The bumps in the night could be explained away. The banging of deck hatches – open and shut, open and shut – were easy to ignore.

But when more than one person reported seeing a ghost-like figure toiling at the machinery on the USS Salem’s bow, Michael Condon wondered if more was at play than the typical groans of an aging, Cold War-era cruiser.

“I’m just going to say this: While I have not seen anything, I certainly have heard things,” said Condon, the ship’s executive director.

Is the USS Salem haunted?

A team from Mass Paranormal of Quincy thinks so. The team is planning an all-night investigation aboard the ship on Aug. 23, and it is inviting others to experience the spooky happenings with their own eyes and ears.

Mass Paranormal and the Salem - named for the Massachusetts city - are charging $85 per person for the experience, which will feature an appearance by Shannon Sylvia from the Sci-Fi Channel show “Ghost Hunters International.”

Armed with infrared cameras and parabolic microphones, Mass Paranormal scoured the decks of the 718-foot vessel in July. The Salem never fired its guns in combat but was a symbol of America’s power in the 1950s.

“The first 30 seconds on the recorder we heard a woman telling us to ‘get out’ three times,” said Tom Ventosi, co-founder and vice president of the Quincy paranormal group. There were additional “appearances,” but the team doesn’t want to ruin the surprise.

Condon said word has already leaked to other investigative groups of the high-level “activity” on the ship.

“What for us was a neat little secret we had – that there were ghosts on this ship – has turned into something that is not our little secret anymore.”

Want to  take part?

   

What: A paranormal investigation of the USS Salem

Where: Fore River shipyard

When: Saturday, Aug. 23, from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Meet and greet with Shannon Sylvia at 7 p.m.

Cost: $85 per person

For tickets: Call 617-947-6960 or go to www.massparanormal.net

Reporter Jennifer Mann may be reached at jmann@ledger.com.