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From internet connection to permanent residencies: cool marine facts!
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00:00Have you ever wondered how containers on a cargo ship remain intact throughout the whole journey?
00:06Let me answer this question and tell you about other cool ship facts.
00:11Meet Unsinkable Sam.
00:14Sam's goal was to prove the saying,
00:16Cats have nine lives.
00:17This animal survived three ships sinking.
00:20He was originally named Oscar, but got nicknamed Unsinkable Sam.
00:25You probably get why.
00:27The first time the ship he was traveling on sank,
00:30Oscar was found by the crew of another ship when he was floating on board.
00:34He remained on that ship for a couple of months, but then the vessel also sank in 1941.
00:40The cat was then saved by another ship.
00:44The crew there had heard the story of the animal and called him Unsinkable Sam.
00:49His marine journey ended when the crew sent him back to the UK.
00:53The story checks out, but some people question whether it's true.
00:56Sailors had to spend months on their ships, so it was natural that they told strange stories or believed in
01:03superstitions.
01:05One thing is clear, though.
01:07Sailors loved cats and welcomed them on their ships.
01:10Besides being cute floofs, cats were very effective in terms of hunting rodents.
01:15You can take it as you wish, a hoax or a true story.
01:20I'm leaving Sam in the 40s and returning to the present day.
01:24How come ships have internet in the middle of nowhere?
01:28Since there are no towers or cables around, satellite connection steps in.
01:33Satellite services provide direct internet connection via hardware installed on the ship.
01:39This hardware is a must.
01:41It's not as cheap as our home Wi-Fi.
01:43The installation charges for the entire ship's internet are around $600.
01:48And the price of the hardware depends on such things as the size of the ship and how much internet
01:53it's going to use.
01:55This is not the only option.
01:57Wireless devices are also popular.
01:59Yet, they can access the internet only when they're close to ports or other places where networks are available.
02:07The Titanic was a giant luxurious hotel for some of its passengers.
02:12You may have heard that it had lots of amenities you could use.
02:15Even its own newspaper.
02:18Yep, it was called the Atlantic Daily Bulletin.
02:21It was published on the ship.
02:22The paper had news articles, advertisements, and the latest stock prices.
02:26It also mentions daily menus, horse racing results, and society gossip.
02:33Where ships get fuel is also a good question.
02:36There aren't fuel stations floating in the ocean.
02:39Bunkering is the answer.
02:41Ships use different kinds of oil for different purposes.
02:45Bunkering is loading fuel onto a ship.
02:48This process takes place at ports.
02:50The storage and provision of the ship fuels can be made by tankers.
02:55Currently, Singapore is the largest bunkering port in the world.
03:02Imagine you're on a cruise ship, and you need to use the toilet.
03:05What happens after you flush?
03:07The sewage goes to a place called an onboard treatment plant.
03:12There, the waste is filtered.
03:14Then it moves to another chamber.
03:16This chamber cleans the waste and sterilizes it.
03:19Lastly, the waste is dumped into the ocean when it's clean enough.
03:23Those substances that don't go through the filter are kept on the ship.
03:27A ship gets rid of them when it arrives at a port.
03:31Speaking of toilets, I must mention that wastewater is color-coded on cruise ships.
03:36Every person on a cruise uses 40 to 50 gallons of water each day.
03:42That's why there might be too much wastewater.
03:44So, over the years, some solutions have been found to reduce this amount.
03:49Water is coated as black and gray.
03:52Black water goes from toilets, and gray water comes from the laundry, showers, kitchens, etc.
03:59Basically, it's thought that gray water waste is cleaner than black water.
04:05Why are ships so slow?
04:07It's related to power.
04:09Water has a drag force, and it affects ships.
04:12Imagine yourself swimming in the ocean.
04:15It takes effort to swim forward because of the water resistance.
04:19A smaller ship wouldn't need that much power to push itself forward.
04:22But huge cruise ships need a lot of power because they're heavier.
04:28If you, let's say, put a 7,000-ton ship in the water, it will displace 7,000 tons of
04:35water.
04:35When such a ship goes forward, it pushes some of the displaced water ahead of itself.
04:40This results in a bow wave, which carries some kinetic energy away.
04:47We talked about cruise ships and cargo ships mainly.
04:50What about solo travelers?
04:52Laura Decker became the youngest person to circumnavigate the world on her own.
04:57She set out in 2012, and 518 days later, she completed her voyage.
05:03She had a 40-foot-long catch named Guppy.
05:06She was 14 when she started the journey.
05:10You can think of loading containers on a cargo ship as playing Tetris,
05:14but you can't start over when the game is over.
05:17That would cost you thousands of dollars.
05:19Anyway, the logic is the same.
05:22The first layer should be strong enough to support the rest.
05:25The bottom containers, or first tier if you want to sound more like a pro,
05:30are secured with twist locks.
05:32This is an automatic locking mechanism to keep the upper-level containers locked.
05:37These locks are attached when a unit is being lifted from the pier onto a cargo ship.
05:43They're similar to Lego pins.
05:46All containers have these lock systems, and you basically mount them on top of each other.
05:51Plus, many cargo ships have vertical slots made of long metal rails.
05:56They're like cells that hold containers and prevent them from moving and falling into the deep water.
06:02How do they unlock the mechanism?
06:04There's a special rod to do it.
06:06In the past, cargo ships were allowed to only stack 5 to 6 containers on top of one another.
06:13With the appearance of the lock mechanism, it's possible to make 10 to 12 layers.
06:19Still, hundreds of containers get lost each year because of harsh weather conditions,
06:24or simply because of the negligence of people who load them.
06:27According to some data, more than 3,100 containers were lost in 2020 to 2021.
06:34The number was only 779 in the previous year.
06:39This means an almost 400% increase.
06:43Apparently, there are hidden passageways and secret doors on cruise ships.
06:47The ship's staff get from one place to another without using the stairs and doors that passengers use.
06:53There's a network of corridors and stairs all around the ship only the crew members know about.
06:59These secret doors can blend in with the walls.
07:02This way, they become undetected by those who don't know there's a door there.
07:08Gigantic cruise ships are basically floating pieces of metal.
07:12The walls of the cruise ship cabins are magnetic.
07:15That's why, when on a cruise, you can buy travel-themed fridge magnets and use them to decorate your cabin.
07:22The Sea Wise Giant is the largest ship in history.
07:26It was built between 1974 and 1979.
07:30Its length was greater than the height of the Eiffel Tower.
07:33The vessel sunk in 1988, but was later retrieved and put into service.
07:40What about the smallest ship in the world?
07:43Researchers in the Netherlands have built the world's smallest vessel.
07:47It's about 1 1 100th of an inch long.
07:50To put it in perspective, this is about 1 1 3rd the width of a strand of your hair.
07:54They built it with the help of a 3D printer.
07:58Do you know that some people have residences on ships?
08:02Yes, sounds like a dream.
08:04If you like the water, of course.
08:06Residents permanently live on a ship as it travels the world.
08:10MS The World is an example of a private residential cruise ship.
08:14The residents can live on board as the liner travels to exotic destinations.
08:19They can stay there full-time or come back periodically during the year.
08:25Since the UK is an island nation, things it imports have to be delivered by sea or by cargo planes.
08:31The number might surprise you.
08:3490% of everything they buy arrives at their ports by sea.
08:39Giant container ships are responsible for much of the global trade.
08:43Thanks to them, you receive your orders from overseas, sooner or later.
08:47But they do have a problem just like any mechanical vessel.
08:51They tend to break down.
08:52That's where these little bad boys come in.
08:55Tugboats are meant to help any stranded vessel that either lost power or sustained any technical or physical damage.
09:02Besides being salvage vessels, tugboats also help guide ships when they dock.
09:07Since these ships are massive, underlined, they require little tugboats to survey the surroundings and help them navigate to dock
09:15properly.
09:16They also serve as firefighting boats in case a fire breaks loose in the ship.
09:20Many of these cargo ships already have a system to stop fires, but tugboats provide extra help in case the
09:27fire gets out of control.
09:29Many cargo ships pass through below zero regions like the Arctic and face plenty of obstacles or iceticles.
09:36Tugboats to the rescue again.
09:38They can make the first move by breaking the ice so that the vehicle can pass through without damaging itself
09:44or delaying its course.
09:46They also help large ships move through narrow areas.
09:49On March 23rd, 2021, the Ever Given, one of the largest container ships in the world, got stuck in the
09:57Suez Canal for six days.
09:59It froze global shipping of almost $10 billion of trade in a day.
10:04The Suez Canal is one of the most important routes for trading, but happens to be quite narrow for its
10:10purpose.
10:10To put that into perspective, it's like the Empire State Building getting lodged in the middle of a busy freeway.
10:17So, if you were wondering why your delivery was late during that month, it's probably because of that incident.
10:24The bottom of the ship nearly touched the floor of the canal.
10:27In the early morning of March 23rd, the weather was acting up.
10:31It was getting worse and worse, with the wind picking up to around 45 miles per hour.
10:36Those were some terrible weather conditions for navigation.
10:40That should have been the first red flag, but the canal authority didn't have a system for monitoring weather conditions
10:46or warning ships about them.
10:48The captain, Krishnan Kantevel, ignored the signs and decided just to go with it, not knowing the perils and the
10:55consequences ahead.
10:56The Egyptian pilots that were assisting with the navigation failed to provide proper instructions.
11:02As a result, the ship became jammed diagonally, essentially blocking the whole canal.
11:08The canal authorities didn't provide tugboats for some reason, which is why it was stuck for six days.
11:13Things were so bad, they had to bring excavation diggers to remove some land for the ship to properly turn
11:20back to normal.
11:21So, these little tuggers are really important for world trading to work.
11:25The vessels are getting bigger and bigger, with the world depending on import and export more than ever.
11:31They're built for going long distances, rather than maneuvering in tight spaces and corners.
11:36The tugboats are surrounded by a material that won't scratch or damage the vessel,
11:41kind of like bumper cars at the carnival.
11:43They can either push or pull.
11:45But one thing's for sure, more than one is needed to help a ship get back on its aquatic feet.
11:52Ships don't have a lot of water passing over the rudder for them to turn quickly,
11:55and they risk damaging the engine if they push it too hard.
11:59They can either tow it directly or indirectly.
12:02The tug is pulling the vessel either in front of it or from side to side.
12:07They can also push it from one side to another.
12:10These tiny boats are like ants compared to giant ships.
12:13Their success secret is that they're floating on the water,
12:16which means there's no solid foundation for them to struggle.
12:19As a result, pushing and pulling is easy.
12:23Many newer tugboats have two large diesel-powered engines.
12:26There are also some electric models which are good for the environment and still do their job well.
12:31Shipping boats, in general, are better for the environment than trucks and planes, but are slower.
12:37Shipping vessels mainly carry food, clothing, electronics, furniture, and my stuff.
12:42The biggest ship can carry the Eiffel Tower on its back like it's no big deal,
12:46although getting it over to the ship would be.
12:49They're a thousand times more powerful than a regular car.
12:52But if all the containers in the world were arranged in a pile, it would cover half the planet.
12:58If you ever walked on a beach in the 90s and saw what appeared to be a rubber ducky, you
13:04were dreaming.
13:05In 1992, a shipping crate holding 28,000 rubber ducks was lost at sea while journeying from Hong Kong to
13:13the U.S.
13:13They say it fell off the ship and has been around the world's oceans for more than 20 years.
13:19What seemed like a horrible accident that would leave dire consequences for the world's marine ecosystem
13:24proved to also be helpful for us to learn and understand the world of plastic pollution and how the ocean
13:31currents work.
13:32These ducks seem to have had quite the journey when they broke free from their container life.
13:37Some reports show they got washed up on the shores of Alaska, South America, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, Scotland, Australia, and
13:46even froze in the Arctic.
13:48Rather than making their way to thousands of bathrooms in the U.S.,
13:52they went rogue and backpacked around the world to see what else lies beyond tiled walls and bubble baths.
13:58Many were collected and removed from the seas and oceans, while some are still out there.
14:03There are around 2,000 of these duckies circulating in the currents of the North Pacific Gyre.
14:10In case you were wondering, that's a place where the currents meet and whirl with one another between Japan, Alaska,
14:16Kodiak, and the Aleutian Islands.
14:18They've even created a website to track these ducks down with a contact form that lets people inform of one
14:25or many ducks they find across the world.
14:27But who knows? Maybe we'll never recover every single duck that was lost at sea at the time.
14:33This is just one incident out of many.
14:36Studies show that at least 2,000 to 10,000 shipping containers are lost at sea every year.
14:42Many containers that do slip off and fall into the sea don't always sink to the bottom.
14:47They're floaters.
14:48On the downside, they don't float high enough to become colorful islands that are easy to notice.
14:54They float like icebergs, with just the top of the container showing, which means that any passing ship or boat
15:01won't see it from above.
15:03If they pass through it, then significant damage can happen to the ship.
15:07They can't stay floating forever, so they end up sinking after many days of being suspended in the open water.
15:13Some people have even seen shipping containers washed up on shore after being stranded at sea.
15:18These bad boys have been made to last for a very long time.
15:23If you take proper care of them, the life expectancy of each container can stretch for more than 20 years.
15:29It's pretty amazing that they travel all over the world and are filled and refilled with new items many times.
15:35They go through all sorts of weather conditions and have to survive in different climates.
15:40Many modern houses are made out of retired shipping containers designed with a nice aesthetic touch.
15:47Shipping container houses provide the exact same living conditions, except they look cool.
15:52Besides looking cool, they're economically friendly compared to regular houses.
15:56You can save plenty of money with the structure pretty much halfway done.
16:00All this needed is just a little foundation and a few adjustments here and there.
16:05And boom, you've got yourself a house.
16:07You're also doing the world a favor by contributing to the environment.
16:11Those homes are recycled containers that have just been refurbished and polished for anyone to live in.
16:17They're good enough to live in freezing conditions and scorching weather.
16:21The industry is booming, so you can have your new home delivered to you within 10 weeks.
16:26You can customize it before they build it for you.
16:29It's easy to transport since it's not heavy.
16:32It's just bulky.
16:33You can predict your cost without the surprise payments that might follow.
16:37Many of these containers start their journey in a steel yard and travel all over the world.
16:42And in the end, they retire in a nice piece of land and host families that will get to be
16:48a part of their history.
16:50Wow, I can hardly contain myself.
16:53More than 25 million people boarded cruise ships globally back in 2017.
16:59It may not seem like a lot, but that's more than the total population of Belgium.
17:04It's a great vacation alternative with an added bonus.
17:07You can sample various different destinations for future time off in one single trip.
17:14If you've already booked a trip on a cruise ship, but you still have no idea what you should pack,
17:19start with some research on your specific cruise locations.
17:22Either way, be sure to bring deck-friendly shoes that are low-heeled.
17:26Also, add a pair that's comfortable to walk on larger distances for the days spent ashore.
17:32Depending on the season, you might want to add a few swimsuits too.
17:36If you're on any type of medication, make sure you bring it with you in its original packaging.
17:42If you're a light packer, don't worry.
17:44Most cruise ships come equipped with laundry rooms.
17:47They're kind of pricey, especially if you want your garments to be washed, ironed, and folded for you.
17:52But it does save you the extra hassle of packing more clothes or washing them for yourself.
17:59It's really important that you check in with your credit card company before boarding a ship.
18:03More so if your itinerary includes one or more foreign countries.
18:08Your credit card might get frozen if there's any unusual activity on your account.
18:13Most of these companies have algorithms that get triggered once there are charges from different countries in rapid succession.
18:20Which is exactly what you'll be doing on a cruise ship.
18:23Letting them know beforehand saves you the embarrassment of having your car declined at some fancy restaurant.
18:33To make sure you get the best room, before booking it, check out the ship's deck plan.
18:39It should be available on their website.
18:41If it's peace and tranquility you're looking for, don't go for the rooms directly above or below any of the
18:47ship's entertainment points.
18:49Also, if you have a history of getting seasick, try to skip the rooms that are available at the front
18:54of the ship.
18:55Rather, go for those located in the middle of the ship on a lower deck.
18:59You'll feel less movement.
19:02If it's your first time going on a cruise, you might be surprised to know that some cabin rooms don't
19:07have windows.
19:09Before making a reservation, make sure to check out all the amenities of the room you intend to book.
19:14Most cruise liners add a bunch of pictures from the common rooms on the reservation pages and it might be
19:19a bit confusing as to what you're getting exactly for that specific price point.
19:24Also, some rooms on board are quite small too.
19:27If you don't like to sleep in small spaces, you might want to upgrade to a larger room, even if
19:33it's a bit pricier.
19:34You can always split the cost with a friend if they want to join you on the cruise.
19:39With the help of modern technology, even if a specific location doesn't have windows, it doesn't mean you can't watch
19:46the waves.
19:47How, you might ask?
19:48Fancier cruise ships feature a secret added bonus.
19:52In the areas with no access to sunlight, specialists have built virtual balconies.
19:57These high-tech screens work by showing you what's going on outside in real time.
20:03They have an added benefit too.
20:05In case of bad weather, guests can still have a feel of the outdoors.
20:08Without the wind or rain ruining their hair or their outfit.
20:12It may not be the real deal, but it still beats getting claustrophobic on board.
20:21Planning on going on a budget cruise?
20:23It might not be such a bad idea, especially if you're on the lookout for last-minute upgrades.
20:28You might even end up vacationing like a millionaire without having to spend money like one.
20:34These upgrades sometimes include things like a private balcony in your room, maybe some spa services, or even better prices
20:41for high-end meals.
20:43If they aren't all booked by the time people board the ship, they might be open for the rest of
20:48the passengers for way better prices than initially listed.
20:53There might be hidden freebies on board if you pay close attention.
20:57Things like complimentary pastries on board late in the morning or a late-night cup of tea on the house
21:03might be some of the things offered to guests.
21:05You only need to ask.
21:07You might want to check out what other tourists are doing.
21:10Some people with more experience cruising can offer pretty great tips and tricks.
21:15Don't be afraid to start a conversation if you see someone getting something for free.
21:21Some cruise ships do go all the way on the fancy dial.
21:25They even have exclusive areas designed for guests staying in expensive suites.
21:31Most of the time, they're located at the top of the ship.
21:34On one particular cruise, these types of guests have designated staff members called Royal Genies, which are similar to butlers.
21:42They can cater to just a few cabins.
21:45Since the cruise line wants to divert other guests from asking them various questions, which will take time away from
21:52their assigned guests, the genies do not wear a name tag in public areas.
21:59Most common areas of cruise ships do require travelers to follow a dress code, but if you do your research
22:05in advance, you might find that some areas are more relaxed when it comes to what people need to wear.
22:12Most cruise ships require people to adhere to smart attire, which means pants with a collared shirt for men, or
22:18blouses and skirts, dresses, or stylish pants for the ladies.
22:24As for the travel destinations, be sure to research the ports you're about to visit in advance.
22:30You'll know what to wear, what the weather will be, and if you need to pack anything else, like an
22:35umbrella or a beach towel.
22:38Stops on cruises only last for a few hours in most cases, so you'll want to get the most out
22:43of them.
22:43If that specific location includes museums or art galleries you want to add to your checklist, be sure to book
22:50in advance so you don't waste time waiting in lines.
22:57Some cruise ships even provide their guests with private tours of the ports they're about to visit.
23:02Do make sure to book them in advance if this is something you might be interested in, as the list
23:08gets pretty full quite fast.
23:10Independent tours are a bit more private.
23:12You can spend time with your tour guide and even ask more questions.
23:17Always remember to put your phone in airplane mode while on board.
23:21Most cruise ship horror stories involve cruising newbies that ended up paying thousands of dollars in cell phone charges while
23:28on ships just because they forgot to turn it off.
23:32If you're the type of person that can't switch off their phone, be sure to check with your cell phone
23:36provider before traveling internationally.
23:39Some can provide special plans for limited amounts of time without extra charges.
23:44You'll be free to chat, call, or browse YouTube videos without worrying you'll end up paying a fortune.
23:50Most cruise ships also provide you with complimentary Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi packages that can be purchased in advance,
23:57which are way more affordable.
23:59You can stick to communicating with your friends and family back home via FaceTime or Skype.
24:06People that have heard about the Titanic tragedy will always wonder what might happen if something goes wrong while on
24:13board.
24:14Let's take lifeboats, for instance.
24:16The Titanic had a mere 20 lifeboats on board, which were tragically not enough to fit all the passengers after
24:23the ship hit the iceberg.
24:25Some fancy cruise ships these days have an even lower number of lifeboats, anywhere from 15 to 18.
24:32Sounds strange?
24:34Well, not really, given the fact that each lifeboat can accommodate up to 370 people.
24:40Even the largest ships, which have an estimated capacity of 8,000 people if fully booked, including tourists and staff,
24:48are safe in case of an emergency.
24:54We'll see you next time.
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