QE2 For A Hotel Or The Beach?
Rumours continue to swirl in the maritime community about the possibility of the QE2 heading for scrap.
QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 has been moored at Port Rashid, in Dubai for the last four years with delayed plans to become a hotel at the center of a deluxe development.
The internet has been buzzing with speculation and The Southern Daily Echo ran a story on December 17 claiming “moves could be underway which would eventually lead to the vessel being sent to the breaker’s yard”.
This follows an earlier announcement from July 2, 2012. The QE2’s owner put out a joint statement with DP Ports, that a plan was set forth for the QE2 to open as a 300-bed hotel after a refit lasting 18-months. The press release notes that the ship will be refitted restoring original features, including the 1994-2008 ‘Heritage Trail’ of classic Cunard Line artifacts. The ship would remain berthed alongside a redeveloped Port Rashid terminal which will also double as a maritime museum. However, just under three weeks after this statement was circulated the board of Directors was reshuffled, then the following day, entirely replaced.
The scrapping story first emerged on the website The QE2 Story in the Forum Pages after members heard about the possible scrapping. MaritimeMatters has made it’s own inquiries but no news was available at the time of writing.
Rob Lightbody, writing on his website The QE2 Story, remarked: “I am hearing from a good contact, that ship brokers have been contacted about the possible scrapping of a 300 meter cruise ship based in UAE.”
“That could surely only be one ship. Has time finally run out for our ship?”
Thanks to Peter Knego, Keith Hamilton, Rob Lightbody
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Hank and alan
if you are intrested
http://www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl/
http://www.ssrotterdam.nl/nl/
both sites are also in english
Westcord hotels bought the ss rotterdam for €30.000.000,- and does own hotel Newyork and 15 other hotels in the Netherlands.
Alan, yes Athena was built 1945 and launched 1946. But when I start counting a ships year (and this is personal preference), I start with the year of the delivery and maiden voyage, because that is when the ship is complete and ready for commercial use. I end the date with whenever the ship ceased to exist, like scrap, or by sinking, burning, wrecking, vanishing without a trace, etc.
And I would love to see the KUNGSHOLM with both funnels back.
And yes, I think the Rotterdam is safe. The Dutch people love her. The city loves her.
And yes, hope is what drives us. Thank you for informing me about the move by politicians. There has been interest in the government of the U.S. to save the UNITED STATES, for example, ex president Bill Clinton, and there has been legislation in the past like putting UNITED STATES on the Nation Register of Historic places despite the fact that it was not yet 50 years old at the time. But I wouldn’t call it a movement. Besides, everything is in deadlock. But it is interesting that local politicians of any sort are expressing interest. I’m guessing by local you mean Southampton. I would love to see how that turns out. It is challenging, but it can be done. Providing someone has the funds. I would love if a donation would be set up for QE2 kind of like they have for UNITED STATES. I would gladly donate. 🙂
j.j Thank you for directing me to those articles! 🙂
And yes, I agree that saving the QE2 is important. It is very historic. But there needs to be an economically viable plan. It is very difficult to preserve a ship at dock due to the constant upkeep. Also, it defies general convention and is very unorthodox. It is very funny, but there are very few ship preservation plans that you hear of before 1930. The USS Constitution of course is an exception as is HMS VICTORY. But in terms of passenger ship preservation, nothing. It wasn’t until the Post-World War 2 era that you really begin to hear of plans. When the Ile De France was first retired there was a suggestion to cut the masts and funnels down and sail it down the seine into the heart of Paris where the funnels and masts would be restored and the ship preserved as a museum. But as we all know, that didn’t happen. As of today, there are still very few passenger ships in preservation. They are as follows:
1.HIKAWA MARU in Yokohama, Japan
2.CAP SAN DIEGO in Germany
3.CHARLESVILLE in Germany
4.MINGHUA in Communist China
5.MOONTA/LYDIA in France
6.La Palma in the Canary islands
7.Frieden in Rostock, Germany
8.Jadran in Toranto, Canada as a resturant (here is link: http://www.captainjohns.ca/index.html )
9. QUEEN MARY in Long Beach, United States
10. ROTTERDAM in Rotterdam, Netherlands
11.GREAT BRITAIN in Bristol, United Kingdom
12.BORE (mini liner or ferry) in Turku, Finland
13. BRAZIL MARU in Communist China
All of those are relatively small, except for the ROTTERDAM and QUEEN MARY.
I left out the Medina/Doulos in Singapore as a floating Bible school and hotel.
I forgot to mention BLACK PRINCE, but I just found out it is for sale and in danger of scrap. The JADRAN a.k.a. Captin John’s is also for sale. Although the ship probably won’t be leaving her berth until she pays all her debts. At least according to Canadian newspapers.
Hank: sorry.been in the air to Cape Town + recovering, so missed yours above re Jadran and Black Prince. Jadran is sad cos “Captain John” gutted all the cabins out and not much left apart from her beutiful lines. Where did you see Black Prince for sale? Might be worth upgrading this girl to comply with SOLAS2010 if she hasn’t been too badly neglected. Would have preferred bigger sister Blenheim but Sea Escape ruined her.
I heard about the BLACK PRINCE being for sale from Patricia Dempsey and LinerLovers. And my thoughts and prayers for recovery.
Doulos is laid up in Singapore. She is not operating as either a bible school or hotel and has not operated in that role since she arrived in Singapore. Her owner is keen for her to be restored for a static role but authorities are apparently unhappy at the concept of having an old ship in a static role.
As for the former Black Prince: both she and her sister vessel – Black Watch/Jupiter – were superior to their near sister, Blenheim. If I remember correctly Blenheim was the final passenger vessel built by John Browns/Upper Clyde Shipbuilders and the overall quality of finish was nowhere near as good as that of the earlier twins. Sadly, Black Watch/Jupiter is long gone but she might have been worth the effort of saving as she was largely ‘as built’ whereas Black Prince was messed around in order to make her into a full-time cruise ship. She had legions of fans but personally I think that she was way over-hyped.
when the Queen Mary arrived in Long Beach in 1967 , She was 31 years old and looked dated , her interiors were not considered “art deco” but old fashioned and a bit shabby . This was the Swinging 60’s a modern new age.
It’s only with passage of 40 years , the popularity of the movie Titanic and her now Fabulous Art Dedo interiors making an impression to younger generations that the Queen Mary is now a popular attraction and people want to experience the glamour of a 1930″s Luxury Liner with up to date amenities in a classic Cabin. The Queen Mary has, I can attest the best brunch in Southern Californa .
It took the rest of the world , people not in to historical liners and maritime enthusiasts 40 years to realise she is a treasure and ours to enjoy.
@Stewart Ruskin: I wish that Long Beach would raise the funds to help rebuild the stuff that they destroyed during the conversion of 1968 to 1971, which includes reinstalling the ship’s machinery spaces and boilers and the engine rooms.
What if any reason would the municipality of Long Beach/Los Angeles have with regard to any replacements on the QUEEN MARY? It would be up to her opwners, a corporation, that maintains her as a static banquet and hotel facility, and, museum.
Why would steam engines be needed? She’s not going anywhere.
I believe things rebuilt or destroyed during the convertion are probably the least of the owners concern.
Remember, her ships horn is now proudly aboard the QUEEN MARY 2 and offers her sultry song when she sails, a Lauren Becall call to the sea.
@Kenneth Eden: Steam engines were used more than just moving the ship. It provided stability and function throughout the vessel. And it would allow for the 1st and 2nd class pools to function once again. And it could make the offshore utilities cost effective by reducing the bill in half. And it could serve as an example of Clean Energy. So a new Steamplant/Engine Plant might allow for the lower decks to be rebuilt once again as well as for most of the sections throughout the ship that was destroyed to be rebuilt once again. But it’s all about money and the ability to turn those ideas into reality and profit.
One must only assume that since the QUEEN MARY was stripped of engines and propulsion machinery, that the ship is tied in to land based electrical and mechanical utlities.
I can not see what former steam engines effect can have on a ship that has had them removed. Would she benefit by having them remade and installed, where by the ship is permanently in her “forever” dock?
Would old cabins that were used to enlarge cabins for larger state rooms be effective, since larger suites can provide revenue for a static venture that has had its share of financial woes ove the years. Even Disney could not pull it off.
One need only read a few of the several historical accounts of the QUEEN MARY and other wonderful books on former liners. I for one do not rely on Wikipedia, as it may not be honestly factual.
Luckily the ship seems to have weathered these set backs.
The owner of the QUEEN MARY is the City Of Long Beach California. Any discussion of rebuilding is unrealistic even if it were technically feasible. Power is supplied from onshore, like any other building. As for the pools, the second class pool was removed in the initial conversion project. The first class pool exists but is used as part of the “Ghosts And Legends” attraction.
@Dan I’m pretty sure the reason the pool can’t function anymore is because while removing the boilers they took out some crucial support beams. I think that Long Beach is doing a good job and that they are really trying hard. It would be nice to see the engines replicated, but not necessary. There is restoration work underway now. Just check the website’s section on restoration. 🙂
I’m not even sure if the machinery and support beams were put back in that the pool would be able to be used. I’d have to look in the California building codes to see.
But I totally agree! It would be great to see everything restored!
Looking forward for new developments on the SS United States as well. Hopefully positive ones.
Something I could never understand. How can you open a hotel with out a swimming pool? What were they thinking??