RMS Queen Elizabeth 2

"QE2" redirects here. For the music album, see QE2 (album). For the monarch, see Elizabeth II.
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Trondheim.jpg
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 in Norway, June 2006
Career
Name: RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Owner: 1967-2008: Cunard Line Ltd[1]
2008-present: Nakheel Properties
Operator: 1967-2008: Cunard Line
Port of Registry: 1967-2008: Southampton Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
2008-present: Dubai Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg UAE
Route: North Atlantic and Cruising
Ordered: 1964
Builder: John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland
Cost: £29,091,000
Laid down: 5 July 1965
Launched: 20 September 1967
Christened: 20 September 1967
 by Queen Elizabeth II
Completed: 26 Novembeer 1968 (Sea trials commenced)
Maiden voyage: 2 May 1969
In service: 1969-2008
Out of service: 27 November 2008
Identification:

Callsign GBTT

IMO Number 6725418
Fate: To be preserved as a luxury floating hotel in Dubai
Status: Retired
Notes: Widely thought of as the most famous ocean liner afloat
General characteristics
Class and type: Single class
Tonnage: 70,327 GT (gross tonnage)
Displacement: 48,923 (loaded)
Length: 293.5 m (962.9 ft)
Beam: 32.03 m (105.1 ft)
Height: 52.2 m (171.3 ft)
Draft: 9.87 m (32.4 ft)
Installed power: 9 x 10,625 kW at 400 rpm
Propulsion: 9 MAN 9-cylinder medium speed turbo-charged diesel engines turning two five-bladed variable pitch propellers
Speed: 34 kn (63 km/h/39 mph),
20 kn (37 km/h/23 mph) going astern (figures recorded during sea trials post powerplant replacement, normal service speed 28.5 knots)
Capacity: 1,777 passengers
1,892 (all berths) passengers
Crew: 1,040 officers and crew

RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, or simply the 'QE2', is a retired Cunard ocean liner, now owned by Nakheel, a division of Dubai World. She was named after the earlier Cunard liner RMS Queen Elizabeth (although accounts vary, see Name section), and served as the flagship of the line from 1969 until succeeded by RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004. Built in Clydebank, Scotland, she was considered the last of the great transatlantic ocean liners prior to the construction of the QM2. Before she was refitted with a diesel power plant in 1986, she was also the last oil-fired passenger steamship to cross the Atlantic in scheduled liner service. During almost 40 years of service, the QE2 travelled the world and latterly operated predominantly as a cruise ship, sailing out of Southampton, England. She retired from active service on 27 November 2008 to begin conversion to a floating hotel, and will eventually be moored at Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.[2]

Her last departure from her home port of Southampton took place on 11 November 2008.[3]. The ship will be more or less gutted during the transformation into a hotel, which is set to take around two years.

Contents

Characteristics

The bow of the QE2

The ship has a gross tonnage (GT) of 70,327 tons and is 963 ft (294 m) long. She had a top speed of 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h) using her original steam turbine powerplant, which was increased to 34 knots (63 km/h) when she was re-engined with a diesel electric powerplant.

History

Concept and construction

By the mid 1960s transatlantic travel was dominated by air travel due to its speed and low cost relative to the sea route, and expansion of air travel showed no signs of slowing down. Conversely, the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were becoming expensive to operate, and both internally and externally were relics of the pre-war years. However, Cunard did not want to give up the business of passenger service, and so gambled $80 million on a new ocean liner to replace the original Queens, as well as to compete with the French Line's SS France.

Realising the decline of transatlantic trade, and the rising costs of fuel and labour, Cunard decided their new ship had to be smaller and cheaper to operate than her predecessors; the design requirements of the new ship were that she was to run at the same service speed of 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h) as the previous Queens, use half the fuel of the older ships, draw seven foot less draft to allow her to enter ports that the old Queens could not. The new liner was to have the ability to pass through the Panama Canal. Originally designated Q4 (a previous ship design Q3 had been abandoned due to falling passenger revenues on the North Atlantic), she was to be a three-class liner. However, looking to the France, designs were changed to make Q4 a two-class liner that could be modified into a single-class cruise ship, thereby allowing the ship to ply the Atlantic during the peak summer season, as well as warmer waters during the winter.[4]

The Queen Elizabeth 2 was built by the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in the John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. Her keel was laid down on 5 July 1965, as hull number 736, and was launched and named on 20 September 1967 by Queen Elizabeth II, using the same pair of gold scissors her mother and grandmother used to launch the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, respectively.[4] On 19 November 1968 she left John Brown's fitting out berth,[5] and sailed down the River Clyde to the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock at Inchgreen, Greenock, for final trials and commissioning.[6] After sea trials in the Irish Sea a "Mini maiden voyage" to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria set out on 22 April 1969.[5]

Service history

The Queen Elizabeth 2's maiden voyage, from Southampton to New York City, commenced on 2 May 1969[5], taking 4 days, 16 hours and 35 minutes. However, Prince Charles was the first "civilian" passenger to board the ship, on her voyage from the shipyard in Clydebank to drydock in Greenock. On board for the short journey was her first captain, William (Bil) Warwick. In 1971, she participated in the rescue of some 500 passengers from the burning French Line ship Antilles.[5][7]

On 17 May 1972, while travelling from New York to Southampton, she was the subject of a bomb threat. She was searched by her crew, and a bomb disposal team parachuted into the sea near the ship. No bomb was found, but the hoaxer was arrested by the FBI.[7] This incident went on to inspire the 1974 Richard Lester feature film Juggernaut. The following year the QE2 undertook two chartered cruises through the Mediterranean to Israel in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the state's founding. One kitchen on the ship was koshered for Passover, and Jewish passengers were able to celebrate Passover on the ship.

Berthed in Malaga Spain 1982

In April 1982, she took part in the Falklands War, carrying 3,000 troops and 650 volunteer crew to the south Atlantic. She was refitted in Southampton in preparation for war service, including the installation of three helicopter pads, the transformation of public lounges into dormitories, fuel pipes ran through the ship down to the engine room to allow for refuelling at sea, and the covering of carpets with 2,000 sheets of hardboard. Over 650 Cunard crewmembers volunteered for the voyage to look after the 3,000 members of the Fifth Infantry Brigade, which the ship transported to South Georgia. During the voyage the ship was blacked out and the radar switched off in order to avoid detection, steaming on without modern aids.[8][7]

She returned to the UK in June 1982, where she was greeted in Southampton Water by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Captain of the QE2 responded to the Queen Mother's welcome: "Please convey to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, our thanks for her kind message. Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 is proud to have been of service to Her Majesty's Forces."[8] The ship underwent conversion back to passenger service, with her funnel being painted in the traditional Cunard orange-red with black stripes, but her hull painted an unconventional light charcoal grey. This colour proved difficult to maintain, and so was reverted to traditional colours in 1983. [7]

On 7 August 1992, her hull was extensively damaged when she ran aground south of Cuttyhunk Island near Martha's Vineyard, while returning from a five day cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia along the east coast of the United States and Canada. A combination of her speed, an uncharted shoal and underestimating the increase in the ship's draft due to the so-called squat effect led to the ship's hull scraping rocks on the ocean floor. The accident resulted in the passengers being evacuated at nearby Newport, Rhode Island and the ship being taken out of service while repairs were made in drydock. Several days later, divers found red paint on previously uncharted rocks in the vicinity of where the ship was said to have hit bottom.[9][10]

By the mid 1990's it was decided that QE2 was due for a new look and in 1994 the ship was given a multi-million dollar refurbishment in Hamburg.[7] QE2 emerged from the refit having every major public room refurbished. She also appeared for the first time with a Royal Blue hull. In 1995, she encountered a freak wave, estimated at 90ft, caused by Hurricane Luis in the North Atlantic Ocean. [11]

One year later, during her twentieth world cruise, she passed her four millionth mile mark. The ship had sailed the equivalent of 185 times around the planet.[12]

The QE2 celebrated the 30th anniversary of her maiden voyage in Southampton in 1999. In three decades she had 1,159 voyages, sailed 4,648,050 nautical miles (5,347,018 mi, 8,605,209 km) and carried over 2 million passengers.[13]

In late 1999, QE2 was treated to a multi-million dollar refurbishment which included refreshing various public rooms, and a new color palate in the passenger cabins. This refit also included the mammoth task of a complete hull strip (back to the bare metal) and repaint in traditional Cunard colors of matte black with a white superstructure.[7]

Leaving Sydney 18 February 2004

While she was taken off the traditional "transatlantic" route (which was taken over by the Queen Mary 2 in 2004) the QE2 still undertook an annual world cruise and regular trips around the Mediterranean. At the end of her 2005 world cruise, certain pieces of her artwork were damaged when some crew members who had become inebriated at an onboard crew party, went on a vandalism rampage through the public areas of the ship. A unique tapestry of Queen Elizabeth II, commissioned for the launch of the ship, was thrown overboard. Further, an oil painting of the QE2 and two other tapestries were damaged, along with a part of the entertainment area and a lifeboat. The crew members involved were dismissed from service, with charges pending.[14]

On 5 November 2004 the QE2 became Cunard's longest serving ship, surpassing the RMS Aquitania's 35 years.[12]

QE2 berthed in Sydney, 2007

On 20 February 2007 the QE2, while on her annual world cruise, met her running mate and successor flagship QM2 (herself on her maiden world cruise) in Sydney Harbour, Australia.[15][16][17] This was the first time two Cunard Queens had been together in Sydney since the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth served as troop ships in 1941.[18]

On 3 October 2008, Queen Elizabeth 2 set off from Cork for Douglas Bay on her farewell tour of the British Isles, before heading for Liverpool. She left Liverpool and arrived in Belfast on 4 October 2008, before moving to Greenock the next day (The ship's height with funnel makes it impossible to pass under the Erskine Bridge so Clydebank is not reachable). She then sailed around Scotland to the Firth of Forth on 7 October 2008, where she anchored in the shadow of the Forth Bridge. The next day, following an RAF flypast, she left amidst a flotilla of small craft to head to Newcastle upon Tyne, before returning to Southampton.

QE2 left Southampton for the last time on 12 November 2008, seen off by a huge fireworks display, a flotilla of smaller craft and a crowd estimated in the thousands. Earlier in the day, she had run aground on a sand bank her way into port, but diving inspections revealed no damage[2].

At the time of her retirement in November 2008, QE2 had sailed over six million miles, carried 2.5 million passengers and completed 806 trans-Atlantic crossings.[19]

Retirement

As Queen Elizabeth 2 approached her 40th anniversary with Cunard, questions began to circulate as to how much longer the ship could stay in service. Cunard had to consider the economics of maintaining a 40-year-old liner in operation, particularly with regard to new SOLAS safety regulations that would apply from 2010 onward.[20]

Both Southampton and Clydebank had offered to take over QE2 after her retirement, but on 18 June 2007 it was announced that the ship had been purchased by the Dubai investment company Istithmar for $100 million. Her final voyage from Southampton to Dubai began on 11 November 2008, arriving on November 26 in time for her official handover the following day. She will now be refurbished and berthed permanently at the Palm Jumeirah from 2012 as a "a luxury floating hotel, retail, museum and entertainment destination."[2] The refurbishments will see the QE2 transformed into a must-see tourist destination in Dubai.[21]

RMS Queen Mary 2 next to QE2 with MS Queen Victoria in the front

In a ceremonial display before her retirement, the QE2 met the Queen Victoria and the Queen Mary 2 near the Statue of Liberty in New York City harbour on 13 January 2008, with a celebratory fireworks display; the QE2 and QV had made a tandem crossing of the Atlantic for the meet. This marked the first time three Cunard Queens have been present in the same location, and Cunard stated this will be the last time these three particular ships will meet, due to the impending retirement of the QE2.[22] However, due to a change in the QE2's schedule, the three ships met again in Southampton on 22 April 2008. QE2 shared the harbour at Zeebrugge with Queen Victoria on 19th July 2008.[23]

Last visit to the Clyde.

Other memorable farewell cruises include the 2008 world cruise and Round Britain Farewell. On 5 October 2008, during her Round Britain Farewell, the QE2 returned to the Firth of Clyde for her final visit to Greenock where she had been commissioned, down the River Clyde from Clydebank where she had been built. She was escorted by HMS Manchester and visited by MV Balmoral. The farewell was viewed by large crowds and concluded with a firework display.[24][25][6]

QE2 completed her final trans-Atlantic crossing from New York to Southampton in tandem with her successor, QM2. The two liners departed New York on October 16th and arrived in Southampton on October 22nd. This marked the end of QE2's trans-Atlantic voyages.[26]

Final Voyage

On her final arrival into Southampton, QE2 (on 11 November, 2008, with 1,700 passengers and 1,000 crew on board) ran aground in the Solent at the Southampton Water entrance at 5.26am. BBC reported "Cunard has confirmed it touched the bottom at the Brambles Turn sandbank (sandback) near Calshot, Southampton Water, with three tugs attached to her stern (0530 GMT). A fourth tug secured a line to the ship's bow."[27] Solent Coastguard stated: "Five tugs were sent out to assist her getting off the sandbank, and she was pulled off just before 6.10am. She has been re-floated and is under way under her own power and heading back to her berth in Southampton. She had only partially gone aground, and the tugs pulled her off."[28][29]

Once safely back at her berth, preparations continued for her farewell celebrations. These were led by the Duke of Edinburgh who toured the ship at great length. He visited areas of interest including the Engine Control Room. He also met with current and former crew members.[30] During this time, divers were sent down to inspect the hull for any possible damage caused by the vessel's earlier mishap - none was found.

The QE2 left Southampton Docks for the final time at 1915 GMT on November 11th 2008, to begin her farewell voyage (aptly named "QE2's Last Voyage" [31]. She was passed to the Nakheel company, behind the Palm Jumeirah, part, of Dubai World, Dubai on 26 November.[32][33] The decommissioning of the ship was particularly poignant for the QE2's only permanent resident, Beatrice Muller, aged 89, who lived on-board in retirement for 14 years, at a cost of some £3,500 (~€4300, ~$5400) per month.[34]

QE2 arrived in Dubai on the evening of 26 November 2008 in a flotilla of 120[3] smaller vessels, led by MV Dubai, the personal yacht of Sheikh Mohammed, ruler of Dubai[4]. She was greeted with a fly-past from an Emirates A380 jet and a huge fireworks display, while thousand of people gathered at the Mina Rashid, waving the flags of Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates.

Design

Southampton, 1976, with her original white funnel
Back on the Clyde for her 40th Birthday

Exterior

Like both the Normandie and France, the QE2 has a bulbous bow, flared stem, and clean forecastle. One innovation that made her distinct from all other ships is her funnel, which bears at its base an upward turned wind scoop that uses the forward motion of the ship to push air directly up the flanks of the funnel to catch the exhaust and disperse it far above the aft passenger decks.[35] What was controversial at the time was that Cunard decided not to paint the funnel with the line's distinctive colour and pattern, something that had been done on all merchant vessels since the first Cunard ship, the RMS Britannia, sailed in 1840. Instead the funnel was painted white and black, with the Cunard orange-red appearing only on the inside of the wind scoop. This practice ended in 1983 when the QE2 returned from service in the Falklands War, and the funnel has been painted in Cunard orange-red with black horizontal bands (known as "hands") ever since. The original pencil-like funnel was replaced in 1986 with a more robust one, when the ship was converted from steam to diesel power.

Large amounts of aluminium were used in the framing and cladding of the QE2's superstructure. This decision was designed to save weight, reducing the draft of the ship and lowering the fuel consumption, but it also posed the possibility of corrosion problems that can occur with joining the dissimilar metals together, so a jointing compound was coated between the steel and aluminium surfaces to prevent this happening. The low melting point of aluminium caused concern when the QE2 was serving as a troop ship during the Falklands War: some feared that if the ship were struck by a missile, as was HMS Sheffield, her upper decks would collapse quickly due to fire, thereby causing greater casualties.

In 1972, the first penthouse suites were added in an aluminium structure on Signal Deck and Sports Deck (now "Sun Deck"), behind the ship's bridge, and in 1977 this structure was expanded to include more suites with balconies, making the QE2 one of the first ships to offer private terraces to passengers since the SS Normandie in the 1930s, whose balconies were hidden in what would have been her promenade deck. QE2's balcony accommodation was expanded for the final time during QE2's 1986/87 refurbishment in Bremerhaven.[36]

Original Interiors

The Queen Elizabeth 2's interior configuration was laid out in a horizontal fashion, similar to the SS France, where the spaces dedicated to the two classes were spread horizontally on specific decks, in contrast to the vertical class divisions of older liners. Where the QE2 differed from the France was that the first class deck (Quarter Deck) was below the deck dedicated to tourist class (Upper Deck). Originally there were to be main lounges serving three classes, layered one atop the other, but when Cunard decided to make the ship a two-class vessel, only two main lounges were needed. Instead of completely reconfiguring the Boat Deck, the ship's architects simply opened a well in the deck between what were to have been the second and third class lounges, creating a double-height space known as the Double Room, now the Grand Lounge. This too was unconventional in that it designated a grander two-storey space for tourist class passengers, while first class passengers gathered in the standard height Queen's Room. However, the configuration for segregated Atlantic crossings gave first class passengers the theatre balcony on Boat Deck, while tourist class used the orchestra level on Upper Deck.

Over the span of her 39-year sea-going career, the QE2 has had a number of interior refits and alterations.

The year she came into service, 1969, was also the year of the Apollo 11 mission, when the Concorde's prototype was unveiled, and the previous year Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey premiered. In keeping with those times, originally Cunard broke from the traditional interiors of their previous liners for the QE2, especially the Art Deco style of the previous Queens. Instead modern materials like plastic laminates, aluminium, and Plexiglas were used. Furniture was modular and abstract art was used throughout public rooms and cabins.

The Midships Lobby on Two Deck, where first class passengers boarded for transatlantic journeys and all passengers boarded for cruises, was a circular room with a sunken seating area in the centre with green leather clad banquettes, and surrounded by a chrome railing. As a king-pin to this was a flared, white, trumpet-shaped, up-lit column. Another room where the QE2's advanced interior design was demonstrated was the first class lounge, the Queen's Room on Quarter Deck. This space, in colours of white and tan, featured a recessed, slotted ceiling, and indirect lighting. As well, the columns were flared in the same fashion as the one in the Midships Lobby, with recessed up-lighting, and also reflecting the shape of the bases of the tables and leather shell chairs. The Theatre Bar on Upper Deck featured red chairs, red drapes, a red egg-crate fibreglass screen, and even a red baby grand piano. Some more traditional materials like wood veneer were used as highlights throughout the ship, especially in passenger corridors and staterooms.

There was also an Observation Bar on Quarter Deck, a successor to its namesake, located in a similar location, on both previous Queens, which offered views through large windows over the ship's bow. This room was lost in the QE2's 1972 refit, becoming kitchen space with the forward-facing windows plated over.

In the 1994 refit almost all of the remaining original decor was replaced, with Cunard opting to reverse the original design direction of the QE2's designers and use the line's traditional ocean liners as inspiration. The green velvet and leather Midships Bar became the Art Deco inspired Chart Room, receiving an original, custom-designed piano from the Queen Mary. The (by now) blue-dominated Theatre Bar was transformed into the Golden Lion Pub, which mimics a traditional Edwardian pub.

By the time of her retirement, the Synagogue was the only room that had remained unaltered since 1969.[37] However it was reported that during QE2's October 22nd 5-night voyage, the Synagogue was carefully dismantled before being removed from the ship prior to her final sailing to Dubai. [38]

Artwork and artifacts

The Queen Elizabeth 2 holds pieces of artwork, as well as maritime artifacts drawn from Cunard's long history of operating merchant vessels.

In the Mauretania Restaurant sits Althea Wynne's sculpture of the White Horses of the Atlantic Ocean. There are bronze busts of both Sir Samuel Cunard (outside the Yacht Club) and Queen Elizabeth II (in the Queen's Room). The Princess Grill holds four life-size statues of human forms representing the four elements, done by sculptor Janine Janet in marine materials like shell and coral. The Chart Room's frieze was designed by Brody Nevenshwander, and depicts the words of T. S. Eliot, Sir Francis Drake, and John Masefield. The Midships Lobby holds a solid silver model of the Queen Elizabeth 2 made by Asprey of Bond Street in 1975, that was lost until a photograph was found in 1997 that led to the discovery of the model itself, and its placement on the QE2 in 1999. In "E" stairway hangs three custom designed tapestries, commissioned from Helena Barynina Hernmarck for the ship's launch, that depict the Queen as well as the launch of the ship. These tapestries, which were originally hung in "D" Stairway, Quarter Deck, outside the Columbia Restaurant, were damaged, and one thrown overboard, in 2005, as mentioned in the Service history (above). They were originally made with golden threads however much of this was lost when they were cleaned incorrectly as part of the 1987 refit.

There are also numerous photographs, oils and pastels of members of the Royal Family throughout the vessel, and silver plaques commemorating the visits of every member of the Royal Family, as well as other dignitaries like South African president Nelson Mandela.

Amongst the artifacts on board is a set of antique Japanese armour presented to the QE2 by the Governor of Kagoshima, Japan, during her 1979 world cruise, and a Wedgwood vase presented to the ship by Lord Wedgwood.

From previous Cunard ships are a brass relief plaque with a fish motif from the RMS Mauretania, as well as an Art Deco bas-relief titled Winged Horse and Clouds, by Norman Foster for the RMS Queen Elizabeth. There is also a vast array of Cunard postcards, porcelain, flatware, boxes, linen, and Lines Bros Ltd Tri-anic model ships. One of her key pieces is a replica of the figurehead from Cunard's first ship, the RMS Britannia, carved from Quebec yellow pine by Cornish sculptor Charles Moore, and presented to the ship by Lloyds of London. On Upper Deck sits the silver Boston Commemorative Cup, presented to the Britannia by the City of Boston in 1840. This cup was lost for decades until being found in a pawn shop in Halifax, Nova Scotia. On "2" Deck is a bronze entitled Spirit of the Atlantic which was designed by Barney Seale for the second Mauretania. A large wooden plaque was presented to the QE2 by First Sea Lord Sir John Fieldhouse to commemorate the ship's service in the Falklands War.

There is also an extensive collection of large scale models of Cunard ships throughout the QE2.[39]

Crew accommodation

The majority of crew are accommodated in mostly two, and some four, berth cabins, with showers and toilets at the end of the alleyway. These are located forward and aft on Decks 3, 4, and 5 as well as along 6 Deck. Cabins in the aft end of the vessel are subject to severe noise and vibration owing to their proximity to the propellers.

Accommodation is very basic due to the ship's age. Unlike the passenger areas, crew accommodation has seen little renovation in the Queen Elizabeth 2's 40 years of service.

There are three crew bars, one nicknamed "The Pig & Whistle" ("The Pig" for short), "Castaways". and the Fo'c's'le Club and for Officers there is The Wardroom.

Officers are accommodated in single cabins with private en suite bathrooms. Cabins for Intermediate and some Senior Hotel Officers are located on 1 Deck forward, where the Crew Purser's Office is also located, and on Sports Deck. The most forward of the 1 Deck cabins are subject to noise from the fog horn (situated on the fo'c's'le), which is active in time of foggy weather. Cabins for Deck Officers are located on Boat Deck forward and cabins for Engineering Officers are located on Sun Deck Amidships.

Technical

QE2 being re-engined at Bremerhaven
QE2's original funnel, removed while being re-engined

After the ship was launched, the QE2 was fitted out with a steam-turbine powerplant utilising three Foster Wheeler E.S.D II boilers, which would provide steam for the two Brown-Pametrada turbines rated with a maximum power output figure of 110,000 shaft horsepower (normally operating at 94,000hp) coupled to two, six-bladed, fixed-pitch propellers.

The steam powerplant had been plagued by problems from the time the ship was launched. Consuming 600 tons of fuel every 24 hours, it was expensive to feed. Also, spare parts were becoming difficult to acquire due to the outdated design of her boilers and turbines. After seventeen years of service, the Cunard company decided that the options were to either replace the Queen or re-engine her with a more efficient diesel-electric powerplant. The latter was selected, as it would allow the ship to operate for another twenty years, was a cheaper solution, and would return the Queen to service in six months, rather than waiting several years for a shipyard to design and build a new ship from the keel up.

During the ship's 1986-to-1987 refit, the old powerplant was removed and scrapped. She then was fitted with nine German MAN L58/64 nine-cylinder, medium-speed diesel engines, each weighing approximately 120 tons. Using a diesel-electric configuration, each engine drives a G.E.C. generator, each developing 10.5 MW of electrical power at 10,000 volts. This electrical plant, in addition to powering the ship's auxiliary and hotel services through transformers, drives the two main propulsion motors, one on each propeller shaft. These motors produce 44 MW and are of synchronous salient-pole construction, nine meters in diameter and weigh more than 400 tons each. The typical service speed of 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h) can be maintained using only seven of the diesel-electric sets. Her maximum power output with the new engine configuration running was now 130,000hp, which is greater than the previous system's 110,000hp. Using the same IBF-380 (Bunker 'C') fuel, the new configuration yields a 35% fuel saving over the previous system. During the retrofit, her funnel was replaced by a wider one in order to accommodate the exhaust pipes for the nine B&W diesel engines.

Also during retrofit, the fixed-pitch propellers were replaced with variable-pitch types. The old steam powerplant required astern turbines to move the ship backwards or stop her moving forward. The pitch of the new variable-pitch blades, however, could simply be reversed, causing a reverse of thrust while maintaining the same direction of propeller rotation, allowing the ship better stopping times and improved handling characteristics.

The new propellers originally were fitted with Grim Wheels, which were free-spinning propeller blades that were fitted behind the main propellers with long vanes protruding from the center hub. These were designed to recover lost propeller thrust and reduce fuel consumption by 2.5 to 3%. However, after the trial of these wheels, when the ship was drydocked, the majority of the vanes on each wheel were discovered to have broken off, and so the wheels were removed and the project abandoned.

Other machinery includes nine heat-recovery boilers, coupled with two oil-fired boilers to produce steam for heating fuel, domestic water, swimming pools, laundry equipment, and kitchens. Four flash evaporators and a reverse-osmosis unit desalinate sea water to produce 1000 tons of fresh water daily. There is also a sanitation system and sewage disposal plant, air conditioning plant, and an electro-hydraulic steering system.[40]

Name

Form of name

QE2 stern name, October 2008
QE2 bow name, October 2008

The name of the liner as it appears on the bow and stern is the Queen Elizabeth 2, with lower case lettering and an Arabic numeral 2 as opposed to the Roman numeral II. As such, it is commonly pronounced in speech as "Queen Elizabeth Two"[41]. Soon after launching, the name was shortened in common use as the QE2[42].

Due to various historical precedents of Cunard and other ship naming practices, and other occurrences surrounding the launch ceremony and form of the name of the QE2, various accounts contradict the exact meaning of the name of the QE2, as to whether the liner is named as the second liner named Queen Elizabeth, or after the reigning monarch that named the ship, Queen Elizabeth II.

Background

In 1934 the Queen Mary was named by and after Queen Mary (Mary of Teck) and in 1938 the Queen Elizabeth was named by and after Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Mother)[43], who were both at the time of the naming serving Queen consorts to a reigning King[44]. These two previous Cunarders both had capitalised bow names, as QUEEN ELIZABETH and QUEEN MARY.

Cunard practice at the time of naming the QE2 was to re-use the existing name of its former ships, for example, launching the Mauretania in 1938 after the previous Mauretania was scrapped in 1935.

The original Queen Elizabeth liner was still in service with Cunard when the QE2 was launched in 1967, although she was retired and sold before the QE2 entered revenue service wth Cunard in 1969.

The addition of a 2 in this manner was unknown at the time, but it was not unknown for Roman numerals to denote ships in service with the same name. Two non- Cunard ships were named Queen Mary II, a Clyde steamer, and Mauretania II, a Southampton steamer of Red Funnel, both to all Cunard to use the original names without Roman numerals.

Launch

As was Cunard practice at the time, the name of the liner was not to be publicly revealed until the launch[41][45] Dignitaries were invited to the "Launch of Cunard Liner No. 736"[46] (and no name was painted on the bow at the time of launch)[47]).

The Queen launched the ship with the words "I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second."[48][44][41][49], which is the normal short form of address of the monarch, Elizabeth II herself.

The following day, the BBC reported the Queen had named the liner after herself,[48] and the New York Times[50] and the British Times newspapers printing the name as "Queen Elizabeth II", which is the short form of written style of the monarch.

By 1968, before the ship had left the shipyard but following the launch ceremony, the liner was wearing the name Queen Elizabeth 2 on her bow[51].

1969 authorised biography

In an authorised biography of the QE2 published in 1969[52], various explanations of events occur.

These state that, as at the launch ceremony, an envelope and card was also held in New York in case of transmission failure, and when opened was found to read the name Queen Elizabeth, and the decision to add "The Second" to the name was an alteration by the Queen. The book quotes the Cunard chairman Sir Basil Smallpiece as saying "The Queen Mary [named] after her Grandmother, the Queen Elizabeth after her mother, and now this magnificent ship after herself"

Following the unexpected addition of The Second by the Queen, the book attributes the use of lowercase lettering and an numeric 2 rather than a Roman II as being down to the wish by Cunard to use a more modern looking style to suit the 1960s. The book also states the naming of the liner after the reigning Queen, in the form Queen Elizabeth II, was potentially offensive to some Scots, as the title of Queen Elizabeth II is disputed (because the original Tudor monarch Elizabeth I was only the sovereign of England, meaning there has never been a Elizabeth I of Scotland).

Ron Warwick, former Captain

A later account by a former captain of the QE2 Ronald W Warwick, who also is the son of William (Bil) Eldon Warwick the ships first captain[49], also states that the Queen initiated the surprise move of naming the liner after herself rather than simply Queen Elizabeth as originally planned (the name being made vacant by the retirement of the current liner before the new one was commissioned). This name had been given to the Queen in a sealed envelope which she didn't open. The book, referencing his autobiography, states that the Cunard chairman Sir Basil Smallpiece was delighted with this development, it being in keeping with the previous Queen liners, and the 2 was added by Cunard for differentiation of the ship while still denoting it was named after the Queen.

Cunard website

From at least 2002 the official Cunard website stated that "The new ship is not named after the Queen but is simply the second ship to bear the name - hence the use of the Arabic 2 in her name, rather than the Roman II used by the Queen"[53][54], however, in a change in 2007 this information had been removed[55].

Other accounts

Other later accounts repeat the position that Cunard originally intended to name the ship the Queen Elizabeth and the addition of a 2 by the Queen was a surprise to Cunard, in 1990[56] and 2008[44], although two books by William H. Miller state that Queen Elizabeth 2 was the name agreed on before the launch[45] between Cunard officials and the Queen[57].

Accounts that repeat the position that the QE2 was not named after the reigning monarch have been published in 1991[43], 1999[58], 2004[57], 2005[42] and 2008[59][60]. In 2008 The Telegraph goes further to state the ship is named not only as the second ship named Queen Elizabeth, but is specifically named after the wife of King George VI[61]. In contradiction however, some modern accounts continue to publish that the QE2 was named after the reigning monarch, in 2001[62] and 2008[44][63].

Post QE2 Cunard naming practice

Cunard continued the 2 prefix naming practice introduced with the QE2 with the launch of the new RMS Queen Mary 2 liner in 2003, named after the previous Queen Mary liner, however, her planned "consort" ship will be named MS Queen Elizabeth, and not the QE3.

References

  1. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth 2". cruise-community.com. Seatrade Communications Limited. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "QE2 To Leave Cunard Fleet And Be Sold To Dubai World To Begin A New Life At The Palm". Cunard.com (2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-20.
  3. ↑ "Special events to celebrate the final departure of the QE2 from Southampton" (2008). Retrieved on 2008-11-11.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Queen Elizabeth 2: History
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "QE2 - History". Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Alf Young (5 May 2002). "High hopes for a return of the Clyde's glory days". Sunday Herald, Find Articles at BNET. Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 QE2 History
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cunard: Cunard's QE2 Hosts Falklands Reunion
  9. ↑ "Marine Surveyors Find Uncharted Rock That May Have Damaged Hull of the QE2", The New York Times (1992-08-15). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  10. ↑ "Safety Recommendation" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board (1993-06-25). Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  11. ↑ Hurricane Luis Passenger Certificate
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Cunard History at a Glance
  13. ↑ Queen Elizabeth 2 - The first 30 years
  14. ↑ Cruise Critic News: QE2 Winds Up World Cruise With a Whimper
  15. ↑ Queen Mary 2 world cruise itinerary
  16. ↑ Queen Elizabeth 2 world cruise itinerary
  17. ↑ Royal liners in Sydney rendezvous
  18. ↑ Queen Elizabeth 1940-1973
  19. ↑ http://allaboutcunard.blogspot.com/2007/07/qe2-final-voyage-sold-in-half-hour.html All About Cunard Blog
  20. ↑ Historic cruiser sold to Dubai | The Sun |HomePage|News
  21. ↑ [1]
  22. ↑ Cunard: Royal Rendezvous: Sunday, January 13, 2008 - New York Harbor
  23. ↑ Three 'Queens' in final meeting; April 22, 2008
  24. ↑ Susan Swarbrick (6 October 2008). "Tearful Clyde Says Goodbye To QE2". The Herald. Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
  25. ↑ "The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society - Scottish Branch: Balmoral Salutes a Retiring Legend". Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
  26. ↑ "QE2 Retirement Videos".
  27. ↑ ukpress.google.com, QE2 runs aground on final tour
  28. ↑ timesonline.co.uk, QE2 runs aground on farewell call to Southampton
  29. ↑ ukpress.google.com, QE2 runs aground
  30. ↑ QE2 sails away on tide of Emotion
  31. ↑ QE2: A Photographic Journey, ISBN 9780752448039, URL: http://www.qe2book.com
  32. ↑ news.bbc.co.uk, QE2 liner runs aground near port
  33. ↑ teletext.co.uk, QE2 runs aground on last tour
  34. ↑ news.bbc.co.uk/, The woman who lives on the QE2
  35. ↑ Queen Elizabeth 2: An engineering marvel
  36. ↑ "QE2 Refits".
  37. ↑ Queen Elizabeth 2: Today
  38. ↑ Cruise Talk - Topic: QE2's Synagogue dismantled
  39. ↑ My Cunard Heritage Trail
  40. ↑ QE2: The engine room
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Neil Leitch, Glasgow University Archive Services (undated). "Ship number 736". Queen Elizabeth Two (QE2) 40 years on. University of Glasgow, Archive Services exhibitions. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "The name of the ship was kept a secret and as the day of the launch approached ... Queen Elizabeth stepped forward and named the ship, Queen Elizabeth the Second, being the second ship called Queen Elizabeth ... As Roman numerals are always used for monarchs, the Arabic numeral 2 is used in the ship's name to distinguish her from the monarch, and she has always been referred to as, Queen Elizabeth Two, or most often as the QE2"
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "Happy Birthday To Cunard’s Longest Serving Vessel". ShipsandCruises.com. Travel-Scope.com Communications (around 2005). Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "This year on 4 September, the QE2 becomes the longest serving Cunarder ever when she passes the 36 years, four months, and two days' record of the Scythia ... She is also probably the most misnamed ship in the world. She is Queen Elizabeth 2 (not Queen Elizabeth II) indicating she is the second Cunard liner named Queen Elizabeth. ... Christened by: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1967 (The Queen did not name the ship after herself; and so in time the ship became known as the "QE 2")"
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 William H. Miller, Frank O. Braynard, In Picture History of the Cunard Line, 1840-1990, Courier Dover Publications 1991, ISBN 0486265501, OL:OL1886775M, p127, Google Books search (partial preview), "But it was left to Queen Elizabeth herself, who, like her grandmother in 1934 and her mother in 1938, consented to name the liner at her launching. And so, on 20 September 1967, ... Queen Elizabeth named the new Cunarder Queen Elizabeth 2, honouring the original Queen Elizabeth (not, as many had thought, the Queen herself). Evidently it had been decided to let the name Queen Mary remain with the majestic old three stacker..." , Retrieved on 14 November 2008
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 John Honeywell (10 November 2008). "The QE2's last voyage", Daily Mirror Online. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "[The Duke of Edinburgh] accompanied the Queen at the launching ceremony in 1967 when she surprised everyone by naming her Queen Elizabeth 2 ... Cunard had intended to name her simply Queen Elizabeth, which was a 14-1 outsider because no British ship had until then been named after a reigning monarch. They were taken aback when Her Majesty pronounced "I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second."" 
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Henrik Ljungström; Daniel Othfors. "Queen Elizabeth 2, 1969 - Present Day". Ship Histories. The Great Ocean Liners. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "And like the Queen Mary, this new ship did not get a name until the day of her launch ... In the end, a decision was finally made. The new ship would be christened the Queen Elizabeth 2, to honour the previous Queen Elizabeth."
  46. ↑ Neil Leitch, Glasgow University Archive Services (undated). "Tickets for the launch of Ship No. 736". Queen Elizabeth Two (QE2) 40 years on. University of Glasgow, Archive Services exhibitions. Retrieved on 14 November 2008.
  47. ↑ William H. Miller, In Picture history of the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth, Courier Dover Publications 2004, ISBN 0486435091, OL:OL3303843M, p97, Google Books search (partial preview), Picture showing the QE2 hull being launched without a bow name, caption: (p96) "Right: The joyous launch of the Queen Elizabeth 2 on 20 September 1967", Retrieved on 14 November 2008
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 BBC. "On This Day, 20 September, 1967: Queen Elizabeth 2 takes to the waves". On This Day, an electronic re-release of historical BBC News stories. BBC. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "The Queen has launched the new Cunard cruise liner named after her, the Queen Elizabeth 2 .... In clear tones, she pronounced: "I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second. May God bless her and all who sail in her.""
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Warwick, Ronald W. (1999) (in English). QE2 - The Cunard Line Flagship, Queen Elizabeth 2 (3rd ed.). W. W. Norton and Company. OL:OL7451640M. ISBN 0393047725. "There was no question what Sir Basil and the Cunard board desired. The name was discussed with Lord Adeane, the queen's private secretary, and it was decided simply to ask that the new ship be named Queen Elizabeth, because by the time of her commissioning, both of the earlier Queens would be withdrawn from service and she could assume the name vacated by one of her predecessors ... Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II moved to the front of the launching platform and was handed an envelope by John Rannie with the name of the ship inside. This was a tradition because many years before someone purportedly had forgotten the name of a ship about to be launched. The envelope remained unopened as the queen stepped forward and uttered the words, "I name this ship the Queen Elizabeth the Second. May God Bless her and all who sail in her" ... Sir Basil Smallpiece was overjoyed at the sovereign's alteration of the name. (paragraph reference his autobiography ISBN 0906393108) He could not have been more delighted with having the third of the great royal Cunarders named in this manner. The decision promptly was made to style the giant liner Queen Elizabeth 2 using the numeral two to differentiate the ship from the sovereign.". 
  50. ↑ Alvin Schuster (21 September 1967). "Name of Cunarder Is a Surprise but Has Precedent; QUEEN LAUNCHES THE ELIZABETH II", Online Archives free preview, New York Times. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "CLYDEBANK, Scotland, Sept. 20--Queen Elizabeth II launched Britain's newest luxury liner today and named her Queen Elizabeth II." 
  51. ↑ William H. Miller, In Picture history of the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth, Courier Dover Publications 2004, ISBN 0486435091, OL:OL3303843M, p98, Google Books search (partial preview), Picture showing the QE2 bow wearing the name Queen Elizabeth 2 while having the bridge lowered into place, caption: (p99) "(this 1968 photo, opposite, top, shows the wheelhouse and bridge sections being lifted aboard", Retrieved on 14 November 2008
  52. ↑ Potter, Neil; Jack Frost (1969) (in English). Queen Elizabeth 2: The Authorised Story. Harrap. OL:OL4616734M. ISBN 0245594442. 
  53. ↑ "The First 30 Years". Queen Elizabeth II Ship Facts. Cunard Official Website, www.cunard.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2002. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "1967: Launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Princess Margaret. The new ship is not named after the Queen but is simply the second ship to bear the name - hence the use of the Arabic 2 in her name, rather than the Roman II used by the Queen"
  54. ↑ "The First 30 Years". Queen Elizabeth II. Cunard Official Website, www.cunard.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2006. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "1967: Launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Princess Margaret. The new ship is not named after the Queen but is simply the second ship to bear the name - hence the use of the Arabic 2 in her name, rather than the Roman II used by the Queen"
  55. ↑ "Sail into History". Queen Elizabeth II History. Cunard Official Website, www.cunard.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "20 Sept 1967: Launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II"
  56. ↑ "QE2 ... The most famous ship in the world". Cruise Ships. Seaview Network Ltd.. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "It is almost 41 years since the Queen launched job number 736 at John Brown's on the Clyde and on impulse, attached the number 2 to the name of the Queen Elizabeth, much to the surprise of Cunard."
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 William H. Miller, In Picture history of the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth, Courier Dover Publications 2004, ISBN 0486435091, OL:OL3303843M, p99, Google Books search (partial preview), "Queen Elizabeth II had agreed to do the naming at the ship's launch on 20 September 1967 and, in discussion with Cunard officials, agreed on Queen Elizabeth 2. The new ship was named after the previous liner, not the current queen" , Retrieved on 14 November 2008
  58. ↑ BBC (14 April 1999). "QE2 - 30 years of cruising", BBC News. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "QE2 Facts: Contrary to popular belief, the vessel is not named after Queen Elizabeth II, but is the second ship to be named Queen Elizabeth - hence the use of the Arabic figure 2 rather than the Roman II." 
  59. ↑ BBC (2 June 2008). "Coronation farewell to QE2 liner", BBC News. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "Although named QE2, the ship was not named after the present Queen but rather the "2" shows that it denoted the fact the liner was the second ship named Queen Elizabeth." 
  60. ↑ Alan Hamilton (2 June 2008). "QE2: Queen bids farewell to a sovereign of the seas", The Times Online. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "There is one common misconception about the QE2 – that she is named after the Queen. In fact, she is simply the second Cunarder of that name: the ship takes the Arabic 2, the Queen the Roman II." 
  61. ↑ Jolyon Attwooll (12 November 2008). "Fifty fascinating QE2 facts". The Telegraph Online. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "Fact 10: The QE2 was not named after the current Queen but rather after the wife of King George VI. This explains the convention of using the actual number – i.e. Queen Elizabeth 2 – rather than the Roman numerals of Queen Elizabeth II."
  62. ↑ Matt Richardson, In The Royal Book of Lists, Dundurn Press, 2001, ISBN 0888822383, OL:OL8211792M, p70-71, Google Books search (partial preview), During the twentieth century the Cunard Shipping Line launched three famous luxury liners, each named for a different English Queen, 1. The Queen Mary, 2. The Queen Elizabeth, 3. The Queen Elizabeth 2, Retrieved on 14 November 2008
  63. ↑ Tristan Stewart-Robertson (6 October 2008). "QE2 delights home crowd as she pays final visit", The Scotsman Online, Johnston Press. Retrieved on 14 November 2008. "Jordan Beckett, seven, from Greenock, said: "It's quite big and I think there's a lot of passengers. I wish I could build a boat like that someday. It's important because it's named after the Queen."" 

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