QUEEN ELIZABETH Transfer January 9, 2010:
All photos by and copyright Maurizio Eliseo 2010 unless otherwise stated.
The dry dock floating gate is prepared for lifting.
Maurizio Eliseo was on site at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone, Italy shipyard this morning to document the initial transfer of Cunard Line’s newbuilding QUEEN ELIZABETH from her building drydock to her fitting out berth. The celebrated Italian author and ship historian braved the onslaught of wind and rain to capture these images which he was kind enough to share with MaritimeMatters. Mr. Eliseo is not only author of some of the finest books ever published on ocean liners (including Transatlantici, Rex, Andrea Doria and the forthcoming Conte di Savoia) but also a partner in Carmania Press (the premier ship book publishing company), a brilliant model maker, technician, artist, photographer and dedicated historian.
The tugs RESOLUT and RELIANT are on hand to begin their task of removing the gate.Gradually, the gate is freed.At 8:00 AM the gate is opened.A path is cleared for the QUEEN.The new QUEEN ELIZABETH is only partially "dressed" in her formal Cunard livery.The second largest Cunarder ever towers overhead.The QUEEN has cleared her berth.QUEEN ELIZABETH and her tugs in waiting head for the fitting out berth.Bulbous bow and boot topping detail.A fitting end. The newest QUEEN arrives at her fitting out berth near P&O Cruises' newbuilding AZURA.
Page assembled by Martin Cox and Peter Knego. Very special thanks to Maurizio Eliseo.
MARTIN COX - Founder and publisher of MaritimeMatters, inspired by maritime culture and technology growing up in the port of Southampton. He works as a photographer in Los Angeles, and his works has been exhibited in LA, San Francisco, New York, London and Iceland. Martin is the co-writer of the book “Hollywood to Honolulu; the story of the Los Angeles Steamship Company” published by the Steam Ship Historical Society of America. The Los Angeles Maritime Museum has commissioned artworks and collected his photographs.
