Found on YouTube. Created by "Vibe with Mike ⚓️". Recorded on 2025-10-14. Originally published on 2025-11-14.
This video gives you full access on board the 1000 foot Great Lakes ship Indiana Harbor of the American Steamship Company as it crosses Lake Superior from the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Two Harbors, Minnesota. It is a complete real experience that shows daily life and work with the crew who operate one of the largest ships on the Great Lakes.
We board the ship at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and I show exactly what it is like to step on board and begin the journey across Lake Superior. I take you through the pilot house and bridge where navigation and communication decisions are made. We visit the galley where the cook prepares meals from scratch for the entire crew, and we look inside the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry to understand how a ship of this size supports itself while underway. I also show the cabin where I stayed during the trip and what it is like to live on board for several days.
From there we go out onto the deck and forward to the bow to see the anchors and the windlass system. Below the cargo holds, we explore the tunnel that runs nearly the full length of the ship. I interview Captain Ben along with several crew members ranging from a new cadet to sailors who have worked the Lakes for decades. You will see a fire drill on open water and watch the captain maneuver through dense fog while approaching Two Harbors, Minnesota. The full iron ore loading process is shown so viewers can understand exactly how these vessels operate as working ships.
This video is meant to document the real work, pride, skill, and responsibility of the people who keep Great Lakes shipping moving. It shows what life is truly like on board a thousand foot ship crossing Lake Superior and honors the experience of the men and women who dedicate themselves to this profession.
Timestamps:
00:00 Boarding at the Soo Locks in Sault Sainte Marie Michigan
02:03 Transporting out to the 1000 foot Indiana Harbor at the Soo Locks
02:40 History and details of the Great Lakes freighter Indiana Harbor
05:02 Full tour of my cabin and living quarters on board the ship
07:59 Pilot house and bridge tour with navigation and communication controls
09:10 Climbing to the crows nest and viewing forward over the bow
10:16 Bow anchor windlass and dual anchor system demonstration
11:46 Crew fire drill and emergency response practice on Lake Superior
14:22 Interview with Captain Ben Conley on becoming a Great Lakes captain
15:58 In the galley with the cook preparing meals and barbecuing on deck
20:51 Mate explains depth readings chart work and ship navigation logs
22:51 Touring crew member rooms and personal living spaces
24:39 Full walkthrough of the engine room and power systems
29:51 Exploring the tunnel below the cargo holds inside the ship
36:01 Navigating dense fog on Lake Superior and bridge procedures
37:31 Approaching the Two Harbors Minnesota ore dock in dense fog
41:37 Full iron ore loading operation at the Two Harbors dock
___________________________
Please support this channel by becoming a member or purchasing items from the online store. ⛴️👍🙏
PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/VibewithMike
Vibe with Mike Store
https://www.vibewithmike.com
___________________________
#GreatLakesShipping #LakeSuperior #Ship #OnBoard
Lake Superior
