[@NoFlyTripping]

Yes the size of some of these things is amazing. I did a trip across the Pacific on the Nabucco which was a much bigger ship but even that compared to some of the biggest giants is tiny.

[@KristianOye]

Ahh! Nothing like a bracing vacation on the diesel decks!

[@kcramer7404]

Pretty cool. Thanks for sharing

[@headlights-go-up]

Everything about this video terrifies me lol. Being in the middle of the ocean and knowing you won’t see land for days, thinking about how deep the water is, even when you were walking to the front of the ship all I could think about was “what would you do if you slipped and went through the railing” lol Needless to say your shots over the front filled me with a whole bunch of “nope!” What a great video though. It’s so hard to wrap my mind around the scale.

[@NoFlyTripping]

To be fair I can't watch the shots over the bow without subconsciously moving to try to avoid falling in

[@stickelliott5292]

You would have hated swim in the Navy, we were allowed to go swimming in the middle of the ocean on good days when out to sea for a long time. I swam in 2000' deep water. Once took a high dive from the second level & didn't worry about a shallow dive. It got cold & dark quickly. Freaked me out & I got out.

[@blorph1]

Nicely done. Always wondered what it would be like on a container ship.

[@c4mj0n35]

blorph1 Check out JeffHk, he vlogs bout working on a Container Ship its interesting to watch

[@manie3232]

I thought that was the port in Wilmington, NC! I visited there a couple summers ago. A boat ride we took went past that port. I saw piles of wood chips that get shipped to Europe. I heard they have a lot of wood fired power plants. There's an app that you can get too that tracks these ships wherever they are at in the world.

[@NoFlyTripping]

11/12 nights, we arrived into Antwerp quite late in the evening so didn't leave ship until next morning. My Pacific crossing (see my other video) took 15 days.

[@yukon4511]

Thank you. Excellent video.

[@pavanatanaya]

I had no idea you could book passage on a cargo ship

[@regould221]

www.freighterexpeditions.com.au/cargo-ship-travel-things-you-should-know

[@gateway8833]

Oh yea, It’s nothing like those vacation boats but they get you there.

[@happinessismine1]

Yes under maritime law 5 regular civilian passengers Can travel that way

[@konsejitos]

so you can just walk anywhere on the ship? no restrictions? some spots seemed dangerous, trip and fall over board kinda dangerous.

[@NoFlyTripping]

So the main restriction is not going out at night. And only went to engine room with the chief as guide. There is a safety brief although I wouldn't want to take the chance of falling in

[@reckz420]

Is it usually a quite lonely trip? Am guessing in the absence of a large pool of other passengers, you'd only the ship crew around who would be busy with their daily duties. Also, was there housekeeping service to clean your room or you had to do it yourself?

[@NoFlyTripping]

One of the crew empties the bins, restocks toilet paper etc. The crew are generally busy yes, but you eat with them and can chat at meal times and hang around with them in their mess in the evenings. You were also free to walk up to the bridge whenever you wanted and could normally have a chat if things were quiet.

[@danielkennedy7845]

Very cool! actually peaceful!thanks!

[@trecker59]

That looked great, I would love to do that.

[@trainrover]

Thoroughly enjoyed that..only wish you recorded a succession of at least half dozen bow waves.

[@joshuastien6829]

Im definitely doing this. Thanks !

[@garyhope2]

Next time get a wind cover for your microphone to cut the annoying wind noise and static. How about showing the dinning room, kitchen, exercise room, the crew quarters, the Capitain's quarters, the bridge, the food, etc.

[@geoffreywallace9432]

The cranes are for loading and unloading in ports which have no cranes.

[@yoelrnaples]

I didn't know civilians can travel on a container ship!! is it a common thing?

[@EternalModerate]

cabin looks surprisingly comfy.

[@dianaeubanks8595]

This is how my Mom came to America from Germany in the early 60s!

[@01hondascott]

i work at a port removing containers from ships and not once have i heard of anyone just traveling on one. this is very interesting.

[@rv_316]

Yep, me too, and I am a marine engineer, no one was allowed on my ships... Very strange news...!!?

[@elliottwilford6457]

Top video but what we really want to know is did you and Melissa rock the boat lol. I’m joking. I can’t believe how accessible the ship is!! Standing on the bow and underneath looked brilliant.

[@grahambunton377]

Sounds much better than a Carnival Cruise. Less "entertainment" but also less norovirus and salmonella. How much did it cost? What was the food like?

[@Solidsaw]

Perfect video, im also studying marine tansportation management engineering and this video gave me just chills, cheers bro, hope to see you someday as a colleague:)

[@livetvboys4340]

Did you work for them? That would have been awesome to get a free ride on that ship I was just curious thanks man great video great content keep up the good work subbed

[@TrymBraathen]

Been looking for something like this!

[@robertproctor1358]

What do you have to do to cruise on a container ship? Any info would help. Thanks, and thanks for sharing!!

[@OmmerSyssel]

Robert Proctor nothing special, ability to pay the price acquired by the shipping company..

[@campionpesate4647]

We can't do this anymore?

[@barryporteous4904]

An English Rich Hall?

[@Visionery1]

At 2:35, those motors are just ticking over. Are you allowed to walk around unaccompanied, what if you fall overboard?

[@susiepittman601]

Fascinating video! Thanks for sharing.

[@KP-th8nw]

Hey man awesome vid! One question though, how do the containers not just tip in rough weather? How are they secured?

[@robertzeurunkl8401]

1:26 - Imagine the good sleep you could get with that sound all night long.

[@justjacqueline2004]

Astonishing and fascinating.

[@RichardsWorld]

The “roof” is normally just called an overhead. “Ropes” are called lines. The floor is a deck. Walls are bulkheads. The front of a ship is normally called a forecastle. You can call the large parts of the ship above the main deck a superstructure. I was in the US Navy for 20 years. We might have some different names for things though. Anyways, did they give you any access to the internet? Or did they have a gym? Did they say you can’t have alcohol?

[@NoFlyTripping]

Richard's World Traveler sorry didn't see your comment. No alcohol on this ship but I crossed the Pacific on a French flagged vessel and they served wine with meals. Can't remember if there was a gym on this ship but there was a very basic one on the other one. Also a pool they offered to fill for me.

[@NoFlyTripping]

Richard's World Traveler I should add nothing to stop you taking a bottle or two on board, they just didn't have it at meals.

[@yocecil3538]

No Fly Tripping Unique video! Why was you on a ship if you didn't work on it? I assume you somehow hitched a ride? If so it's a new concept for me. I would've thought complex insurances would not allow it.

[@NoFlyTripping]

Yo Cecil several shipping firms are willing to sell tickets for passengers. Easiest way to sort this out is through specialist travel agents. You can find them online after a quick Google there are quite a few. You need to shop around and it's not cheap but it is an experience. Part of the cost does cover deviation insurance and for my Pacific trip I had to produce a doctor's note showing that I was healthy which I had to get from Korea but otherwise it was all straight forward really.

[@yocecil3538]

No Fly Tripping Woah that's excellent! I never knew we could do this! Thanks

[@firstfreonwarrior]

Enjoyed, thank you.

[@garyodle5663]

It would have been nice to learn how meals were taken.

[@JeffOnboard]

what ship are you on again? I work on Maersk Montana...292 meters long container ship....

[@NoFlyTripping]

Matthew Bull this was the Independent Pursuit. Crossed the Pacific on the Nabucco

[@Hari-888]

I really enjoy your cargo ship videos. Wish you would post more

[@khrysstinezhairamaerefazo5694]

uh, what's the name of this ship. weird question, yeah. But please tell me 😅

[@johncole9964]

Two questions: 1. What was the food like, 2. How much did it cost?

[@NoFlyTripping]

John Cole food was ok. It was better on the French ship I took from Japan to Mexico (see my other video, although the food doesn't actually feature) Cost was in the region of $1,700US. Which is a lot but the Atlantic is a very popular route. I went on my own but cost of two people sharing a cabin would have only been marginally more so would be the better value for money option.

[@biggerbang10]

a most interesting video. thanks

[@arfshesaid4325]

wow im surprised this cost so much, i thought it would be a third of the cost

[@woofolliesmydog8628]

Who knew dolphins could go so fast?! Brilliant!

[@Sh9168]

actually they are being pushed by the bow wave. That's why they swim in front of boats.

[@woofolliesmydog8628]

Interesting. Still, they must be fast enough to get a bit ahead to get out of the way...yeah/no? What happens when they get tired? Fabulous creatures they are.

[@LifeIsJustARide85]

Woof Olliesmydog Dolphins are so good at surviving that they take risks to pass the time, just like humans and some birds, the ones that swoop in front of your car while driving. I think the really smart animals on this planet are bored out of their minds. 😁

[@relaxingnaturesounds-sleep5072]

Can you help me find a ship with an elevator?

[@RCLaROCK1]

Great video …8:00 //11:45 ..min mark @14:48 the best ... you just showed viewers the sea is not a bent ball of water // we are on a FLAT EARTH SYSTEM ……SEA LEVEL 360 degree ...

[@lovinlife3803]

Holyshit! You're brain is dead.

[@walkinwithjesus]

I loved the wind noise! invest in a microphone and windscreen

[@NoFlyTripping]

Haha.nyes in hindsight that would have been good. But I just had my Sony Compact so it was the best I could do!

[@charlesrudish9147]

Compared to a passenger liner, what does it cost to book passage on a container ship over that passenger liner?

[@NoFlyTripping]

It's probably comparable. Certainly it isn't a cheap option and for routes like transatlantic you need to try book quite far in advance. Less popular routes you have more freedom to leave it later. Worth noting the arrival departure times are not guaranteed. So you might leave a day late or even need to leave early. Still awesome though

[@titovonerik6670]

Great video ! How much did it cost ?

[@NoFlyTripping]

tito von erik a bit over $1,500US but exchange rates have moved about a bit so might be different now (brought it through a European agent)

[@titovonerik6670]

No Fly Tripping Thank you

[@davidheinsbergen2716]

I could do that. I’m wondering what is your luggage constraints. I would need to bring lots of bud light. Dilly dilly

[@rockeyrocket1224]

If the cost of a ticket was in line with it being a no frills cargo freight (say 20%) of the cost of a transatlantic flight I would be down with spending half a month at sea even bringing my own food and drink so long as there was a big movie screen and a few dozen fellow travelers along to swap stories with.

[@jackashe3032]

Its look ship so fast what is the speed how many knots

[@streetslayinggto2505]

So why were you on the ship in the first place? Sorry I did not watch the whole video so don't know if you explained

[@NoFlyTripping]

dude inuras3 I was trying to travel around the world without flying. This was pretty much the last leg. America back to Europe.

[@ryleelewis]

i think you should have used one of those fluffy things to reduce the wind noise. otherwise i thought it was very interesting.

[@NoFlyTripping]

Rylee Lewis yes, it was all filmed on a Sony rx100 first gen with no separate mike. When I started I didn't think I'd end up doing something like this so hadn't prepared! Next time!

[@FrisiaBonn]

15:35 is there a chance that ship was the Frisia Bonn?! :D Would be so cool if it was!

[@rockroll9473]

Can you fish off the ship?

[@stoutyyyy]

The cranes on deck are actually very useful for ports with limited facilities, the ship can unload itself without those large port cranes.

[@NoFlyTripping]

Yes this could be true but this vessel was pretty much exclusively running a US - Europe shuttle and thus never went near any ports without cranes. I think k the wierd thing was that at some point they decided they weren't useful and took them off only to then change their mind

[@freepeaches807]

how did you get to be on this ship?

[@kurtthewicked9009]

He bought a ticket.

[@baburbeek2070]

How many days you was in sea

[@matthewszostek1819]

I thought about doing something like this. I am a naval nuclear engineer and I wonder what it would take to get paid whilst doing this standing a watch or two in the engine room. do you know anything about that?

[@NoFlyTripping]

HillbillyMatt ExtremeDIY can't help I'm afraid except that anecdotally I've been told it's pretty much impossible as there aren't enough jobs to go round as it is, what with the state the shipping industry is in at the moment to make the idea of passengers "paying their way" through work viable. As I dont have the necessary skills to start with thought I can't say from personal experience how true to life this is.

[@matthewszostek1819]

That's wierd. I've heard if you have a maritime skill and experience you can pretty much float from ship to ship making as much money as you want to work. I'm sure while you are doing this you can apprentice to do something that will make you alot of money. I know personally I could confidently troubleshoot and fix anything electrical on that entire ship and run the entire electrical distribution system after a day or two of ship specific systems training.

[@garyolafson8303]

Once, I thought it might be fun to ' cruise ' on a Cargo ship. Unless the Cargo ship goes through the Panama Canal and after watching this video - no way.

[@NoFlyTripping]

Gary Olafson My other video is for a trip I took front Japan to Mexico. if I had stayed on that one it would have gone through the canal. That was CGM CMA and was a nicer ship.

[@trialfahrer1]

Saw the Enercon Wind Turbine in the Thumbnail...immediate click from me. Very cool video

[@NoFlyTripping]

Thanks :-)

[@W1R3L355]

Great vid, I’ve subscribed so hopefully you will post many more of these. I used to work for Hamburg Sud and a guy there used to make these trips all the time sometimes paying as little as £15.

[@NativeSonDC]

Didn't know you could travel on a cargo ship. After watching this vid I looked into it, and it seems very expensive, like 3x the price of flying. And it takes 20x as long. I'm having a difficult time understanding why anyone would do this.

[@NoFlyTripping]

shoesheep you are looking at it the wrong way. Flying will always be quickest, so if you are looking at this just as a means of getting from A-B then it will never make sense (unless you are afraid of flying). What you do get with this though is a holiday break in itself. 10 odd days of no emails, no Facebook, no stress. Beautiful sea views, dolphins and time to yourself. So it's an experience itself not just getting from A-B

[@NativeSonDC]

Thanks for the reply. I can see the appeal of the solitude, and for me, I like the idea of having a sense of distance between places. I flew to India a few years ago and it was admittedly weird to go from Newark NJ to New Delhi in little more than half a day. But the expense is the deal killer, especially on long trips. $2500 from LA to Hong Kong? Nope nope nope.

[@maxcooney]

I'm going to a mariner school what do you suggest I specialize in?

[@theatheistconqueror3024]

Generally there are the navigation with a bachelor of a choice of specialization in port management ,surveying or offshore or you can join engineering with technical or Engine or you can become a naval architecture your choice

[@skipsassy1]

best time is at night with the stars off the economic zone 200 miles from shore. Can't film that though. 99% would get off after 5 days at sea. It's called a vessel not a boat - a boat goes on a vessel.