The Queen Elizabeth 2 , often referred to simply as QE2 , is a floating and retired ocean liner hotel built for Cunard Line operated by Cunard as a transatlantic vessel and cruise ship from 1969 to 2008. Since April 18, 2018 it has operated as a floating hotel in Dubai.
QE2 is designed for transatlantic services from its home port in Southampton, England, to New York, and is named after the previous Cunard vessel RMSÃ, Queen Elizabeth . He served as the flagship of the line from 1969 until it was replaced by RMSÃ, Queen Mary 2 in 2004. Designed at Cunard's regional headquarters and offices in Liverpool and Southampton respectively, and was built in Clydebank, Scotland, QE2 is considered the last of large transatlantic ships to Queen Mary 2 to enter service.
QE2 was also the last oil-fired passenger vessel to cross the Atlantic in a scheduled ship service until it was reassembled with a modern diesel power plant in 1986/1987. For nearly forty years of service, Queen Elizabeth 2 made regular world voyages and then operated dominantly as a cruise ship, sailing out of Southampton, England. QE2 has no life friends and has never run a weekly transatlantic express service throughout the year to New York. QE2 does, however, continue the Cunard tradition of routine routine transatlantic crossings every year in its service life. QE2 was never given the title Royal Mail Ship, but brought SS and then MV or MS prefixes in the official document.
QE2 has retired from active Cunard service on November 27, 2008. He has been acquired by private equity arm of Dubai World, which plans to start a ship conversion to a 500-room floating hotel moored in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. The financial crisis of 2008, however, intervened and the ship was put in Dubai Drydocks and then Port Rashid. The next conversion plan announced by Istithmar in 2012 and by Oceanic Group in 2013 but both stopped. In November, 2015 Cruise Arabia & amp; Africa quotes the chairman of DP World Ahmed Sultan Bin Sulayem who said that QE2 will not be canceled and in March 2017, a Dubai-based construction company announced it was contracted to renew the vessel. The restored QE2 is open to visitors on April 18, 2018, with a soft opening, at a discounted rate and only five of the 13 restaurants and bars planned for completion. The grand opening is set for October 2018.
Video Queen Elizabeth 2
Development
In 1957 it was clear that transatlantic travel became dominated by air travel due to speed and low cost relative to sea routes with 50:50 passengers split between sea and air transport. Increasing market share by air showed no signs of slowing down, especially once the Boeing 707 began operating in 1958. In contrast, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth became increasingly expensive to operate, and internally and externally is a legacy of the prewar years and should be stopped in the mid-1960s.
Although passenger income fell Cunard did not want to give up its traditional role as a North Atlantic passenger service provider, and decided to replace the existing aging Queens with a newly designated seagoing ship "Q3" as it would become the third Queen Cunard.
Q3 is projected to measure 75,000 tons of gross registers, has berths for 2,270 passengers, and costs about 30 million.
Work has gone as far as preparing for the submission of the six shipyards and applying for government financial aid with development when anxiety among some executives and directors coupled with shareholder uprisings led to the benefits of the project being reviewed and finally canceled on 19 October 1961.
Cunard decided to continue with the "Queen" replacement but with a changing operating regime and a more flexible design. Recognizing the decline in transatlantic trade, it was visualized that he would be a three-pronged (First, Cabin and Tourist) ship that operates for eight months of the year on transatlantic routes and during the winter will operate as a boat cruise in warm climates.
Compared to the old "Queen" which has two engine rooms and four newly designated propellers Q4 will be smaller with one boiler room, one engine room and two propellers, in combination with automation will allow Smaller engineering complements. Although it produces 110,000 shp it has the same service speed of 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h) as previously Queens which requires 160,000 latrines and while its fuel consumption will be halved to 520 ton expected. to save? 1 million a year in fuel bills. The Q4 will also transit the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal and its draft of 32 feet which is seven feet less than its predecessor, will allow him to enter the old port Queens can not, and so compete with the new generation yacht.
The original construction budget is? 22 million, but soon the cost began to increase, leading to the decision to reduce the number of boilers from four to three.
Maps Queen Elizabeth 2
Design
The interior and superstructure for QE2 was designed by James Gardner. Its design for sea voyages is described by the Industrial Design Board as a "very large yacht" and with a "sleek, modern, and purposeful look."
Characteristics
At retirement, the ship has 70,327 gross tonnage and a length of 963 feet (294 m). QE2 has a top speed of 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h) with the original steam turbine; this increased to 34 knots (63 km/h) when the ship was re-engined with a diesel power plant.
Hull
The steel hull has a rounded and welded arc compared to the previous "Queen" which avoids heavy penalties of over ten million rivets and overlapping plates.
Suprastructure
As both Normandie and France , QE2 have wider stalks and net forecasts.
What was controversial at the time was that Cunard decided not to paint the funnel with the distinctive color and pattern of the line, something that had been done on all merchant ships since the first Cunard ship, RMSÃ, The original pencil-like funnel was rebuilt in 1986 as a stronger funnel, using metal from the original, when the ship was converted from steam power to diesel power. Aluminum in large quantities is used in framing and cladding of QE2 ' s superstructure. This decision is designed to save weight, reduce ship design and reduce fuel consumption, but also poses the possibility of corrosion problems that can occur by joining together different metals together, so that the combined compounds are coated between steel and aluminum surfaces to prevent this from happening. The low aluminum melting point caused concern when QE2 served as a troop ship during the Falklands War: some feared if the ship was attacked by missiles, such as HMSÃ, Sheffield, its upper deck would collapse with quickly due to fire, thus causing a larger victim. In 1972, the first penthouse suite was added in the aluminum structure of Signal Deck and Sports Deck (now "Sun Deck"), behind the ship's bridge, and in 1977 this structure expanded to include more suites with balconies, making QE2 one of the first vessels to offer private passengers for passengers since Normandie in the 1930s. The balcony accommodation QE2 ' expanded for the last time during QE2 ' s 1986/87 fixes at Bremerhaven. During this refit the vessel was given a new broad funnel built using panels from the original. It retains the traditional Cunard color. QE2 ' Final structural changes including reworking the stern deck during 1994 refit (after magrodome removal), and the addition of secret areas in Sun Deck during 2005, create a space known as Funnel Bar. Interior
Queen Elizabeth 2's interior configuration ' is placed horizontally, similar to France , where the space dedicated to both classes is spread horizontally on a certain deck, different from the vertical class division of the old liners. Where QE2 is different from France is that the first deck (Quarter Deck) deck is below the deck dedicated to the tourist class (Upper Deck). Initially there was a main sitting room serving three classes, one on top of the other, but when Cunard decided to make the ship a second-class ship, only two main lounges were needed. Instead of fully reconfiguring the Boat Deck, the ship's architect only opens a well on the deck between what is the second and third class living rooms, creating a double height room known as the Double Room (now the Grand Lounge). It's also unusual because it's considered a splendid two-storey room for tourist class passengers, while first-class passengers gather in Queen's room. However, the configuration for a separate Atlantic crossing gave first-class passengers a theater balcony on Boat Deck, while the tourist class used the orchestra level on the Upper Deck.
Over the course of a thirty-nine-year career span, QE2 has had a number of interior improvements and changes.
The year he came to service, 1969, was also the year of Apollo 11 missions, when the Concorde prototype was inaugurated, and the previous year film Stanley Kubrick 2001: A Space Odyssey aired. In keeping with those times, Cunard initially broke with the traditional interiors of their previous liners for QE2, especially the Art Deco style of the previous Queens. Instead modern materials such as plastic laminates, aluminum and perspex are used. Public spaces display glass, stainless steels, dark carpets and sea-green skin. Furniture is a modular and abstract art used throughout public spaces and cabins.
The Midships lobby on Two Deck, where first class passengers boarded the transatlantic ride and all the passengers boarded the yacht, was a circular room with a sunken sitting area in the center with a green leather-covered banquet, and was surrounded by chrome fences. As the kingpin of this is the lighted, white, trumpeted, and lit columns.
Another room, designed by Michael Inchbald, where QE2 ' sophisticated interior design has been shown is a first class room, Queen Room in the Quarter Deck. This space, in white and brown, features a low ceiling with an indirectly lit slot which, though reducing the height of the ceiling, creates the impression of openness above to deal with the oppressive dimension of a multilevel space (c. 30 mx 30 mx 2.4 m). In addition, structural poles are burned at the top to blend into the ceiling and lose visual indication of the low ceiling height to be provided by the straight column. (The Midships lobby copies these features but without reaching the airiness.) Inchbald repeats the burning of columns at the base of the table and the leather chair. Indirect lighting from above can be diverted from a cold hue to summer to warm hue for winter.
The Theater Bar in Upper Deck features red chairs, red curtains, red fiberglass crates, and even a red baby piano. Some of the more traditional materials such as wood veneers are used as spotlights throughout the vessel, especially in passenger corridors and staterooms. There is also the Observation Bar in the Quarter Deck, the namesake of namesake, located in the same location, on both Queensland before, offering views through large windows over the bow. This room is missing in the QE2 ' s 1972, into a kitchen space with a layered front-facing window.
In 1994 refit almost all of the remaining original decorations were replaced, with Cunard choosing to reverse the original design direction of designer's QE2 ' and using the traditional line of ocean line as inspiration. The Midships Bar velvet green and leather became Art Deco-inspired Chart Room, receiving a specially designed original piano from Queen Mary . The (now) Blue-dominated Theater Bar is converted into a Golden Lion Pub, which mimics traditional Edwardian pubs. Some of the original elements are retained including blazing columns in the Queens Room Lobby and Mid-Ships that are incorporated into the reworked design. Unfortunately the indirect lighting from the Queen Chamber from above was replaced by an uplighter that reversed the effect of the original light by illuminating the lowered ceiling and leaving a shadow in the ceiling; and the furniture and carpets that replaced Michael Inchbald's design did not match the flared columns and the perforated ceilings.
By the time he retired, the Synagogue was the only room that had remained unchanged since 1969. It was reported however that during the October 22nd of the five-night journey, the Synagogue was heart- the heart was dismantled before being removed from the vessel before its final voyage to Dubai.
Artwork and artifacts
Inside the ship's public space, the designers include many works of art, as well as maritime artifacts drawn from the long history of Cunard operating the merchant vessel.
In Mauretania Restaurant, a statue of Althea Wynne of White Horses from the Atlantic Ocean. The bronze statue is set by Sir Samuel Cunard (outside Yacht Club) and Queen Elizabeth II (in the Queen's Chamber). In the Princess Grill are mounted four human-sized human statues created by sculptor Janine Janet in marine materials such as shells and corals, representing four elements. In Chart Room is a decoration designed by Brody Nevenshwander, which describes the words of T. S. Eliot, Sir Francis Drake, and John Masefield. The Midships lobby features a pure silver model of Queen Elizabeth 2 created by Asprey Bond Street in 1975, which was lost until a photograph was discovered in 1997 that led to the discovery of the model itself, and its placement in QE2 in 1999.
Assigned from Helena Hernmarck to the launch of the ship are three specially designed rugs, depicting the Queen as well as the launch of the ship. These tapestries were originally hung on the "D" Stairway, Quarter Deck, outside Columbia Restaurant, They were originally made with gold thread; Yet much of this was lost when they were mistakenly cleaned during the 1987 refit. They were then hung on the "E" stairs and then damaged in 2005.
There are many photos, oils and pastels from members of the Royal Family across the ship.
The ship also stores items from the previous Cunard ship including a brass-assisted plaque with fish motifs from the first RMS Mauretania (1906), and the basic Art Deco reliefs entitled The Winged Horse and the Cloud. by Norman Foster from RMS Queen Elizabeth. There are also a variety of Cunard postcards, porcelain, cutlery, boxes, linen, and models of Lines Bros Tri-ang Minic vessels. One of the key pieces is a replica of the puppet from the first ship Cunard, RMS Britannia, carved from the yellow pine of Quebec by the sculptor Cornish Charles Moore, and handed over to the ship by Lloyd's of London. In Upper Deck there is a silver-colored Boston Commemorative Cup, presented to Britannia by the City of Boston in 1840. This cup disappeared for decades until it was found at a pawn shop in Halifax, Nova Scotia. On "2" Deck is a bronze titled Atlantic Spirit designed by Barney Seale for the second RMS Mauretania (1938). A large wooden plaque was presented to QE2 by First Lords of the Sea Sir John Fieldhouse to commemorate the ship's service as a Hired Military Transport (HMT) in the Falklands War.
There are also a large collection of large-scale Cunard ship models located throughout QE2 .
Over the years the vessel collection was added to, among these items into a set of Japanese antique armor presented to QE2 by the Governor of Kagoshima, Japan, during the 1979 world voyage, and the Wedgwood vase presented to the ship by Lord Wedgwood.
Throughout the public area there is also a silver plaque commemorating the visit of every member of the Royal Family, as well as other officials such as South African President Nelson Mandela.
Most of these items are sold by Cunard to Istithmar when they buy QE2 .
Crew accommodation
Most of the crew were accommodated in two or four-bed cabins, with showers and toilets at the end of each alley. It is located in front and back on decks three to six. By the time he enters the service, the crew area is a significant improvement over those who ride RMS Queen Mary and RMSÃ, Queen Elizabeth ; However the age of the ship and the lack of renovation of the crew's area during its 40 years of service, in contrast to the passenger area, which is periodically updated, means this accommodation is considered fundamental at the end of its career. The concierge is housed in a single cabin with private en suite bathroom located on Sun Deck.
There are three crew, one named The Pig & amp; Whistle . ("Pig" for short and traditions aboard Cunard), Castaways and Fo'c's'le Club . The fourth bar, dedicated to officers, is located at the front end of the Boat Deck. Named The Officers Wardroom , this area enjoys foresight and is often opened for passengers for cocktail parties organized by senior officers. The crew's fog was located at the front end of One Deck, adjacent to the crew service office.
Machine
The QE2 is equipped with a steam turbine propulsion system using three Foster Wheeler E.S.D II boilers, which provide steam for two Brown-Pametrada turbines. The turbine is rated with a maximum output power of 110,000 horsepower (typically operating at 94,000 hp) and paired by double reduction gearing onto two six-bladed fixed-pitch blades.
Steam turbines were plagued with problems from the time the ship first entered service and, although technically advanced and fuel-efficient in 1968, consumption of 600 tons of fuel oil every twenty-four hours was more than expected for the vessel by the 1980s. After seventeen years of operation, the availability of spare parts became difficult due to outdated boiler and turbine designs, and Cunard decided that his choice was to do nothing for the rest of the life of the ship, to reconfigure existing machines, or to return vessel engines with diesel- more efficient electricity. Finally it was decided to replace the machine, since it calculated that savings in fuel and maintenance costs would pay for itself for four years, and provide a minimum ship of twenty years of service, while other options would only provide shorter-longer assistance. Its steam turbine has taken it to a record total of 2,622,858 miles in 18 years.
During the vessels of 1986 to 1987 repaired, the steam turbine was moved and replaced with nine MAN L58/64 German nine-cylinder engine, medium speed, each weighing 120 tons. Using a diesel-electric configuration, each engine drives the generator, each developing 10.5 MW of electrical power at 10,000 volts. This power plant, in addition to turning on additional services and hotel ships through transformers, drives two main driving motors, one on each propeller shaft. This motor produces 44 MW each and is synchronized with the construction of the main masts, nine meters in diameter and weighing more than 400 tons each. The speed of ship service 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h) can be maintained only by using seven sets of diesel-electric. The maximum power output with a new engine configuration running now is 130,000 hp, which is larger than the previous system of 110,000 hp. Using the same IBF-380 (Bunker C) fuel, the new configuration yields 35% fuel savings over the previous system. During the rework process, the funnel is replaced with a wider channel to hold the exhaust pipe for nine MAN diesel engines.
During repit, the original fixed-field propellers are replaced with variable pitch propellers. The old steam engine requires a very large turbine to move the ship back or stop it moving forward. However, the pitch of the new variable pitch blades can be reversed, causing a reversal of the propeller impulse while maintaining the same rotation propeller direction, which allows the ship to stop shorter and improve handling characteristics. The new propeller was initially equipped with a "Grim Wheel", named after its discoverer, Dr.-Ing. Otto Grim. It is a spinning free spinning propeller mounted behind the main propeller, with a long propeller protruding from the center of the hub. It's designed to recover the lost propeller drive and reduce fuel consumption by 2.5 to 3%. However, after the test of the wheels, when the vessel was drained, the majority of propellers on each wheel were found to break, so that the wheels were removed and the project abandoned.
Other machines include nine heat recovery boilers, plus two oil-fired boilers to produce steam for heating fuel, domestic water, swimming pools, laundry equipment, and galleys. Four flash evaporators and reverse-osmosis units disguise seawater to produce 1000 tons of fresh water every day. There are also sanitation systems and waste disposal plants, air conditioning factories, and electro-hydraulic steering systems.
Construction
On December 30, 1964 Cunard placed an order for the construction of a new ship with John Brown and Company to build it at their shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. The agreed price is? 25,427,000 with provisions for work escalation and material improvement, with a delivery date agreed in May 1968. To assist its development, the British government provided financial assistance to Cunard in the form of a 17.6 million loan at 4.5% interest.
This alley was laid on July 5, 1965, as the hull of number 736 at the same launch venue where iconic liners such as Lusitania, Aquitania, Queen Mary >, and Queen Elizabeth have been built.
As construction progresses on new vessels, Cunard finds himself in financial trouble as increased competition from airlines leads to the company's passenger ships to lose money. With profits from the cargo ship finally unable to offset the losses, Cunard was forced to sell Mauretania , Sylvania , Carinthia , Caronia , Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth between 1965 and 1968. Earnings also fell due to a seven-week long strike in 1966. Then John Brown suggested that shipments would be delayed for six months, which means the ship will miss the summer transatlantic summer of 1968. After market research, Cunard decided to capitalize on the delay to convert the original three-class ship configuration into a more flexible, First and Tourist two-class arrangement.
On September 20, 1967 with a launch date close to Cunard (lost? 7.5 million years earlier) approaching the government with additional demand? 3 million loans to complete the vessel. Eventually the government agreed to raise the original? 17.6 million loans up? 24 million.
She was launched and named on September 20, 1967 by Queen Elizabeth II, using the same gold scissors as her mother and grandmother used to launch Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, respectively. On 19 November 1968 he left John Brown's berth, and traveled down the Clyde River to the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock in Inchgreen, Port Glasgow, for final test and commissioning.
Sea trials began on 26 November 1968 in the Irish Sea, continuing a speed test off the Isle of Arran.
Cunard initially refused to accept the ship because the marine experiment identified that the ship suffered resonant vibrations that were tracked to design flaws on the steam turbine blades. This delayed him being handled to his new owner until April 18, 1969. He then departed with a "shakedown voyage" to Las Palmas on April 22, 1969.
Services
Initial career
Prince Charles was the first "civilian" passenger to board the ship, on his voyage from the Clydebank shipyard to the drydock in Port Glasgow. On board for a short trip is Master Designate and his first captain, William (Bil) Warwick.
The voyage of Queen Elizabeth 2 ', from Southampton to New York, began on May 2, 1969, taking 4 days, 16 hours and 35 minutes.
In 1971, he participated in the rescue of about 500 passengers aboard the burnt French Line Antillen . On March 5, 1971 he was disabled for four hours when the jellyfish was sucked in and blocked his seawater intake.
On May 17, 1972, while traveling from New York to Southampton, he became the target of a bomb threat. He was ransacked by his crew, and the combined Special Air Services Team and Special Boat Team were deployed overboard to search the ship. No bombs were found, but the hoaxer was captured by the FBI.
The following year QE2 conducted two charter cruises through the Mediterranean to Israel to commemorate 25 years of country establishment. The Columbia restaurant on board was forbidden for Passover, and Jewish passengers could celebrate Easter on board. According to the book "The Angel" by Uri Bar-Joseph, Muammar Gaddafi ordered the submarine to hit him during one of the chartered cruises in relocation to subjugate Israel from Libya Flight 114, but Anwar Sadat intervened silently to thwart the attack.
On July 23, 1976, while QE2 was 80 miles from Scilly Isles on transatlantic ships of flexible coupling drives that connected the main high-pressure engine rotor and broken gear gearbox. This allows lubricant oil under pressure to get into the main engine room here lit triggers a severe fire. It took 20 minutes to light a fire. Reduced to two boiler boats back to train to Southampton. The fire damage resulting from the replacement boiler should be installed by drying the vessel and cutting the access hole on its side.
In 1978, QE2 even reached 65% occupancy rate, generating revenue of more than 30 million annually which should be reduced by an annual fuel cost of 5 million and monthly crew cost of 225,000. At a cost of 80,000 a day for him to sit still at the harbor, the owner made every effort to keep him at sea and filled with passengers. As a result as much maintenance as possible when done at sea. But he needs all three of his kettle to work if he wants to keep his transatlantic schedule. With limited ability to maintain the kettle, reliability becomes a serious problem.
Falklands War
On 3 May 1982 he was asked by the British government to serve as a troop carrier in the Falklands War.
In preparation for the Thornycroft Vosper war service began in Southampton on 5 May 1982 the installation of two helicopter platforms, the transformation of the common lounge into a dormitory, the installation of a fuel pipe that flowed through the vessel into the engine room to allow refueling at sea. , and a carpet cover with 2,000 hardboard sheets. A quarter of the vessel's length is reinforced with steel coating, and anti-magnetic coils are fitted to combat marine mines. More than 650 crew members of Cunard volunteered to voyage to oversee the 3,000 members of the Fifth Infantry Brigade, which was transported by ship to South Georgia.
On May 12, 1982 with only one of three boilers operating, the ship departed Southampton for the South Atlantic, carrying 3,000 soldiers and 650 volunteer crew. The remaining boiler was brought back to service as it steamed south.
During the voyage, the ship fainted and the radar was turned off to avoid detection, steaming without modern help.
The QE2 returned to England on June 11, 1982, where he was welcomed at Southampton Water by The Queen Mother on the Royal Yacht ship Britannia. Peter Jackson, the captain of QE2 responded to the Queen Mother's welcome: "Please convey to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth our thanks for her good message." Queen Elizabeth 2 of Cunard is proud to have served her Mistress. " The vessel is converted back into passenger service, with a mouthpiece painted in traditional Cunard orange with black stripes known as "Hands" for the first time, during refit the hull exterior is repainted unconventional gray light pebbles. He returned to service on 7 August 1982
The new color scheme proved unpopular with passengers, as well as difficult to maintain and so hull returned to traditional colors in 1983. Later that year, QE2 was equipped with a magrodome over its Quarter Deck pool.
Diesel Era and Project Lifestyle
QE2 again experienced mechanical problems after its annual inspection in November 1983. The boiler problem caused Cunard to cancel the voyage, and, in October 1984, the electric fire caused a complete loss of power. The ship was delayed for several days before the electricity could be recovered. Instead of replacing QE2 with a newer ship, Cunard decided it was wiser to just make improvements to it. Therefore, from 27 October 1986 to 25 April 1987, QE2 experienced one of the most significant renovations when he was converted by Lloyd Wert at their shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany from steam to diesel. Nine MAN B & amp; W diesel electric engines, new propellers and heat recovery systems (to utilize heat released by engines) are installed, which halved fuel consumption. With this new propulsion system, QE2 is expected to serve 20 more years with Cunard. Passenger accommodation is also modernized. Refurbishment cost more than 100 million.
On August 7, 1992, the lower part of the stomach was badly damaged when he ran aground on the southern island of Cuttyhunk near Martha's Vineyard, on his return from a five-day voyage to Halifax, Nova Scotia along the eastern coast of the United States and Canada. The combination of its velocity, an uncharted herd and underestimation of the increase in draft vessels due to the squatting effect caused the ship's hull to erode the rocks on the seafloor. The crash caused passengers to drop earlier than scheduled in Newport, Rhode Island, and ships taken from service while temporary repairs were made at a drydock in Boston. A few days later, the diver finds red paint from hull on uncharted rocks around the place where the ship is said to be about the bottom.
In the mid-1990s it was decided that QE2 was due to a new look and in 1994 the vessel was awarded a multi-million dollar refurbishment in Hamburg code called Project Lifestyle.
On September 11, 1995, QE2 found an evil wave, estimated at 90 feet (27 m), caused by a hurricane Luis in the North Atlantic Ocean about 200 miles south east of Newfoundland. One year later, during the twentieth world voyage, he completed a mile to four million. The ship has sailed the equivalent of 185 times around the planet.
QE2 celebrated the 30th anniversary of its maiden voyage in Southampton in 1999. In three decades, it has 1,159 voyages, sailing 4,648,050 nautical miles (5,348,880 mi; 8,608,190 km) and transporting more than two million passengers.
Next year
After the 1998 Cunard Line acquisition by Carnival Corporation, in 1999 QE2 was awarded a US $ 30 million refurbishment which included refreshing public spaces, and new color palettes in passenger cabins. The Royal Promenade, previously housed in upscale stores such as Burberry, H. Stern and Aquascutum, was replaced by cruise ship boutiques, selling perfumes, watches and logo items. During this time, the keel was replaced with bare metal, and the ship was painted in traditional matte black (Federal Gray) Cunard color with a white superstructure.
On August 29, 2002, QE2 became the first merchant ship to sail over 5 million nautical miles at sea.
In 2004, the ship stopped the traditional transatlantic route and began a full-time exploration, transatlantic route assigned to Cunard's new aircraft carrier, Queen Mary 2 . However, QE2 is still on an annual world voyage and regular trips around the Mediterranean. At this time, he does not have the facilities to compete with newer and larger cruises, but he still has unique features like the ballroom, the hospital, and his 6,000 library books. QE2 retains its title as one of the fastest floating yachts (28.5 knots), with fuel economy at this speed at 49.5 ft (15 m) into the gallon. While cruising at slower speed efficiency is increased to 125 feet per gallon.
At the end of the 2005 world voyage, some of his works were damaged when several crew members who had become drunk in a ship crew, were vandalized through the common area of ​​the ship. The unique rug of QE2 , assigned to the launch of the ship, was thrown overboard by the drunken flight crew. The oil paintings of Queen Elizabeth II and two other tapestries were damaged, along with part of the entertainment area and lifeboat. The members of the involved crew were dismissed from the service, pending charges.
On 5 November 2004, QE2 became Cunard's longest express package, exceeding RMS Aquitania ' s 35 years old, while on September 4, 2005, during a call to Sydney's harbor, Nova Scotia, QE2 became the longest ever Cunarder, surpassing the RMSÃ, Scythia ' record.
On February 20, 2007, QE2 , while on her annual world voyage, met her partner and her flagship successor QM2 (on her maiden voyage) in Sydney Harbor, Australia. This is the first time two Cunard Queens have been together in Sydney since the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth served as a troop ship in 1941.
Pension and last Cunard journey
On June 18, 2007 it was announced by Cunard that QE2 had been bought by Dubai Istithmar investment company for $ 100 million. His retirement was partially compelled by the implementation of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) in June 2010, which would force large and costly structural changes for ships.
In the appearance of the ceremony before he retires, QE2 meets Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 near the Statue of Liberty in New York City harbor on January 13, 2008 , with performances of celestial fireworks; QE2 and QV have crossed the Atlantic tandem to meet. This marks the first time that three Queens Cunard have been present at the same location (Cunard states it will be the last time these three ships will meet, due to the future retirement of QE2 However, due to changes in the QE2 ' s schedule, three ships meet again in Southampton on April 22, 2008).
QE2 shared a port on Zeebrugge with Queen Victoria on July 19, 2008, in which two Cunarders exchanged whistles.
On October 3, 2008, QE2 departed from Cork for Douglas Bay on a farewell tour of Ireland and England, before heading to Liverpool. He left Liverpool and arrived in Belfast on October 4, 2008, before moving to Greenock the next day (the height of the ship with the funnel made it impossible to pass under the Erskine Bridge so Clydebank was unreachable). There he was escorted by a destroyer of the Royal Navy HMSÃ, Manchester and visited by MVÃ, Balmoral . The breakup was seen by a large crowd and ended with a firework display. QE2 then sailed around Scotland to the Firth of Forth on October 7, 2008, where he docked in the shadow of the Forth Bridge. The next day, following the RAF flypast, he left in the middle of a small fleet of small boats to head to Newcastle on Tyne, before returning to Southampton. QE2-South Queensferry.jpg
QE2 completed its final assault from New York to Southampton along with its successor, QM2 . Both liners leave New York on October 16 and arrive in Southampton on October 22nd. This marks the end of transatlantic journey QE2 '.
On his last visit to Southampton, QE2 (on 11 November 2008, with 1,700 passengers and 1,000 crew aboard) ran aground at Solent near the entrance of Water Southampton at 5.26am, on a triangle of sand dunes, about the same distance between Southampton Water's mouth and East Cowes as Bramble Bank. The BBC reported, "Cunard has confirmed it touched the bottom at the Brambles Turn (sandback) sandbanks near Calshot, Southampton Water, with three tugs attached to its stern (0530 GMT).The fourth drag secures the line to the bow of the ship." Solent Coastguard states: "Five tugs were sent out to help him down from the sand dune, and he was withdrawn before 6:10 am He has been inspected and is running under his own power and returns to the dock in Southampton, he just partially goes aground, go. "
Upon return safely in his bed, preparations continue for his farewell celebration. It is led by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who toured the ship very long. He visited areas of interest including Engine Control Room. He also met with current and previous crew members. During this time, divers are sent to inspect the hull of the ship for possible damage caused by a previous ship accident - none were found.
The QE2 left Southampton Docks for the last time at 1915 GMT on November 11, 2008, to begin its farewell voyage under the name " QE2 ' s Final Voyage". After purchasing it for US $ 100 million, ownership was transferred to Nakheel Properties, a Dubai World company, on Nov. 26. The ship's disabling is very apprehensive for the only permanent resident, Beatrice Muller, aged 89, who lives on a retirement ship for fourteen years, costing around £ 3,500 ( ~ EUR4,300, ~ $ 5,400) per month.
By the time he retired, QE2 had sailed 5.6 million miles, carrying 2.5 million passengers and completing 806 transatlantic passes.
Layup
Istithmar, Nakheel, QE2 in Dubai and Cape Town hotel proposals
His final voyage from Southampton to Dubai began on November 11, 2008, arriving on November 26th in a fleet of 60 smaller vessels, led by MY Dubai, a private yacht of Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, in time for the official handover the next day.
He was greeted with fly-ago from Emirates Airbus A380 jet and great fireworks show, while thousands gathered at Mina Rashid, waving British and United Arab Emirates flags. Since his arrival in Dubai QE2 remains tethered in the Port of Rashid. Shortly after his last passenger went down, he was moved forward to the port cargo area, to free the passenger terminal for other cruises.
He is expected to be permanently restored and tethered at Palm Jumeirah Nakheel as "luxury hotels, retail, museums and luxurious entertainment destinations." The planned restoration to see QE2 turned into a tourist destination in Dubai, but because of the Global Economic Crisis QE2 is still moored in Rashid Port awaiting a decision on its future.
QE2 remains a current oceangoing vessel, and thus, Ronald Warwick (former Captain QE2 QM2 and Commodore Retired from Cunard Line) initially was employed by V-Ships (who had succeeded QE2 since Cunard handed it over) as the ship's legal master, but was subsequently replaced by another V-Ships captain. Since 2009, he has been captained by William Cooper.
It is anticipated that QE2 will be transferred to the Dubai Drydocks sometime in 2009 to commence a series of extensive renovations that will result in it being converted into a floating hotel but, in 2011 no confirmed destinations for retirement and reopening of QE2 have announced.
Due to the global recession of 2008, concerns have been triggered that the hotel's refinement and conversion will not happen, and that ships can be resold. This rumor has since resulted in the owner, Istithmar, issuing a series of press releases stating that plans for the conversion of QE2 are under way, with no intention to sell. However, since arriving in Dubai the only visible exterior change to QE2 is the painting of Cunard's title of the ship's superstructure.
QE2 joined Mina Rashid by QM2 on Saturday, March 21, 2009 when QM2 visited Dubai as part of the 2009 World Cruise. He joined once again with QV on Sunday, March 29, 2009 as part of his 2009 World Cruise. QM2 and QV visited again QE2 in 2010 and on 31st March 2011 the new Queen Elizabeth (QE) calling in Dubai during his maiden voyage - photos arranged by Cunard to immortalize the event. QM2 is called in Dubai 2 days after QE goes.
In April 2009, the allegedly updated post concept model QE2 Hotel was shown for sale on the online auction website. This model describes many of the changed QE2 .
In June 2009, Southampton Daily Echo reported that QE2 will return to the UK as an operational Cruise Ship. However, on July 20, 2009 the current owner Nakheel confirmed the rumor that QE2 will re-position to Cape Town for use as a Floating Hotel.
On June 24, 2009, QE2 made its first trip after nearly eight months of inactivity since the liner arrived in Dubai. He maneuvered under his own strength to Dubai Drydocks for stomach inspection and painting before his (then planned) trip to Cape Town V & amp; A Waterfront to serve there as a floating hotel for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond.
On July 10, 2009, it was revealed that QE2 might sail to Cape Town, South Africa, to be a floating hotel (for use primarily during the 2010 FIFA World Cup), in a Dubai World sponsored venture in V & ; A Waterfront. This is confirmed by Nakheel on July 20, 2009.
In preparation for this expected voyage the vessel was placed into the Dubai Dry-dock and underwent extensive exterior renovations. During this repair, the hull underneath the ship is repainted and examined.
Shortly after his refit, QE2 was registered under the Vanuatu banner, and Port Vila (port of his new home) was painted in his stern, replacing Southampton.
QE2 returns to Port Rashid where it is anticipated he will soon sail to Cape Town. The arrival of QE2 in Cape Town is expected to create many local jobs including hotel staff, restaurant staff, chefs, cleaners and shop assistants, all from local labor. However, in January 2010, it is certain he will not be moved to Cape Town.
2010 sales speculation and relocation
In early 2010, as Dubai World's financial performance continued to decline, there was much media speculation that QE2 , along with other assets owned by Istithmar, Dubai World private-equity arm, will be sold to raise capital. Despite this sales speculation, a number of alternative locations for QE2 have been cited including London, Singapore, Clydebank, Japan and Fremantle, the latter indicating an interest in using QE2 as a hotel for the ISAF Sailing World Championships to be held in December 2011. However, as in June 2010 Nakheel's official statement on QE2 is that "a number of options are considered for QE2".
2011 hovering
On January 28, 2011 during a powerful dust storm, QE2 escaped its moorings and drifted into a channel in Port Rashid. He was attended by pilots and tugs and safely returned to the dock at Port Rashid. Unexpected motion picture QE2 appears online after being taken by observers on board in front of QE2.
Warm Hangout
Throughout 2011 and 2012, QE2 remained anchored in Port Mina Rashid in Dubai in 2011. He is maintained in a condition worthy of sailing and generating his own strength. Each of its nine diesel generators is delivered and used to drive the ship. Crews living in about 50 people maintain QE2 to a high standard. Activities include painting, maintenance, cabin inspection, and machine repair. Istithmar is considering a plan for QE2 which may involve sailing ships to alternative locations under its own control.
On March 21, 2011 QM2 called in Dubai and docked near QE2 . During their departure, the two boats honked their horns.
2011 return to Liverpool, Port Rashid and QE2 development plan
On September 28, 2011, news broke that the plan was being formulated to return QE2 to England by placing it in Liverpool. Liverpool has a historic connection with Cunard Line being the first British home for the line as well as the iconic Cunard Building housing.
It was revealed that Liverpool Vision, the economic development company responsible for regenerating Liverpool, has been involved in a secret discussion with Out of Time Concepts, a company headed by a former Chief Engineer on board, who recently advised its current owners on a plan to change into a luxury hotel in Dubai.
In a letter from Out of Time Concepts to Liverpool Vision explained that "The free global media attention that comes from bringing home QE2 will be without question promoting the new Liverpool waterfront development, its stunning architecture, maritime and world heritage sites , the museum, its culture and its history ".
In the same week as Liverpool's vision plan was revealed, Nakheel said that the plan to QE2 to be tethered at The Palm has been canceled because they are now planning to build 102 homes on the previously intended site. named QE2 Precinct.
Nakheel suggested that QE2 , under Istithmar's ownership, would remain in Port Rashid to become an integral part of the growing shipping terminal. "The QE2 will be placed in a much better location", Ali Rashid Lootah, chairman of Nakheel, told The National Dubai newspaper "The Dubai government is developing an up-to-date modern ship terminal means a better environment ", confirming the ship will remain in Dubai for the foreseeable future. Party & Events/h3>
As of December 31, 2011, QE2 is the site of a lavish New Year's Eve party in Dubai. The black tie event is run by Global Event Management and includes over 1,000 guests. In early 2011 Global Event Management offers events at QE2 in Dubai for 2012 and 2013.
July 2012: Hotel announcement
On July 2, 2012 in a coordinated press release, ship owners, operators and operators Port Rashid, DP Ports, jointly announced QE2 will reopen as a 300-bed hotel after 18 months of refit. This release claims that the ship must be reassembled to restore original features, including the 1994-2008 'Trail Trail' from the classic Cunard artifact. The ship will be anchored next to the redeveloped Port Rashid yacht terminal that will double as a maritime museum.
Removing in China, QE2 London and QE2 Asia
On December 23, 2012, it was reported that QE2 had been sold for throwing in China for Ã, Â £ 20 million, after an offer to return it to the UK was denied. With anchoring and monthly maintenance fees of £ 650,000, it was reported that China's rescue crew arrived on board on December 21, to replace the 40 crew who had been maintaining the ship since arriving at Rashid Port. However, Cunard dismissed the report as "pure speculation". When the vessel was sold in 2007, a clause in the contract starting from his retirement in 2009 establishes a 10-year no-forward clause, without payment of a full purchase price penalty.
The " QE2 London" plan has included a £ 20 million bid for QE2 and a further £ 40 million improvement that should create more than 2,000 jobs in London, with QE2 anchored near the O2 Arena. It was reportedly supported by London Mayor Boris Johnson.
On January 17, 2013, Dubai Drydocks World announced that QE2 will be sent to unknown locations in Asia to serve as luxury hotels, shopping centers and floating museums. Despite this move, London's QE2 team stated on the same day that "We believe our investors can show Dubai that QE2 London is still the best proposal".
QE2 . John Chillingworth gets support from London's mayor, Boris Johnson, over plans to put the ship across from The O2 Arena in Greenwich. However a move to London would require a ship to pass through the Thames Barrier. By the end of 2015 there is disagreement between the ship's preservation supporters and the port authorities about whether the ship is dead in size can be safely maneuvered through obstacles. John Houston suggests returning the ship to Greenock as a maritime attraction, hotel, and event space. Inverclyde Council Leader Stephen McCabe has asked the British and Scottish governments to campaign to buy ships, saying that "Taking home QE2 is the job of Hercules, which needs national support in Scotland and possibly across the UK,. "In January 2016 Aubrey Fawcett, chair of the working group to regenerate Clyde, admitted defeat in this effort because QE2 owners refused to respond to any request regarding conditions or sales. "As a result, we must conclude that it is very unlikely that Scotland has any future plans for the ship." QE2 movements in 2015
On August 12, 2015, QE2 was observed to have moved from its place in Dubai Dry Docks, where it has been since January 2013, to a more open location in Port Rashid. On November 17, 2015, QE2 was re-transferred to Rashid Harbor, to the previous shipping terminal. It is not known whether the recent movements are connected with any of the publicly known plans concerning the fate of the ship.
2016 removal of lifeboat and davit
Between May and August 2016, observers noted that the ship's lifeboat was lowered and stored in the nearest parking lot, and then the lifeboat crane that was installed during 1987 reparations was removed in September, thus returning the ship to its profile before 1987.
50th birthday celebration
September 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of QE2. To mark the occasion, Cunard Line, the former ship owner, arranges a memorial voyage on the Queen Elizabeth aircraft - a 17 night voyage. The planned events include QE2 on Sept. 25 and keynote speeches by Captain McNaught, Commodore Warwick, social hostess Maureen Ryan and maritime historian Chris Frame. Meanwhile, in Glasgow, the QE2 Story Forum hosted a 50th anniversary conference with Captain Nick Bates as the keynote speaker. Several books have been released for birthdays including Building Queen Elizabeth 2 by Cunard historian Michael Gallagher, and QE2: 50th Anniversary Celebration by Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross.
src: ichef.bbci.co.uk
Hotels and tourist attractions
The Queen Elizabeth 2 reopened as a floating hotel on April 18, 2018, after extensive renewal. More than 2.7 million working hours are committed to upgrading and rebuilding vessels to meet hotel standards. This includes full stomach painting and the replacement of the Port Vila registry with Dubai at its stern. The opening is 'soft opening', while the remaining work continues, at a discounted rate and only five of the 13 restaurants and bars are planned to be completed. Also onboard is the new QE2 Heritage Exhibition, adjacent to the lobby, detailing the history of the ship. The grand opening for hotels and completed attractions is set for October 2018. The vessel is operated by PCFC Hotels, a division of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, owned by the Dubai government.
src: images-production.freetls.fastly.net
Name
Form name
The liner name that appears in the bow and stern is Queen Elizabeth 2 , with uppercase and lowercase and Arabic number 2 as opposed to Roman number II. Thus, it is usually spoken in speech as Queen Elizabeth Two . As soon as it is launched, the name is shortened in general use as QE2 .
​​â € <â €
In 1934 Queen Mary was named by and after Mary of Teck and in 1938 Queen Elizabeth was named by and after Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, both of whom at the time of naming were married to the ruling king. Both Cunarders have previously used the name of the arc, such as QUEEN ELIZABETH and QUEEN MARY .
Cunard practice at naming QE2 is reusing existing names from former ships, for example, launching Maureenian in 1938 after previously Mauretania deleted in the year 1935.
The original Queen Elizabeth was still in service with Cunard when QE2 was launched in 1967, even though she was retired and sold before QE2 entered the revenue service with Cunard in 1969.
The addition of 2 in this way was not known at the time, but it was unknown to Roman numerals to show the ship in service of the same name. Two non-Cunard vessels were named Queen Mary II, a Clyde steamer, and Mauretania II steamer Southampton Red Funnel, because the Cunard ship had a name without Roman numerals.
Launch
Just like Cunard's practice at the time, the liner name would not be publicly disclosed until the launch. Officials were invited to the "Cunard Liner Launch No. 736", as there was no name painted in the bow.
The Queen launched the ship with the words "I named this vessel Queen Elizabeth the Second ," the normal short form of the king's address, Elizabeth II herself. The next day, the New York Times and the British Times printed the name as Queen Elizabeth II , a shortened form of the king's style of writing. However, when the liner left the shipyard in 1968 he bore the name Queen Elizabeth 2 in his bow, and has continued to do so ever since.
In the official history of QE2 published in 1969, various explanations of events occur.
It states that, as at the launch ceremony, an envelope and card were also held in New York in the event of a transmission failure, and upon opening the card was found to read the name of Queen Elizabeth, and that the decision to add "The Second" to the name was a change by Queen. This book quotes the chairman of Cunard Sir Basil Smallpeice saying "The Queen Mary [named after her Grandmother, Queen Elizabeth after her mother, and now this magnificent ship after herself."
Following Queen's unexpected addition the Second , this book links capitalization and lowercase and numeric 2 - instead of Roman II - for decisions by Cunard to use more modern fonts to fit the 1960s style. The book also suspects that the naming of liners after the reigning monarch, in the form of Queen Elizabeth II, has the potential to offend some Scots, since the title of Queen Elizabeth II (Kingdom of England) relates to the royal lineage of the throne. England (Tudor king Elizabeth I only ruled in England). Ron Warwick, former Captain
The account was later by Ronald Warwick (William's son "Bil" Warwick, first master of QE2 ), who is also the Master of both QE2 and then the first captain QM2 , supports the account that the Queen initiated a surprising step of naming the liner after himself rather than just Queen Elizabeth as originally planned (the name has been made empty by retirement from the current liner before one is assigned). The name was given to the Queen in a sealed envelope that she did not open. This book, referring to his autobiography, states that the chairman of Cunard Sir Basil Smallpeice was pleased with this development, it corresponded to the previous Queen's liners, and 2 was added by Cunard to ship differentiation while still showing it was named after the Queen.
Cunard website
From at least 2002 Cunard's official website states that "The new ship was not named after the Queen but only the second ship to bear the name - hence the use of Arabic 2 in its name, rather than the Roman II used by the Queen", however, in a change in 2007, this information has been deleted.
Other accounts
Another account then repeats the position Cunard originally intended to name the vessel Queen Elizabeth and the addition of 2 by the Queen was a surprise to Cunard, in 1990 and 2008, although two books by William H. Miller claimed that Queen Elizabeth 2 is an agreed name before the launch between Cunard and Queen officials.
Accounts repeating positions QE2 are not named after the ruling monarch was issued in 1991, 1999, 2004, 2005, and 2008. In 2008, The Telegraph went further. to declare the ship was named not only as the second vessel named Queen Elizabeth , but was specifically named after the wife of King George VI. But in contradiction, some modern accounts continue to publish that QE2 is named after the ruling monarch, in 2001 and 2008.
Posting- QE2 Cunard naming practice
Cunard resumed the two suffix naming exercises introduced with QE2 with the launch of the new marine vessel Queen Mary 2 in 2003, named after Queen Mary earlier. i>; However, the suffix '2' is required because of the continued existence of the Queen Mary . TS Queen Mary also has a period known as TS Queen Mary II in a deal with Cunard that allows Cunard to use 'Queen Mary' without endings for their oceans. liner.
src: ksassets.timeincuk.net
Note
src: media1.popsugar-assets.com
References
- Glen, Francis E. (1975). Cunard and North Atlantic 1840-1973: Shipping History and Financial Management (Softback) . London: The Macmillan Press. ISBN: 978-1-349-02392-9. Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments