⚓️Life Aboard a Great Lakes Ship: Inside Look 2024! Part 2

Boat Friends,

Step aboard the 1000-foot Great Lakes ship, American Century, in this exclusive Part 2 of my series “Life Aboard a Great Lakes Ship,” recorded on September 12, 2024. Get up close to the dock and witness the crew in action, securing this massive vessel just feet from the camera! Ever wondered how many steps it takes to walk from the stern to the bow of a 1000-foot ship? I’ve got the answer with a pedometer test that measures every step on this incredible freighter.

Experience an up-close look at the powerful self-unloading boom, explore the workings of the bow thruster in action, and see the dual bow anchors looking huge. I captured these moments from onboard the ship, on shore, and on my own boat, providing unique perspectives that bring you closer than ever to the action.

One of the most poignant moments is a look at the dock where the ship Edmund Fitzgerald took its final load before the tragic storm on Lake Superior. I bring you views from the American Century's deck and from the water, offering a rare glimpse into maritime history.

This video not only showcases the hard work and camaraderie of the crew but also gives a behind-the-scenes look at life on the Great Lakes, from safety protocols to the incredible machinery that keeps these ships running smoothly. If you've ever dreamed of being a part of something vast and powerful, this is your front-row seat to life on a Great Lakes freighter.

Watch for:
-The exact step count from stern to bow on a 1000-foot ship
-The professional crew at work, handling lines and navigating the waters
-A rare view of the historic Edmund Fitzgerald's final dock

Chapters:
0:01 Intro from the Bow of Ship American Century
0:42 Map of Current Location where Ship is Docked
1:12 Weather Conditions on Lake Superior
1:30 Showing Lake Superior Waves Near Duluth
1:38 Huge Great Lakes Ship Docking Close-Up View
1:45 Massive Great Lakes Ship Moving Slowly to Dock in Water
1:51 Crew Throwing Dock Lines from Great Lakes Ship
2:07 Safety Protocols on Great Lakes Ships
2:13 Forward Mast and Radar in Action on Great Lakes Ship
2:18 Close-Up of Bow Thruster on Great Lakes Ship
2:26 Zoom on Dual Bow Anchors of Great Lakes Ship
2:30 Detailed View of Great Lakes Ship’s Draft Numbers
2:35 Zoom on the Bridge Wing of Great Lakes Ship
2:41 Explaining Dock Lines and Ropes Used on Great Lakes Ship
2:47 Showing Bow Line Tied from Dock to Great Lakes Ship
2:53 Advantages of Docking a Great Lakes Ship vs. Anchoring
3:02 Crew Preparing Great Lakes Ship’s Ladder on Shore
3:14 Hoisting Metal Basket from Land to Great Lakes Ship Deck
3:20 Up-Close View of Tall Ladder from Shore to Great Lakes Ship
3:28 On-Deck View from the Great Lakes Ship
3:46 Close Look at Great Lakes Ship’s Deck Light Bulb
3:50 Measuring Steps from Stern to Bow on a 1000-Foot Great Lakes Ship with Pedometer
4:40 Pedometer Results: Walking Length of Great Lakes Ship Deck
4:53 View from Great Lakes Ship’s Bow with Nearby Train
5:03 Discussion on How to Get a Job on a Great Lakes Ship
5:36 Showing Buoy Ring on Great Lakes Ship Deck
5:41 Close-Up of Great Lakes Ship’s Superstructure
5:46 Wearing Hard Hat: Safety First Approach on Great Lakes Ship
5:57 Hatch Clamps on Great Lakes Ship Deck: Secured vs. Unsecured
6:17 Viewing Great Lakes Ship American Century from My Boat
6:35 Ship American Century Details and Historical Facts
7:04 Back on Deck: Hatches and Superstructure of Great Lakes Ship
7:10 Close-Up of Great Lakes Ship Hatch Cover
7:13 Life Boat View from Deck of Great Lakes Ship
7:18 Life Boat Close-Up from Water View Near Ship
7:22 Close-Up of Great Lakes Ship’s Cable and Hook
7:32 Professionalism of the Great Lakes Ship’s Crew
7:42 Radar Spinning and Ship’s Horn Close-Up on Great Lakes Ship
7:46 Close-Up of Communication Satellite and Weather Dome on Great Lakes Ship
8:02 History of the Great Lakes Ship American Century Name Explained
8:14 Zoom on Edmund Fitzgerald’s Final Loading Dock from Great Lakes Ship Deck
8:26 Close Look at Fitzgerald’s Dock
8:37 Big Waves on Lake Superior by Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge
9:21 Full Stern and Smokestacks View of Great Lakes Ship
9:26 Close-Up of Deck Light and Pole on Great Lakes Ship
9:36 Crane on Shore Next to Great Lakes Ship
9:47 Close-Up of Self-Unloading Boom on Great Lakes Ship
9:55 Crew Members Waving to Camera on Deck of Great Lakes Ship
10:08 360-Degree View from Great Lakes Ship’s Deck
10:20 Showing Length of 1000-Foot Great Lakes Ship Deck
10:52 Crew Member Safety Harnesses and Equipment on Great Lakes Ship
11:08 Outro and Thank You to Great Lakes Ship Crew

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#ship #duluth #greatlakes #boat #maritime

[Jaybird_]

Thank you Mike. I hope you realize the impact your channel has. I had zero knowledge of, or interest in ships prior to stumbling upon your videos. My maritime experience consisted of Jon boats and bass boats growing up on the New river, and Claytor lake in Virginia. Thanks to you, I long for the day to crew a 1000 footer on the Great Lakes. I'm hooked, and am a Boat Friend for life. Thank you.

[chuckg]

Here is something neat. If you start watching at 8:15 you'll see an orange vertically stripped tower in the water. Now carefully look off in the distance amidst the trees. You'll see another orange vertical marker. When navigating towards these markers, the captain lines both them up until one gets placed in front of the other. When this happens, it means the ship is safely in the channel. It's called a range. In this case, the range is setup to allow another ship to pass in the other direction.

[PaulaH-frrfreak]

Can't wait to see you on the lakes! Thank you ASC for allowing Mike to tag along so we can experience your travels! ❤

[ohnoflicks]

Seeing the guys in the grass working the lines gives one a whole different perspective of the massive scale of this ship. Unreal.

[bruceneville]

Thanks Mike. So thankful that you are allowed to do these closeups onboard the ship. I think it would be fascinating to have you shadow one of the crew, especially to give us an insight into the loading and/or unloading process. Thanks for your passion for showing us a little bit of boat life!

[critterscute]

The angles from the ground really give a sense of the behemoth the AC is. Other than being there in person, this is the closest thing to actually feeling the hulking size of this magnificent work horse. Thanks so much to the ASC, the captain and crew, and you, Mike, for this amazing opportunity. Wowza! ⚓️🤩👍❤️

[nssrrailfan]

Thank you Mike! Captain Bruce was the old captain, and he was my greatest friend. I certainly will miss him. The Century will never stop being my favorite ship, as that is what Bruce sailed on.

[bigmonmagoomba]

Thank you Mike and ASC. I really enjoyed this one.

[rcwbud]

I was laid up in my bedroom for 13 weeks in December thru February. I passed the days watching your videos. I found them fascinating. You helped me thru a very difficult time. Thank you.

[RonLovig]

Loved the American Century's video. Nice to see the insight on board. Thanks Dave from ASC for your gifts of the hat and all the items. Wearing that hat and Boat Friends hat proudly. Dave sent a brochure about the ASC and all the job opportunities they offer. Thanks again both of you. Can't wait to see the video with Dave. Blessings to you and all our BOAT FRIENDS.

[skycvg]

Mike, that has to be one of my all-time favorites of all your productions. What a tremendous honor for you to be able to cruise all over that beauty. Especially refreshing to see a truly professional company like ASC showing off one of their best ships and crew. Gives you faith in the fact that there are still companies who have their priorities right and don't try to operate by loopholes and bending the rules for profit at the expense and risk of their crews. Bravo Zulu to you and ASC. Outstanding!

[Arizona-Sonoran-Desert-Guy]

This video had so much substance; it was jam-packed. Very informative, covering the actual nuts and bolts, the inner workings of the ship, and behind-the-scenes stuff, such as how long and how many steps from stern to bow. It also covered the various docks in the area and the choppiness of the water outside of the harbor. Top flight reporting and journalism.

[chucke]

Hey Mike, awesome video, and thanks to ASC for letting us come aboard….

[spitfirenutspitfirenut]

Mike. Richard here. Huge crowd here at the Ottawa/Gatineau air show last weekend…. Thunderbirds, Red Arrows and Snowbirds were awesome. The three airforce’s that keep the world safe.

[KenHartman]

An absolutely fascinating video Mike! The American Century is a Beauty and loved that look of the Superstructure from right in front of it. Also loved the close up look of the boom. Looking down that deck you really get a good idea how long 1000' is! That truly has to be a fascinating career. Mike I can't wait for all of the Boat Friend to join you out on the Great Lakes!!! Thank you, ASC, for allowing Mike to have that up close look at one of the Great Lakes Magnificent Ships!
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[ironmule]

Mike, you've done a great job growing your channel and we are all the beneficiaries of it for sure! The relationship that you forged with ASC is so cool. Can't wait to see the onboard on open water content!

[michaeltaylor]

Fantastic production Mike.Lovely day for it. The ship looked massive yet unthreatenig. Shout out to all lakers and their crews

[bobpurs]

Very awesome Video Mike. Cool to see from the Deck. Thank You ASC for allowing Mike to bring this to us. Very Cool and can't wait to see you out on the water. Have a great weekend. ⚓👍🫡

[patricks_music]

Mike! Great video. I love this On-Board series. I was just up in Door County for 5 days. We stayed in Sturgeon bay. It was awesome to see the shipyard there that made so many of the thousand foot vessels we see today. The Maritime Museum was also very well done there. At one time, the shipyard was producing a ship/vessel every 5 days during World War II. It's really amazing how shipbuilding technology has changed, and how navigation has improved so much with modern technology.

It was also awesome going out and being on the water where Green Bay and Lake Michigan meet.

Can't wait for your future ASC endeavors!

[tincanboat]

That was an awesome shot of the crew guy securing the line to the dock. That really showed us how massive that ship. Your't right looking down the deck it looks like it goes into infinity. loved all the history especially about the Edmund Fitzgerald.😎