Freighter Travel To/From Africa

[WebleyGreene455]

Has anyone here ever done this, looked into this, considered this, or anything? I thought maybe it would be a fun alternative to flying, since even though I've been on a heap of transatlantic flights since I was 4 years old, I just really do not like being on airplanes all that much.

After doing some looking, I've kinda narrowed down some pros/cons:

PROS:

• You actually get to walk around and move during travel.
• You get an actual bed to sleep in.
• No worry about climbing over people when you really have to use the lavatory.
• Sunshine and fresh air on the deck.
• Many ships allow you to observe day-to-day activities on the bridge and chat with the crew.
  
• I assume that since it's a freighter there would be some room for your personal cargo and luggage, i.e. sturdy weapon cases and trophies that might otherwise not get put on the airplane.
• Traveling by ship used to be the only way to get to Africa, so there's some degree of added adventure there.

CONS:

• It takes bloody forever (weeks!) to get where you're going, as opposed to a relatively fast plane trip.
  
• It's bloody expensive (rates seem to be based on a per-day basis, I've seen it listed as $100/day in some cases).
• Travel is far less direct and may make additional stops or encounter inclement weather that can further delay getting there or getting home, so that could interfere with your hunt.
• Unlike flying, freighters do not always make port in the most convenient of places so you'll probably have to tack at least some airfare on too.

I'm sure there're more than those but that's what struck me when I was doing some browsing. Any of y'all have thoughts on the matter?

~~W.G.455

 

[Jeffrey]

So several years ago I looked into freighter travel. All I remember is EXPENSIVE. Like way more expensive than some cheesy cruise ship trip expensive. Freighter travel used to be for vagabond types, but some laws were made (I’m fuzzy on the details) and now it’s more regulated to the point where it’s more for rich, eccentric, recluses.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Does "Slow boat to China" mean anything to you?
If you are retired and have all the time in the world maybe consider it.

Bringing a firearm onto a freighter may not be so straight forward.
Docs required for entry into multiple countries, etc.

Depends on the sea conditions whether you will be getting any fresh air.

Your trophies won't be ready for export unless you are hanging around for 90 days after your hunt.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Yeah, I thought as much, haha. So probably not really worth doing, then. But on the other hand, that crosses it off the list of things to worry about.

Also, very curious. @BRICKBURN , your response went to my regular email inbox, but @Jeffrey , yours was kicked to my junk mail. Which is not supposed to happen...

 

[sestoppelman]

I always thought it would be neat to do as well, that fine salt sea air! I spent lots of time on tugboats and fishboats in my working life and lots of time on the ocean and I do like the sea. Its what has kept me from moving to other locales, I like to be near salt water, I am two minutes from it here.
But I am afraid the cons outweigh the pros for a hunting trip.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

I always thought it would be neat to do as well, that fine salt sea air! I spent lots of time on tugboats and fishboats in my working life and lots of time on the ocean and I do like the sea. Its what has kept me from moving to other locales, I like to be near salt water, I am two minutes from it here.
But I am afraid the cons outweigh the pros for a hunting trip.

I've grown up on the coast. I get sad when I'm landlocked for too long. But agreed, cons outweigh the pros.

Also, your response went to my junk mail too. Weird, nothing from AH used to do that...

 

[Jeffrey]

I guess what I’d say is junk! At least that’s what my ex told me

 

[sestoppelman]

I've grown up on the coast. I get sad when I'm landlocked for too long. But agreed, cons outweigh the pros.

Also, your response went to my junk mail too. Weird, nothing from AH used to do that...

What junk mail do you mean?

 

[Chukar]

It sounds like a real sweet dream, but I don't think that that is the way to go to Africa on a safari as you have described. I have looked at freighter "cruises" and they actually seem affordable in the cruise world. $100 US dollars/day isn't to bad in my mind, I can spend about $200 a day at a US hotel that only includes a continental breakfast.

Your Pro list is pretty solid except for point six, you make an ass out of you and me...

I really doubt that you are going to find a freighter line that will take weapons and ammo aboard. Laws, lawyers and liability. Shipping trophies back on the same cruise would be near impossible as Brickburn stated. They sail on their timeline, not yours.

As for your cons, I think you have that nailed and you just need to do a cost comparison for air travel vs. travel by sea compared to time and all associated costs.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

from personal experience on commercial fishing vessels I can tell you that no matter how big the boat is they get small around the 18-20 days at sea mark. And if you happen to have a personality clash with a fellow crew member there are not a lot of places to separate away from said person. Say if on member of the freighter crew was anti hunting for example.

 

[wesheltonj]

My father sailed Liberty Ships during WW2, he said ships were nothing but floating jails. The only cruise ship he would ever get on was an Alaskan cruise and that was only because my mother made him. A week cruise is one thing 30 days is another.

 

[sestoppelman]

My father sailed Liberty Ships during WW2, he said ships were nothing but floating jails. The only cruise ship he would ever get on was an Alaskan cruise and that was only because my mother made him. A week cruise is one thing 30 days is another.

My dad was in the Merchant Marine during WW2 as well. Sailed all over the Pacific from the south Pacific Islands, China to Alaska many times, crossed the Pacific from the Left Coast to Hawaii and beyond 7 times. He didn't work on Liberties but did on Victory ships as well as tugs, and old wood lumber schooners.
One weird connection he and I had. One of the tugs he sailed on during the war, a big old steel sled was "appropriated" by the Army Transport Service and he worked on it as deckhand and later 2nd mate. Many years later the Seattle tug company I was working for bought the very same tug now renamed and repowered a couple of times, and I worked on that same boat as deckhand and mate just like he did. Slept in the same stateroom! It was weird bunking in the same room my dad had all those years before me.
The floating jail reminded me of what dad used to say. He said "going to sea is like being in jail, except in jail they don't wake you up in the middle of the night to go on watch!"

 

[Forrest Halley]

The freighter cruise wouldn't be so bad, but would be slow and possibly boring. The likelihood of a crew member bothering you about anything is very low. They have jobs to do and you'd likely to dine with the Officers. The likelihood of you taking your guns with you on the ship is very very low and they would most certainly not be under your control or in your possession. Suez Canal requires them to be offloaded and trucked along the Canal then reloaded aboard. Certain countries do not allow the possession of firearms by ship's security teams even when carried sealed in the bonded stores locker so I'm thinking you might have greater problems with permits and clearances. Indian customs likes to count bullets and pocket one or two to encourage backsheesh because the count is off. The whole thing is a bigger headache than you likely wish to endure. Look up Seaman Guard Ohio or Chennai Six some time for an idea of when it goes wrong transporting arms. Anyhow, back to things like hunting and shooting big rifles.

 

[K981985]

Well......I was really hoping this had a happier ending lol. I really hate to fly and was thinking of sea travel myself.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Well......I was really hoping this had a happier ending lol. I really hate to fly and was thinking of sea travel myself.

There's always chartering a boat if you have the $$. In which case you might need to charter an accountant, and sail the wide accountancy...

 

[BRICKBURN]

Yeah, I thought as much, haha. So probably not really worth doing, then. But on the other hand, that crosses it off the list of things to worry about.

Also, very curious. @BRICKBURN , your response went to my regular email inbox, but @Jeffrey , yours was kicked to my junk mail. Which is not supposed to happen...

Must be a good spam filter.

 

[Seavas]

You will not be taking firearms and ammo aboard a freighter/merchant ship unfortunately. Also, remember that African hunting season coincides with Atlantic hurricane season so it could get a bit nautical on the voyage!

I have a friend that sailed around the world on a freighter and he told me about being in 40' seas for three days around the Cape of Good Hope. No thanks!

I spoke to some retirees that travel this way occasionally and they enjoyed the leisurely pace and when not in port spent most of their time on deck or with the officers. Didn't really interact with the working crew.

 

[Hank2211]

Given the level of piracy in some parts of the world I'd think they'd be arming ship's crews, not disarming them.

 

[sierraone]

Given the level of piracy in some parts of the world I'd think they'd be arming ship's crews, not disarming them.

Hi Hank, Around 2010 or so some shipping companies were hiring contractors to provide protection for the ship, its personnel and cargo. I am not aware of civilian ship companies arming their own personnel for the ship's protection. Within a short time, U. S., Russian and French navies started providing protection from piracy (at least off of the east coast of Africa). Remember the movie Captain Phillips ? was based on this. Since I am no longer contracting, I am not sure what the current situation is regarding protecting merchant vessels from piracy.

 

[mark-hunter]

Given the level of piracy in some parts of the world I'd think they'd be arming ship's crews, not disarming them.

American flagged vessels, yes. But, in reality there is not many american merchant ships in the World. (APL, and Sealand, sold to other shipping companies)

For all other flags, arming the crew is a matter of pure political correctness.No-no.
Many flag states (and flags of conveneiance - FOC) do not allow firearms on board.
Various shipowners international associations are concerned that "bringing firearms to ships can escalate the violence at high seas", and are not overly eager to suplly firearms to ship crews

@sierraone
Gererally you are right.
There are private security companies, may be hired. (with real guns) They escort the ships. Shipowner decision
There is also the system of convoys, where coalition warship will escort the convoys of merchant ships, Aden.

In my opinion, arming vessels should be the best tactical solution, for immidiate defence.
Real strategic solution, is solving problem on the ground, not at high seas. Modern pirates have basis. Eliminate pirates basis ans safe haevens, and problem will be solved.

For the passengers concerned about piracy problem, a guide line.
Generally, the ship can be boarded by pirates, while underway, at speed at max cca 12 knots. Shots from pirates have been fired, and boarding atempted at vessel with speeds betweem 12-18 knots.
So, having a fas vessel making 20 knots or more, will be safe.

Another point, if the ship has been armed, and of shots are fired at pirates, there is no records of such ship being boarded. (defence by firearms, 100% foolproof)

Well known piracey areas today are
- Mallaca strat,
- Gulf of Aden, horn of Africa, where pirates operate from Somalia, and may be encountered in wider Indian ocean area
- Nigeria, and local spots of west Africa

Prevention for pax - do not go on a ship sailing these waters.