Experience the rare and exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the 1000-foot Great Lakes ship, the American Century, filmed in June 2024. This is the only full ship tour video that exists online to date, approved by the American Steamship Company, offering a unique look at the operations and crew of one of the largest ships navigating the Great Lakes.
Join me as I explore the American Century at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal dock, where it was loading coal. Witness the impressive loading process, with coal being poured into the cargo hold, and many features on the ship's 1000-foot deck. Safety is paramount to the American Steamship Company, and Mike Briner, an industry expert respected by all, who leads the safety, security, and health programs, provides a personal tour.
Inside the ship, meet Jennifer, the passionate chief cook who loves taking care of the crew with her delicious meals. From pizza night, Taco Tuesday, to her famous cowboy burgers, Jennifer shares her culinary expertise and dedication to making the crew feel at home. She also prepares brisket and experiments with other recipes to ensure the crew enjoys their meals. I showcase her spotless kitchen and the dining room prepared for an upcoming meal.
Mike Briner, who is well-known in the industry, explains various ship operations during our tour. We cover the hatch crane and the lookout area, answering common questions from ship enthusiasts. My tour covers the entire deck from stern to bow, offering unparalleled views and insights into the daily operations of this colossal vessel. You’ll see many fascinating aspects of the ship that you have to watch the video to fully appreciate.
In the second half of the video, we watch the American Century depart from the water on the Boat Friends Boat. The unique part of this video is that after touring and speaking with the crew, we now watch the ship in action. I follow the ship in the Boat Friends Boat, capturing the best perspectives as it leaves the dock, passes through the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge with a horn salute, and heads out onto Lake Superior.
On behalf of all Boat Friends worldwide, we extend a heartfelt thanks to the American Steamship Company, especially Mike Briner for his exceptional tour, David Desmarais, and to President Kevin McMonagle, for making this behind-the-scenes tour possible.
The American Steamship Company is a leader in the industry, treating their employees like family and prioritizing safety and excellence.
Information about the ship American Century: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Amer...
Chapters:
0:01 Video introduction
0:51 Introducing ship tour guide
1:31 Showing ship American Century & dock
1:51 Tour starts aboard ship
2:08 Accommodation ladder overview
2:27 Deck hatch crane overview
2:49 Small boat passing by ship
2:59 Water & air pipes on deck overview
3:24 Pollution response equipment overview
3:42 Deck hose overview
4:11 Bow lookout station overview
4:29 Bow communication phone overview
4:41 Inflatable life raft overview
5:00 Coal loading in ship holds
5:18 Showing how loading process works
5:28 Overview of ship bow side load lights
5:48 Gooseneck ventilation pipe overview
6:04 Asking crew member if they enjoy being on ship
6:24 Gooseneck ventilation additional fact
6:44 360-degree camera pan from ship's deck
7:02 Hatch crane lowering hatch cover
7:15 Up-close look at huge loading boom
7:27 Ship workers securing hatch clamps
7:41 Ship stern side load lights overview
7:55 Stern side loading winch
8:11 Freight train departure beside the ship
8:34 Ship safety protocols explained
9:16 On-camera interview with ship's chief cook
9:30 Showing types of food ship crew eats
10:05 Ship cook discusses crew's favorite meals
11:07 Up-close look at ship superstructure
11:19 Demonstrating the size of the 1000-foot ship deck
11:36 Transition to small boat watching ship depart
12:15 Ship American Century’s history & additional facts
13:19 Radio call between ship captain & lift bridge
13:30 Lift bridge going up for ship
15:05 Full ship camera view showing its size
15:18 Ship going under lift bridge & horn blast
16:04 Zoom on hundreds of people watching ship depart
16:24 Video outro and thanks
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