In fact, 'Ghost Ship' was written specifically for the screen. It didn't draw inspiration from any existing novel. The story and plot were crafted independently for the film.
Yes. It was based on a horror - themed novel. The movie clearly shows elements typical of horror novels, like the spooky atmosphere, the sense of danger, and the supernatural elements which are often found in horror novels.
Well, 'Ghost Ship' is purely fictional. The story was crafted by the imagination of the writers and filmmakers to thrill and scare the audience. There's no real-life event behind it.
One famous real - life event was the Mary Celeste. It was found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean in 1872 with no one on board. The ship was in relatively good condition, the cargo was intact, and there were signs that the crew had left in a hurry. No one knows exactly what happened to them. It's this kind of mystery that often inspires the idea of a ghost ship in stories.
There are also some ghost ship stories that are completely fictional. Writers and storytellers like to create spooky tales about ships for entertainment. But even in those fictional stories, they might draw on real nautical traditions and fears to make them seem more believable.