Exploring Chicago's Abandoned Ghost Ship

For all you curious landlubbers and seafarers alike. Come with me on this adventure aboard the mysterious ship docked at the Illinois Port.
Update 11-13-2021 Thank you all for the kind comments and support. I apologize for the camera quality and for the incorrections in certain terminologies. Here are revisions:
6:38 - "Captain's quarters" is actually the Pilot House.
8:03 - Chart Room.
8:06 - "Dresser" is actually a Chart Table.
18:40 - "Basement" is actually the Bosun's Locker.

[lindseyaltongy]

This video is a treasure! The creator obviously took great care in researching the history of the ship and region. The historical narration is fascinating. I appreciate that Alexplore wrote a script, as it aided in the precise delivery of information. The cinematography is brilliant. The creator's perspective is truly original- it is the eye of an artist. I was particularly taken by the close-up, somewhat abstract exterior views of the vessel. These close-ups highlighted the magnitude of the vessel, making me, the viewer, feel like a speck beneath the grandeur of man's creation! The interior tour was beyond captivating. I have passed this ship countless times on the highway, and feel privileged to now have a glimpse of what exists behind the crumbling exterior. I did not mind that Alexplore's narration was not 100% accurate to the proper ship terminology- he is obviously a history and photography enthusiast who spent much time researching the vessel's history, but would not necessarily know specific words and phrases that a seasoned sailor would know! What i appreciate most about this video is that it conveys the reverence Alexplore holds for this vessel. To research the history, write a script, board the vessel, take photos and videos, and then put together a 30-minute documentary is truly a work of love. Thank you, Alexlpore, for sharing your artistry and knowledge with us. Through your documentary, this vessel lives on, whatever its earthly fate may be.

[CATASTEROID]

Do not, I repeat, do not enter Chain lockers, tanks, bilges, flooded decks or other confined spaces in water vessels without putting an O2/Gas alarm in before you, if you'd climbed down into this big girl's chain locker and microorganisms in the water along with the rusting steel had reduced the Oxygen content in the air of the poorly ventilated space beyond that which could support life you'd pass out, hit the floor and asphyxiate there within fifteen minutes and not a soul would know where you are and what happened to you. Don't go alone and make sure if you collapse your buddy doesn't run in and wind up joining you in death.

[justinmyslive]

Being a Northwest Indiana native and a local truck driver I see this lake freighter almost every day. I've always been interested in it and curious about it. Thank you for posting this. I found it very interesting

[bubblehead]

"We've been trying to reach you about your ship's extended warranty". Hilarious!

[Mrray]

You gotta be mindful when entering confined spaces with low or no air flow. I forgot the term but the metal reacts with air and pushes all the oxygen out. Or something like that. Men have died going into confined spaces or inner hulls of ships. I learned about it at coast guard school.

[cordan]

Be careful about going deep down into old You run into deoxygenated air and you're The rust soaks up all the oxygen.... Be safe!

[blucifer]

Whenever the mainstream channels talk about these ore carriers, they almost always never shoot interior footage of the ships. This video provides a rare glimpse into what the layout of the Edmund Fitzgerald must have been similar to. Great job, Alexsplore!

[donaldcarter]

I would recommend you get or rent a multi gas detector for doing stuff like that. Dont want you walking into a space and dropping dead from insufficient oxygen or carbon monoxide gas. Also never bend down and put your head in a hole because if you pass out from no oxygen your body might just fall in and thats it. When going up and down ladders look at the condition of the mounting points and try to keep a hand free in case it breaks and drops. Stay safe out there.

[Lynchfan]

A few corrections. At 6:37 that's not the Captain's quarters per se, that's the pilothouse. For those that don't know, freighters are steered & navigated from the pilothouse. At 8:01 that's not a dresser, lol, that's a chart/map table with storage for multiple charts to lay flat in the drawers. The drawers are still red Dymo labeled with what charts went where. The Captain would have had a very nice stateroom nearby but didn't sleep in the chart area room.

[jsanbr]

The extended warranty call was so funny!

[kevincrosby]

First area was not the Captain's Cabin. It was the bridge. The room with the couch was not a bedroom, but the Navigator's station. The "dresser" was actually a chart table, with storage for other charts below the table. If one of the "offices" off of the bridge was a bit bigger and had an attached head, THAT was probably the Captain's cabin.

The "cot at 19:50 is s special stretcher used to remove a casualty when you may have to drag/hoist the victim up the ladders (stairs), lower them down to the deck, winch them up into a helo, etc.

The running equipment at the end was a generator. My guess is that they are providing power to the pumps which are designed to keep the bilge areas free of water.

[Surfguitarist]

That 'cot' you mentioned is actually a medical gurney. I'm a former flight medic. It's called a "Basket Gurney" or "Basket Stretcher." All ships have one and it's used to lift an injured crew member up by helicopter.

[jiveturkey]

I'm from California and was in Hammond Indiana for a while doing work in Chicago. Every time we went over that Calumet bridge on highway 94 I would see that thing and it always caught my eye. I always wanted to go off and explore it but I didn't get the opportunity. I'm glad someone did a video on it.

[aleks_jones]

wow, someone informative who appreciates the history of what they are exploring, rather than destroying and defacing everything in reach... thanks. the practically intact machine shop was incredible... it's so weird how much was left on the ship...

[jakedubois]

I drive by this ship often when going from Chicago to the Michigan dunes. Everytime I drive by it fascinates me. Super happy to have found this documentary. Thank you!

[forwardomni]

Great video young man. I’m a veteran cinematographer 40 years.
Don’t listen to these amateur critics.
You did good.
The phone ringing with the car warranty people was very funny.
I subscribed!
Keep up the good work.

[redlight]

You need an air monitor / gas detector going into an old ship. They may not find your body for years down there.

[ibbylancaster]

I had worked up in Kenosha and came through on the way back to NC and drove past her. I wondered what the deal was. Pretty cool video young man and thank you for a good little history on the vessel. Kind of a sad ending for her. Much love from NC.

[carrsllccarrillo]

Thanks for posting this. I live southwest of Chicago and never knew this ship was harbored here. From the deck there I take it that's I-55. I say this time and time again when viewing videos like this about abandoned properties such as large buildings, vessels or other...we are indeed a wasteful society and never seem to find ways to be resourceful but rather vacate property because it would cost too much to maintain at something that was already expensive to build.
Looking at this ship gives you the vibes of how the Edmund Fitzgerald would look like.

[WSL]

Lots of negativity here in the comments section. Fascinating video with a little history. Glad you had the opportunity to explore. I look forward to your next video.