Inside a 958-foot container ship, from the crew's living quarters to the massive engine room

 

• A merchant mariner captured life at sea on a video tour of a Maersk container ship.

• The video shows the everyday life of cargo ship crew as they spend months at sea.

• Second mate Bryan Boyle said workers celebrate holidays on board with festive meals and community.

A merchant mariner gave a tour of a 958-foot cargo ship in 2019 that showed the intricacies of the hulking freighters that haul 90% of the world's goods.

In the video, second mate Bryan Boyle records the vast array of machinery that keeps the ship moving, as well as the crew's and officers' living quarters on the Maersk ship, which was built in 2006.

Though the video was taken in 2019, Boyle told Business Insider in 2021 that it provides insight into the lives of shipping crews today.

The merchant mariner said it can be difficult to be away from family for months on end, especially during the holidays, but crew members find ways to celebrate even as they work through Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"I recall a few unique experiences such as singing and playing music together on Christmas since one of the able bodied seaman onboard was a skillful harmonica player," Boyle told BI. "Another time we were anchored in Dubai on New Years' Eve surrounded by many ships. We were counting down to the new year, and then many of the ships started to blow their whistles in celebration as fireworks were being launched from shore in front of us."

The ship sets out from Norfolk, Virginia, making several stops in the US before heading toward Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.

"I've had the opportunity to work on some interesting vessels," Boyle said. "I've gotten to go to places that the average person wouldn't even know about. It's one of the most appealing aspects of the job."

Boyle said that there's a thrill to arriving at new destinations, remembering how he spent over a month in Africa on one trip. But the amount of time that crews get to explore new destinations has dwindled over the years, he said, as ships rush to get in and out of ports as fast as possible, and early COVID-19 restrictions set limits to crew excursions.

Entertainment options for the ship's crew of 20 to 25 people are limited on the cargo ships. Boyle said that workers' time off can include a mix of movies and games, as well as gym time.

The video shows the officers' lounge, which has a pingpong table and TV, as well as the general crew's lounge, which has a poker table. During Thanksgiving, Boyle said he and other officers gathered to watch a football game in the lounge using a satellite television.