Escape from the Engine Room
Just watched Stallone and Schwarzenegger’s latest movie, Escape Plan. Stallone is some expert in maximum security prison – a breakout artist –
and he gets to test out the latest “alphabet soup” secret super max prison. I
had to laugh at the irony of it all, because as it turns out, the prison is
actually a ship, or more correctly, on a ship.
and he gets to test out the latest “alphabet soup” secret super max prison. I
had to laugh at the irony of it all, because as it turns out, the prison is
actually a ship, or more correctly, on a ship.
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| What do you think being a seafarer is all about? |
Despite Stallone and Arnold, the biggest star of the show is the “fictitious” ship, MV
Rican. The movie ship looks like a tanker, probably is a bulker, but is used as a
“passenger ship”.
Rican. The movie ship looks like a tanker, probably is a bulker, but is used as a
“passenger ship”.
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| Vale’s got nothing on Hollywood |
I did some sleuthing and I found that the “ship set”, as determined by the IMO number
seen in the engine room fight scene – (IMO 7621932) – is the MV Rican. In the movie, the ship has been heavily, and
ridiculously transformed by the special effects people. The story is as equally
laughable.
seen in the engine room fight scene – (IMO 7621932) – is the MV Rican. In the movie, the ship has been heavily, and
ridiculously transformed by the special effects people. The story is as equally
laughable.
The Rican, is a Comoros flagged bulk carrier, built in 1979, and is actually listed as “broken up”. The 61,400 DWT bulker bore many names including, MV Americana, as she was pictured back in early 2012, when she was in New Orleans, where I imagine they did the filming.
If Hollywood really knew how many regulations an
internationally trading ship must conform too, they would never put a prison on
it, never mind wast money and energy putting bars on it – no need, its already a prison.
internationally trading ship must conform too, they would never put a prison on
it, never mind wast money and energy putting bars on it – no need, its already a prison.
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| Two wheelhouses, cool |
The denouement of the story occurs, where else, in the dimly
lit, eerily quiet, dungeon like engine room. There, the meanest of the guards,
played by Vinnie Jones, gets to rumble with Stallone, bouncing his head off the
main engine, before “taking a tumble” down the ladder.
lit, eerily quiet, dungeon like engine room. There, the meanest of the guards,
played by Vinnie Jones, gets to rumble with Stallone, bouncing his head off the
main engine, before “taking a tumble” down the ladder.
Stallone then proceed to the control room, to “dispatch” the
duty engineer who confidently wields a 14 inch pipe wrench. Our protagonist then pecks at
the computer, turns a few knobs, and voila, the ship suffers a total blackout,
releasing all the magnetic locks, and gains an honorary STCW engineering license.
duty engineer who confidently wields a 14 inch pipe wrench. Our protagonist then pecks at
the computer, turns a few knobs, and voila, the ship suffers a total blackout,
releasing all the magnetic locks, and gains an honorary STCW engineering license.
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| No artistic license needed |
Of course, anyone with any sense of ships would laugh at the
situation, well, a nervous laugh anyways. Ships and prison after all, have an
intertwine culture don’t they. Well one thing is for sure, Hollywood keeps
reinforcing the stereotypes of commercial shipping. One thing is for certain,
it does the seafarer recruiting department no favours.
situation, well, a nervous laugh anyways. Ships and prison after all, have an
intertwine culture don’t they. Well one thing is for sure, Hollywood keeps
reinforcing the stereotypes of commercial shipping. One thing is for certain,
it does the seafarer recruiting department no favours.
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12 Responses
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I work on a bulk boat and I think your a bit nieve at what the US government can do if they really want.
It was pretty bad, flushed out from the bottom of the ship?
Think I’ll try taking out rivets like Stallone looks easier than drilling and burning
I like this movie very much
It’s just a movie! lighten up …
Yes, yes, you are absolutely right.
Deckie here.. It’s about as accurate as you’d expect from Stallone and Schwarzenegger, but very enjoyable light entertainment.
Why take life so seriously. Who cares they have two wheelhouses! Ha
Loved this movie
Have you nothing better to do with your life than start pulling a fictional film apart you’re quite sad I pity you
actually… after my watch rounds, i don’t. I, and many active seafarers sailing at sea, thank you for the pity.
tongue firmly planted in cheek
What’s next the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean wouldn’t float or it wasn’t made from the correct timber
It’s a fictitious film not real life what does it matter if it’s heavily modified or international sea regulations blah blah blah besides engine room No’s who needs them when the ships name was in big 4-5 metre letter’s on the stern as seen in your Fig:1 Sorry I do apologise if I am a few millimetres out my QVC ruler has not been calibrated in a while.