Business | Tourism
Profile: Queen Elizabeth 2
Profile of the Queen Elizabeth 2, the much-loved ship and British icon.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 15:22 June 18, 2007
On December 30, 1964, a contract was signed with the John Brown Shipyard of Clydebank to build the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) ship, which was to be the flagship of the Cunard line.
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders began work on the vessel, which at 70,327 tons and 963 feet long with a top speed of 32.5 knots was to be one of the largest and fastest passenger vessels afloat. With an estimated cost of £29,091,000 it has also built itself a reputation as being one of the most luxurious passenger ships in the world.
Her keel was laid down on July 5, 1965 and she was launched on September 20, 1967, by Queen Elizabeth II, using the same pair of gold scissors used by her mother and grandmother to launch the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary ships. Contrary to popular belief, the ship is not named after the current queen, but after the previous Queen Elizabeth.
On May 2, 1969, Queen Elizabeth 2 went on its maiden voyage – a trip from Southampton to New York City, which took four days, 16 hours and 35 minutes. In 1975, the ship then broke another of its many world records by embarking on the first world cruise.
In October 1986, work started on the conversion from a steam engine vessel to a diesel engines, making it the fastest merchant ship in operation. This means the QE2 can go faster backwards than most ships can go forward.
Although famed for being a luxurious passenger vessel, the QE2 also played an important role in the Falklands War, carrying 3,000 troops and 650 volunteer crew members to the south Atlantic.
She was refitted in 1982 in preparation for war service, including the installation of three helicopter pads, the public lounges being transformed into dormitories and the covering of carpets with 2,000 sheets of hardboard.
A major refit of the ship took place in 1994, and now the QE2 boasts five restaurants, three swimming pools, a 481 seat cinema, hospital, library and even its own branch of Harrods.
A host of famous figures and royalty have sailed courtesy of the QE2. Nelson Mandela described sailing her as "an unforgettable honour and pleasure".
An estimated one million people turned out to see the much-loved ship and British icon when she called at Liverpool for the first time in 1990.
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