The Ghost Pirates is a novel presented as the transcribed testimony of Jessop, who we ultimately discover is the only survivor of the final voyage of the Mortzestus, having been rescued from drowning by the crew of the passing Sangier. Hodgson never describes the ghosts - if this is indeed what they are, since their true nature is left ambiguous - in any remarkable detail, he merely reports of their gradual commandeering of the ship.