Wind prevents luxury cruise ship from docking

Strong winds blowing up to 30 knots kept the famed Queen Elizabeth 2 at bay yesterday morning.

More than 1,600 passengers and crew aboard the mega cruiseship were supposed to disembark, starting 8am, at the Cruise Terminal Dubai yesterday.

An official of the Dubai agent for Cunard Line, which owns the QE2, said the ship will try to dock again this morning.

"We're excited to welcome QE2 and her passengers to Dubai, but the strong winds posed problems for manoeuvring the huge vessel to the port," said Awad Al Seghayer, Acting Manager of the Cruise Terminal.

Forecasters at the Dubai International Airport meteorological office, meanwhile, said the wind may stay strong for another 36 to 48 hours, or until Easter Sunday.

The strong wind has created 15-foot waves offshore, said weathermen.

QE2's expected arrival in Dubai completes the fifth leg of her 121-day voyage around the world. The ship left Southampton, UK, last December 15.

As the wind blew three times its normal speed, three tugboats attempted the QE2's first docking manoeuvre yesterday, but the pilot decided to keep the ship in Gulf waters until the wind subsided.

Following her Dubai stop, QE2 is expected to set sail on the final 22-night leg via Oman, the Red Sea, Egypt, into the Mediterranean and finally back to Southampton.

She is due to arrive in England on Saturday, April 16.

Sailing