 |
|
 QE2 Profile
World's most famous ship sails into history
September 2, 2005 - The QE2 reached a notable milestone on Sunday September 4, 2005, when she became the longest serving Cunard ship.
She passed the 36 years 4 months and 2 days' record of service of Scythia, which sailed from 1921 to 1957.
Yet when ther QE2 sailed for the first time in 1969 city analysts predicted that she would be mothballed within six months and that the age of the liner was dead.
FACTS AND FIGURES
The QE2 was built for Cunard at the yard of John Brown and Co, in Clydebank, Scotland, at a cost of £30 million.
She was launched by The Queen in September 1967, and entered service in 1969. She instantly became the most famous ship in the world.
The QE2 has sailed more than 5.3 million nautical miles - that's more than any ship in history and is equivalent to travelling to the moon and back 12 times.
She has carried nearly three million passengers - many of them returning again and again to their second home.
She has called at her homeport of Southampton 651 times and has completed 1,383 voyages. She has made 796 Atlantic crossings and completed 23 full World Voyages. She has sailed at an average speed of 24.75 knots over the last 36 years and she can sail backwards faster than most cruise ships can sail forwards!
One gallon of fuel moves her just 49.5 feet!
She has been commanded so far by 24 Captains.
VITAL STATISTICS
- Operated by Cunard Line
- Built by John Brown and Co (Clydebank) Ltd, Clydebank, Scotland; later Upper Clyde Shipbuilders.
- Keel laid: July 5, 1965
- Launched: September 20, 1967 by the Queen
- Maiden voyage: May 2, 1969 - Southampton to New York
- Registered: Southampton, England
- Gross tonnage: 70,327 tons
- Passengers:1,791
- Decks: 10
- Passenger lifts: 14
- Crew: 1000 approx
- Nationality of officers: Mainly British
- Nationality of staff: International
- Cabins: 951 including
- 651 outside
- 300 inside
- 125 single
- 24 fordisabled
- Length: 963ft (293.52 metres)
- Width: 105ft 2.5 ins (32.06 metres)
- Draught: 32ft 7.5ins (9.94 metres)
- Deck space: 4500 square metres
- Car facilities: Room for 16 drive-on, drive-off
Facilities
Four restaurants, casino, three swimming pools (one outdoor), theatre/cinema, kennels, library, computer centre, fitness centre, health spa, synagogue, laundrette, doctor's surgery, video library, helicopter landing pad, nightclub and disco
|
