The freighter's floor

[LostFreak21]

Did any one else think the floor of the freighter was really old? The wood was really bad and most freighters don't have wood floors the have metal now days! I wonder HOW old that freighter is.

[krakup]

the freighters old??? i am a week behind lost in australia so i see the freighter this week. the heli is old and u say the freighter also is old, hmmmm i reckon we are dealing with whoever but from the 1970's. i know they have latest sat phones etc but that heli being from the 70's,i cant get past that, and now the freighter. either widmore or dharma or whoever the freighter ppl work for are doing things on the cheap or they have come from a long time ago. imo :)

[lockeintomyeyes]

I noticed when Desmond kind of slipped and put his hand on the floor of the freighter the wood was so old that he could scrape it with his fingers. Kind of like the BLACK ROCK floor!!!!! :)

[bunnydixon]

wow i never noticed but i like where this is going.

i was too busy making eyes at desmond hehe!!

[Lost in VA]

Why would they use an old chopper and an old freighter yet use modern phones and test equipment (the payload test)??

[justjoe]

There is a pattern developing here. Remember the Swan hatch? There were a bunch of older items such as the computer and the albums. And then there was the brand spanking new washer and dryer. If it ain't broke don't fix it?

[lockeintomyeyes]

The helicopter says restricted on the door. When they land on the freighter the guy says "Why did you bring them here", so they didn't know that Sayid and Desmond were coming. Maybe there is another ship out there too? Maybe that ship had the payload and stuff on that one.

[bunnydixon]

i was duscussing with someone earlier that they have to be sending someone out on shopping sprees as they are not all dressed in retro outfits, have modern books etc...

[lockeintomyeyes]

There is something weird about that freighter to me. Some of the people do look from a different time period like the guy running behind the helicopter, the guy playing around with the fish nets while Sayid and Frank are up top talking.

[thelawgiver]

It could mean that whoever is funding this has money, but either not a ton of money or is just a cheap bastard. The ship still works and the helicopter also.

Also, a gleaming new ship, state-of-the-art helicopters, etc. requires a lot of crew and well trained at that. It seems to me that this is an under the radar mission, which is best pulled off with minimal equipment and crew.

[Ureval]

I cuold be wrong, but I think this is being overthought. Boats dont stay nice very long without proper care because of the erosion from salt water.

[csharp1990]

I cuold be wrong, but I think this is being overthought. Boats dont stay nice very long without proper care because of the erosion from salt water.

Lost writers don't really overlook things, most of the stuff that the viewers catch has a purpose.

[islander]

Did any one else think the floor of the freighter was really old? The wood was really bad and most freighters don't have wood floors the have metal now days! I wonder HOW old that freighter is.

i was thinking the same thing - the freighter is a piece of junk, but i figured it was all the people behind the mission could find at the time. didn't one of the crew claim they sailed out of fiji?

[Rain13]

I think this would indeed just be another case of over-analysis but the fact that they're carrying around those super high-tech satellite phones has made me wonder if there's something more here... Before we saw the freighter, I had envisioned a hi-tech and squeaky clean boat teeming with scientists of various types and professional looking people. I was pretty surprised when I finally saw that dinky little freighter that looked like it hadn't been used since the 70's and its crew who looked like they were disgruntled fishermen from Gloucester, Massachusetts. Something just doesn't add up. Those phones are quite futuristic-looking and use advanced technology, and yet the communications room where they are supposedly linked to looks like it's from the 80's. The writers could have just as easilly given them phones that would have matched the level of technology on the boat, and yet they didn't. The communications room where they are supposedly linked to looks like it's from the 80's.

Someone posted a screenshot of the freighter communications room on another thread but I can't find it, anyone have it? If so, compare it to the phones:

http://images.lostpedia.com/images/thumb/a/a8/Satphone.jpg/200px-Satphone.jpg

That seems a bit to me like plugging an iPhone into a hand crank...

[heavensprincess]

[QUOTE=Rain13;21398] its crew who looked like they were disgruntled fishermen from Gloucester, Massachusetts.
[IMG]http://images.lostpedia.com/images/thumb/a/a8/Satphone.jpg/200px-Satphone.j

LOL...that cracked me up...it's soo true..it's what I thought of when I first saw them too.

[az-phil]

Hmmm, well they do look like a pretty shadey crew.

It's not like you're going to hire Jacques Cousteau for a mission like this. I would hire some modern day pirates that are from the general area of the island.

I doubt modern day pirates have fancy ships and helicopters. I'm sure Naomi brought some special equipment for the mission like those special phones.

If they aren't pirate scum, then the old ship/helicopter might be a ploy to lay low. :cool:

[Meditate]

Sayid got out of the chopper and looked the boat over, other than radar and comms, anybody notice a rocket launcher on there? Or the woman who fired it that Daniel was talking to. There might be another boat out there.

But yes, that crappy freighter reminds me of a crab boat.

[lostNspace]

Hmmm, well they do look like a pretty shadey crew.

It's not like you're going to hire Jacques Cousteau for a mission like this. I would hire some modern day pirates that are from the general area of the island.

I doubt modern day pirates have fancy ships and helicopters. I'm sure Naomi brought some special equipment for the mission like those special phones.

If they aren't pirate scum, then the old ship/helicopter might be a ploy to lay low. :cool:

That has got to be it. They keeping a low profile. How many brand new research ships leave port everyday vs. all the old fishing ships.

[thelawgiver]

Chopper Frank said that those phones could only talk to each other, so they would not be connected to the old radio room equipment. I think it all just reflects that secrecy on this mission was more important than having the best of everything.

[Rain13]

If the phones could only communicate with each other than where is the phone that Minkowski had? I suppose it would be with Regina because she's the one who's been answering it since Minkowski "cracked", but where is she?

[thelawgiver]

Yes, Regina is incognito, along with the frieghter captain.

[stuartsjg]

The boat is very old,

Due to the risk of fire, there are very few boats made in the last 20 years with wooden decks.

The radio room looked ancient, photos at http://www.lost.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1431 where i was talking about the video communication console being the same as the one in The Looking Glass

There was a mix of equiptment in the radio room, its all mosly old (60's and 70's) but i have seen new pieces in there.

I cant help but thinks, if this boat had any link to Pennys father, it would be newer and more modern.

All the fishing boats in Scotish Harbours with more modern looking equiptment than whats in that radio room.

Stuart

[Rain13]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking too Stuart. I'm no boat expert and I'm sure there's one here so please correct me if I'm wrong, but all of the boats I've been on in the past 10 years have looked a hell of a lot more hi-tech and nicer than that one, and lots of them were just run-of-the mill fishing boats. If anything, I would think that a boat like this one would stand out at a port in Fiji that would have mostly newer boats.

[bunnydixon]

maybe its been out there a lot longer than we realise.....

maybe it actually has a permanent spot wherever it is and people use it as a place to stop off or go before they go into the island? sorry if i am waffling....juts haveing a wee brainstorm sesh to myself! or maybe it got stuck in some force that is emanating from the island...

[IrishDancinQueen]

I worked on boats for 6 years and even the old ferries I was on had metal decks. For a freighter to have a wooden deck is extremely bizarre...

[justjoe]

Is it even really a freighter? Isn't a freighter a cargo ship that hauls things from one port to another? This doesn't look like it hauls anything. A research vessel maybe but not a freighter.

[stuartsjg]

Im guessing your right, Freighter - Freight = Cargo, er = thing.

It does have a large flat deck - this wooder floor that the helecopter landed on. This may have been for cargo and they have been converted for heli-pad.

Most the oil service boats in aberdeen harbour have a large (metal) space at the back used for carrying bits, or allowing access to the hold's underneath. Whereas a ferry is packed with people space.

If it was a boat or ship ment for people, id think it would have more the the topside filled with rooms and floors.

Even research ships, purpose built for research have much smaller decks which get used for instuments, ROV's etc to go into the sea.

[LostFreak21]

I am thinking it is really old for wood to be that bad. I know this might sound weird but could a fasod have been built around some sort of old ship that has meaning?

[az-phil]

Maybe they purposely found a large ship with lots off wood, and that was the best they could find without it being some old wooden sailing ship.

Too much metal might cause them to get sucked toward the island or something, or cause the crew to get affected easier by the island.

Or maybe that was the only toy model ship they had in the prop room.

Hmmm...

[islander]

There is a pattern developing here. Remember the Swan hatch? There were a bunch of older items such as the computer and the albums. And then there was the brand spanking new washer and dryer. If it ain't broke don't fix it?

aside from the slick sat phones and that new washer/dryer, does all the other equipment look 20 years old to you guys? the freighter, the sub, the helicopter, the others' compound, the hatches....there is certainly much better technology available than we see on the island/freighter.

[Rain13]

Yes it does Islander, and that's because all of that stuff is supposed to be 20 years old. All of the stuff on the island, including the Others' compound, the submarine, the hatches, and essentially everything is from the Dharma Initiative and was brought there in what seems to be like the 70's and early 80's. The purge occurred in the early 90's, so we know that everything on the island is at least that old. The freighter, however, is a ship commissioned in 2004 by somebody who seems to have endless resources, due not only to the extremely hi-tech SAT phones they have but also simply to the fact that they can assemble a team of qualified experts for a secret machine to a mysterious island! If anyone has that kind of money than they can surely afford a boat that is post 1980, and this is why people are confused about this.

[islander]

Yes it does Islander, and that's because all of that stuff is supposed to be 20 years old. All of the stuff on the island, including the Others' compound, the submarine, the hatches, and essentially everything is from the Dharma Initiative and was brought there in what seems to be like the 70's and early 80's. The purge occurred in the early 90's, so we know that everything on the island is at least that old. The freighter, however, is a ship commissioned in 2004 by somebody who seems to have endless resources, due not only to the extremely hi-tech SAT phones they have but also simply to the fact that they can assemble a team of qualified experts for a secret machine to a mysterious island! If anyone has that kind of money than they can surely afford a boat that is post 1980, and this is why people are confused about this.

i agree, but if ben can raise 3.2 million clams in one week, i'd expect to see some shiny technology in ben's possession too.

[Rain13]

Why? Most of what Ben has is taken directly from the Dharma Initiative as I said, and despite the fact that Ben does have a lot of money, it is quite possible that he just doesn't see any need to upgrade his technology on the island. On the other hand, whoever organized the freighter mission probably didn't have an old boat from the 80's just lying around, and had to recently go out and purchase everything required for the mission. Why, than, would they pick out these dillapidated things? I guess the only response to this is either that A. the person who organized the mission did happen to have all this stuff already and just didn't see any need to upgrade or B. that they just didn't have enough money for anything better, which again just doesn't make sense.

[justjoe]

There is also a C. rain. Maybe they just hired a band of merchant sailors or pirates to do the dirty work and this is the boat they use to do it. I feel that it doesn't matter who is bankrolling the mission because they hire out a crew anyway. WHat I mean is they wouldn't need to buy a boat for a mission like this they just hire a crew, boat and all.

[lostNspace]

Whoever hired the boat and it people might be working with the disposable phone concept. Meet the boat half way, take who/what you want, and get rid of the evidence. No paper trail. No people trail.
Of course we know the O6 (O8?) make it back. But that could have been there original intentions.

[Elmer]

i agree, but if ben can raise 3.2 million clams in one week, i'd expect to see some shiny technology in ben's possession too.

I think Ben kep A LOT of secrets from the others as well. So bringing back all the newest technology would possibly show his hand or make them suspicous of him.

[thelawgiver]

Again folks, this all reeks of a covert mission. Big shiny new frieghters are not sold daily and are sold prior to their construction (like jumbo jets). They are not only expensive, but their sales are well tracked. But who would care to track a run down 20-year old frieghter? So you get an old boat, an old helicopter, a skeleton crew of nefarious types (who know not to ask too many questions), and voila, you have the means to get your covert fantastic four (plus Naomi) near the island.

[BensBaby]

I think that this boat (freighter) is some kind of decoy, the more hi-tech boat is further out at sea. Agree that this boat is some kind of stop off before going to the island.

[lockeintomyeyes]

I also can't forget that they the crew didn't even know they were bringing them back. What if there are two groups of people trying to find the island and these guys are there for that?

[justjoe]

Like I said earlier in this thread. They are probably mercenaries. Pirates for hire.

[Glenn2000]

Actually, the ship could be considered a freighter. I used to work for the Military Sealift Command. It's the part of the US Navy that is responsible for the fleet replenishment and military resupply to obscure places.

Two places that MSC used contract carriers were to support the Aleutian Island and the Northern extremes of Alaska and the downrange radar facilites in the Caribbean. The shipping companies used vessels exactly like these and towed barges of palletized cargo and vehicles and "stuff." They usually had a mobile crane on the back deck of the ship to assist in off loading material.

I know that in Alaska the ships had wooden decks on top of steel to provide traction for the cranes.

I actually got to see one of the ships at the Cape Canaveral Outport and it looked a lot like the LOST freighter. This was back in 1979 and even then it looked pretty seedy. But it passed Coast Guard inspection, so I guess it was suitable...

As for our group anchored off the island, I believe that it is a case of covert operations. Penny's father would not want to have any records of his affiliation with this operation. Anything he procures is coming directly out of his pocket, not his company's assets. And, in my limited exposure to rich people I have found them to be universally cheap.

Also, this is a ship operating in the 3rd world. By our standards this is looking like it should be headed to salvage, but in Indonesia this may constitute a very worthy vessel.

I have a feeling that there are several "levels" of crew on this scow. Those in the know and those running the ship and possibly those who really run the ship and are kept out of sight and report to "those who are running the ship."

[Rain13]

Careful Glenn, Bunny might call you condescending for saying stuff like that! :D But in all seriousness, thanks for that info, I think that pretty much closes the discussion on whether it's fishy (again, no pun intended) for the boat to look so old.

[justjoe]

Good info. I believe the area they are sailing in is still inhabited by modern day pirates so my mercenary/pirate theory may make sense on some level. Or not...

[bunnydixon]

Careful Glenn, Bunny might call you condescending for saying stuff like that! :D But in all seriousness, thanks for that info, I think that pretty much closes the discussion on whether it's fishy (again, no pun intended) for the boat to look so old.

not what you say, its how you say it ;)

i agree with your last statement there glenn.

[LostFreak21]

Do you know for a fact it is third world:) Do you have pictures to back that up:):) All I know is When I get on a ship, freighter, whatever I can usually dig my nails into the deck.

[Glenn2000]

Do you know for a fact it is third world:) Do you have pictures to back that up:):) All I know is When I get on a ship, freighter, whatever I can usually dig my nails into the deck.

I wasn't trying to be condescending. If someone took umbrage, I apologize. I was just stating that places like the US, Europe, Japan and Australia are considered 1st World because of their advances in technology and lifestyle. Indonesia is a 3rd World Country because it isn't as universally advanced. Still many unpaved roads, incomplete sewage and water systems, electrical power, education, etc.

The crew mentioned that their last port was Bali which is in Indonesia and the "discovered" Oceaniac plane is in a deep ocean trench off Sumatra or Java, both of which are part of Indonesia.

Hope that clarifies what I meant...

And, yes, there are may pirates in the area. The navies of Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Japan and the US regularly patrol because of attacks on commercial vessels, including large tankers and container ships!

[lostlindy]

There could very well be a connection to the 70's in more ways than one. Not only the ship but the music. It's all from late 60's early to mid 70's.:)

[krakup]

The crew mentioned that their last port was Bali


i thought they said their last port was Fiji? minor detail as they were proly lying anyway

[thelawgiver]

Maybe they aquired the old freighter in a Bangledesh wrecking yard. See this interesting report:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3228443n?source=search_video