Page 46: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 1997)

Cufiord's Cruising Tradition Refit Completed In Southampton by Alan Thorpe, international editor /J

For the first time in almost a decade,

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2\QE2) — flag- ship of the British merchant flteet — visited the King George V drydock in S

England. The ship entered the drydock, now owned and operated by A&P, for heVbienni- al overhaul on Nov. 22, 1996, and reputedly sailed on schedule on Dec. 12.

Much of the 12 million pound refit was rou- tine and statutory maintenance, but tl opportunity was taken to further upgrade a^ number of passenger areas as part of

Cunard's continuing strategy to ensure QE2 remains the finest ship afloat.

Planning for the project had been under way for more than 18 months, with a project team working full time, and for the past six months, more than 40 people from both

Cunard and A&P were involved in detailed planning. More than 1,000 workers were involved in the refit, operating in two, 12- hour shifts.

In the passenger areas, major refurbish- ment was undertaken in the Mauritania

Restaurant and Princess Grill. The

Mauritania Restaurant, which was previ- ously a two-sitting restaurant, was changed to a one-sitting facility. This major improve- ment was achieved by removing a number of cabins from passenger use, reducing the ship's capacity from 1,750 to 1,500.

In the Queen's Room, the principle venue recently for ballroom dancing, a new dance floor was installed to replace the original, 30-year-old model. New carpets were installed in at least six common rooms and several corridors. New marble bathrooms were fitted in 43 cabins. In addition, a new, interactive television system was installed in all cabins.

On the mechanical side, the propellers, sta- bilizers and rudder were all overhauled, sev- eral miles of pipework renewed, a new fore- leck installed to repair damage sustained in last year's Hurricane Luis, and work on a ne\ low-level lighting system (part of the requmjments of the new Safety of Life at|

Sea regulations) was completed. Some blasting i^nd re-painting work was also car- ried out.

According ^o Cunard Director of Sales and

Marketing Cathy Jackson, "This refill while relatively\iodest compared with ine last one, is part orour continuing improve- ment program to ensWre that these high sat- isfaction ratings continue, and tharahe ship alade , to >n continues to deserve its ship of the British Merch;

The A&P contract, tho approximately seven secured more than 1,00'

Southampton yard for tine duration and was won against stiff competition froWi repair yards in Germany^Spain and elsewhere in the flag- e." be worth pounds, the A&P

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the world cruise, Cunard's

Queen Elizabeth 2 set sail on a world cruise voyage from New York City on January 4. This photograph was taken shortly after the ship's arrival at the New York Cruise Passenger Terminal on that morning.

Passenger rates for the 103-day cruise, encompassing 37 ports of call including newly instituted stops in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, started at a whopping $28,120 per person, based on double occupan- cy. photo credit: Bridget Murphy

Two years have pa^Eed since this ship's voyage to New York cost Cunard millions of pounds in com- pensation to passengers, after the ship sailed with plumbing problems and debris-stewn passage- ways before a rjfnt was finished. In this photo, workboat floats alongside QE2 as the ship prepares to receive pa^ngers in New York. photo credit: Bridget Murphy

At one point, Queen Elizadtth claimed Carnival Destiny's current honors as the largest passenger stop in the world. The 83,673-gt, 1,031 x 118-ft. ocean liner is pictuiVl here plying the waters of New York

Harbor. QE was equipped witnVs public rooms stretched out over 14 decks. The vessel, sunken in 19C2 in a suspectedly arsonous fire in

Hong Kong, will reportedly be giv^a final resting place under a new container port slated for construction the colony. The ship was pur- chased by the father of future Hong l\ng leader Tung Chee-hwa from

Cunard in 1970, for conversion into a fating university. 46 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News